Mequon-Thiensville School Board member Paul Buzzell resigns
A Mequon-Thiensville School Board member has resigned from the board, and the board is seeking applicants to fill his now vacant seat.
Paul Buzzell's resignation is effective immediately, according to a news release from the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
In resigning, Buzzell sent an email to School Board President Jason Levash and the rest of the board, stating, "Dear Jason: As we talked about, I am giving up my Board seat; you won't see me at another meeting." Buzzell did not provide a reason for his resignation in his message to the board. A copy of the email was forwarded to a reporter by district chief of communications Molly Loucks.
Buzzell did not immediately respond to a phone or email message seeking additional information.
As of June 4, Buzzell is no longer listed on the Mequon-Thiensville School District's website as a board member.
"We are deeply thankful to Paul for his dedication and service not just as a Board member, but as alongtime leader with the Homestead Booster Club and across the Mequon-Thiensville community. His contributions have significantly enhanced our district's ability to serve our students and support our educators, and we appreciate his years of contributions to the betterment of our school district community,” said Mequon-Thiensville School District superintendent Matthew Joynt in the district's news release.
Buzzell had been elected to the board for a second time in April 2022. He had previously served a term on the board from 2014-17, according to the district.
Buzzell's time on the board included some controversial moments. He was charged in October 2022 with a felony count of voter fraud for taking a picture of his completed ballot during the April 2022 election and posting it to his Facebook page. If he had been convicted, he could have faced up to 3½ years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Buzzell would also not have been able to hold an elected office. However, in November 2023, an Ozaukee County Court judge threw out the charge and dismissed the case.
Board vacancy appointment application process
The board is accepting applications to fill Buzzell's seat until noon June 14. Applicants must be Mequon-Thiensville School District residents.
To apply, send a letter of interest and a resume to the district's administrative assistant, Cherrie Raimann, at craimann@mtsd.k12.wi.us, and fill out the form at www.mtsd.k12.wi.us/board/vacancy. Applications may also be submitted in person at the district's office, 5000 W. Mequon Road, Mequon.
The board will review all applications and select candidates for interviews. The board has tentatively scheduled those interviews for June 20 in a public meeting. The board will deliberate on the candidates in closed session before returning to open session to select the candidate for the position, according to information listed on the district's website.
The new board member will serve until the next regular board election in April 2025. At that time, that board member can choose to run for a full three-year term.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mequon-Thiensville School Board member resigns
