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Superior council votes to elect two vice presidents after tied mayoral-year contest
Summary
After a tied secret-ballot vote for council vice president, the Superior Common Council approved a motion to elect both nominees to serve as co-vice presidents for the 2025 term.
The Superior Common Council on Tuesday, May 6 elected two co-vice presidents for the 2025 council year after successive votes produced a tie on a single-seat election.
Council President Kraske opened the selection item after the council again tried to choose a single vice president. The council first voted 6-3 to proceed by secret ballot on the contest between Councilor Moffitt and Councilor Herrick. The secret-ballot round produced a 5-5 tie, and President Kraske declined to break that round. After the tie, the council considered an incidental motion to elect both nominees and, by roll call, approved electing both Councilor Moffitt and Councilor Herrick as co-vice presidents, 8 in favor and 2 opposed.
The vote followed extended discussion about whether Superior’s ordinance allows two vice presidents and whether the council should treat the arrangement as a one-year pilot. President Kraske told colleagues that he had asked the city attorney to check the code and said he found nothing that outright prohibited electing two vice presidents. He framed the proposal as a practical way to expand leadership capacity for the coming year.
Several councilors urged trying a single-seat election first. Councilor Fennessy moved to vote by secret ballot; the motion carried 6-3. After the tie, Councilor Moffitt moved to elect both nominees; the motion was seconded by Councilor Ludwig and passed on roll call, 8-2.
The council treated the dual vice-presidency as an incidental, one-year arrangement to be revisited later. President Kraske and other speakers indicated the council could propose ordinance language in future meetings if the co-vice presidency is retained beyond the pilot period.
Background: The vice president role is an internal council leadership position in Superior’s municipal code. Council members debated whether retaining, eliminating, or expanding that role better serves council operations and succession planning. No statutory change was proposed; councilors said any permanent change would require an ordinance amendment and a later vote.
