Update: Wausau mayor back in office, calls absence a “miscommunication”

By Shereen Siewert

Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke is back in the office, one day after Council President Lisa Rasmussen took over as acting mayor at Mielke’s request.

On Tuesday Rasmussen informed council members that Mielke opted to use vacation days to finish out his term, which ends on Tuesday when Mayor-elect Katie Rosenberg assumes the role.

In comments to a Wausau Daily Herald reporter, Mielke is calling Rasmussen’s comments a “miscommunication.” But that statement appears to be false.

Rasmussen, in an email to Wausau Pilot and Review, said there was no miscommunication, and three separate sources at City Hall confirmed that Mielke intended to clean out his office after hours and instructed employees not to call him at home for the remainder of his term.

“…as of this morning, the Mayor has reconsidered taking off the rest of the week, and has returned to his office to wrap up loose ends and finish work he had in progress,” Rasmussen said.

Mielke, who is finishing his first and only term as Wausau mayor, was defeated in the April 7 election by a 52-47 percent margin. The results were announced Monday night.