In a surprising announcement, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich has declared he will not pursue a third term as the city’s mayor. The decision was shared through a video statement released on Thursday.
Genrich expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve, stating, “While I am as passionate today as I have ever been about public service, and I have never been more confident in the future we share as a community, this chapter with me as your mayor will come to an end in April.” He continued, “That is just a change in roles, though, as I will never stop caring about this city.”
First elected in 2019 and then reelected in 2023, Genrich has been at the helm of Green Bay’s city government for several years. Before his tenure as mayor, he served as a Democratic representative of Green Bay in the state Assembly from 2013 to 2019.
During his announcement, Genrich highlighted his pride in the city’s accomplishments under his leadership, particularly in housing development and infrastructure repair. He assured the public, “We are not done. I have more than six months left until the end of my term, and I pledge to you, my fellow citizens, that I will serve you to the best of my ability until my last moment in office.”
As the search for his successor begins, the only declared candidate for the upcoming mayoral election is former Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt. Schmitt previously served from 2003 to 2019. However, his past includes a 2016 guilty plea to misdemeanor charges of election fraud and unlawful political contributions, involving accepting excessive contributions and misreporting financial data.
