Two aldermen want to limit interim mayor candidatesonly to aldermen who agree not to run for the office

Two aldermen are confronting the issue of a mayoral vacancy with an eye toward making sure that no interim mayor get a leg up on potential election opponents.

Robert Mozol, 15th District, and Aron Wisneski, 12th District, are circulating an email that suggests that any candidates for interim mayor must first agree not to run in the expected election, whether that election comes in April 2010 at the end of Mayor Gary Becker's term, or sometime in 2009 when set by the City Council. The timing, of course, is related to Becker's arrest this week on child sexual solicitation charges, and will depend, in part, on whether Becker resigns quickly, or is removed by the council. The five council members on the Executive Council will meet Tuesday to discuss Becker's removal.

The two aldermen note that some council members have already expressed interest in becoming mayor -- QA Shakoor II, Greg Helding and David Maack -- and they write, "If we decide, either by action or inaction, to allow one of these members to serve as acting Mayor for a great length of time, we essentially give that person incumbency, and the moniker of 'most experienced' going into an election. Offering this kind of leg-up on the competition would put us in the position of being King Makers, imposing our own judgment of fitness to serve over that of the electorate."

Therefore, they say, "the best option... is that the Council should consider a list of appointees who have no interest in running for Mayor (now or in the future) to serve until an election."

Here's the complete memo they sent Friday night to all council members:

We believe that it is incumbent upon us to confront the reality that a vacancy of the Mayor's office is likely in the near future. Our reading of applicable statutes and consultation with the City Attorney leads us to believe that one of two scenarios must play out:

1. Mayor's office is vacated. A new election for remainder of the term occurs in April 2010. City Council may appoint an interim mayor until that election.

2. Mayor's office is vacated. City Council sets a date in 2009 for a special election for the remainder of the term. City Council may appoint an interim mayor until that election.

Although the current Council President is statutorily mandated to serve as acting Mayor, the ability of the City Council to appoint a replacement suggests that the President need not hold that seat for the entirety of the time before the next election.

Given the nature of the current Mayor's exit from office, we believe that integrity and transparency are paramount considerations during this process. It is common knowledge that some members of the current City Council would be interested in running for the open office. If we decide, either by action or inaction, to allow one of these members to serve as acting Mayor for a great length of time, we essentially give that person incumbency, and the moniker of 'most experienced' going into an election. Offering this kind of leg-up on the competition would put us in the position of being King Makers, imposing our own judgment of fitness to serve over that of the electorate.

We believe that the best option, assuming the above two scenarios, is that the Council should consider a list of appointees who have no interest in running for Mayor (now or in the future) to serve until an election. Such a person should want to serve in this capacity, have some amount of executive or leadership background, and possibly some history of government service. The reasons for these qualifications are continuity, quality, and stability. Although we could not put an appointee under contractual obligation to not run in the future, their public promise to step aside after the election would serve to ensure fidelity to that vow.

We all know that any action the Council takes will be justifiably scrutinized and held to the highest ethical standards of democratic process. Our concern for the stability of City government should take into account our potential to influence the election process. Elimination of interested office seekers from consideration for interim Mayor keeps their credentials from unintended taint and helps to maintain competency in the City's executive office. In the end, only election by popular vote offers a Mayor the stamp of democratic legitimacy.

Robert Mozol
15th District Alderman
City of Racine, Wisconsin

Aron Wisneski
12th District Alderman
City of Racine, Wisconsin