Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is the legislative branch of the government of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Supervisors are elected to the board in nonpartisan elections. There are 19 supervisors.^[1] The county board has several committees and votes on issues involving the county, such as the budget.^[1]

Board members

Theodore Lipscomb, District 1 Nikiya Q. Harris, District 2 [2] Gerry Broderick, District 3 Marina Dimitrijevic, District 4 Lee Holloway (Chairman), District 5

Joseph Rice, District 6 Michael Mayo, Sr., District 7 Patricia Jursik, District 8 Paul Cesarz, District 9 Eyon Biddle, Sr., District 10

Mark Borkowski, District 11 Peggy West, District 12 Willie Johnson, District 13 Jason Haas, District 14 Lynne De Bruin, District 15

John F. Weishan, District 16 Joe Sanfelippo, District 17 Johnny L. Thomas, District 18 Jim "Luigi" Schmitt, District 19

History

Prestige

As of 1960, membership on the Board was considered more desirable than membership in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and incumbent legislators would often seek a position on the Board, resigning their legislative positions if they were victorious.^[3]

Pension controversy

In 2000, the County Board approved a generous and controversial pension plan that was negotiated by County Executive Tom Ament. The passage of the plan has been called the biggest political scandal in Milwaukee County history.^[4] During 2002-2003, the county executive and seven county board members who voted for the pension deal were recalled from office. The controversy resulted in the down-sizing of the county board and led to a special election of Scott Walker as County Executive.^[5]

In 2009, a civil lawsuit was filed by Milwaukee County against Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Inc., a global financial-advice firm. The county is seeking more than $100 million in damages plus more in punitive damages. The full cost of benefits related to the scandal could reach $900 million.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "About the County Board". www.county.milwaukee.gov. Milwaukee County. http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/AbouttheCountyBoard7779.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
2. ^ http://county.milwaukee.gov/Harris
3. ^ Hagensick, A. Clarke. "Influences of Partisanship and Incumbency on a Nonpartisan Election System" The Western Political Quarterly Vol. 17, No. 1 (Mar., 1964), pp. 117-124
4. ^ Tom Ament and Me
5. ^ Bilstad, Erik. Ten Stories That Changed Our Lives: #6 Milwaukee Co. Pension Scandal WTMJ-AM December 15-16, 2009
6. ^ Milwaukee County pension scandal trial primer

External links

• County Board of Supervisors members