Otto Kocian Wastes No Time Making Impact as New Schulenburg Mayor

The latest iteration of the Schulenburg City Council got off to a bumpy start last Monday, May 15. During his first meeting presiding over the Council following his election, Mayor Otto Kocian cast a rare tie-breaking vote over an appointment for the mayor pro tem position.

That position was held by former Place 1 Councilman Rodney Gresser, who did not run for reelection this year. The mayor pro tem performs the mayor’s duties whenever the mayor is absent. New Place 1 Councilman Chip Bubela took Gresser’s seat on Monday, alongside the new Place 2 Councilwoman Wendy Fietsam, who defeated incumbent Brenda Rehak in a three-way race for that seat.

After the mayor and the two new members were sworn in on Monday, Council took up the mayor pro tem appointment. That position was traditionally held by the longest-serving council member, which would have been Place 5 Councilman Larry Veselka. Veselka joined the Council in 2012.

Kocian instead called for the Council to appoint Place 4 Councilman Harvey Hercik, who joined the Council in 2016...

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