May 19, 2009

John Dickert takes over as Racine's mayor



Video of Mayor Dickert's inauguration

John Dickert fought back tears Feb. 23 when he announced his candidacy for mayor in St. Catherine's Alumni Building he helped seize from drug dealers.

"That's passion," one supporter in the crowd said while leading applause for Dickert, who at the time was just one of nine candidates trying to replace disgraced Mayor Gary Becker.

Dickert's tears were back Tuesday - and so was the passion.

The Racine real estate agent and former lobbyist teared up during his inauguration speech after mentioning his late father. But the pause in his speech proved a touching moment for the capacity crowd, which erupted in applause after Dickert took the oath of office.

"The city is facing major challenges," Dickert said during his inaugural address. "Rising crime, high unemployment and deteriorating neighborhoods. Now is the time to make an active commitment to not hide under the cover of indecision but rather face these issues directly. Together we will not look at our challenges with hesitation but with resolve and we will resolve them with decisive action."

City Clerk Janice Johnson-Martin swore in Dickert, who replaces Tom Friedel as the city's third mayor in 2009. Dickert was elected May 5 to finish out the final two years of Becker's four-year term. That gives the new mayor even less time than normal to set up his staff, get acclimated to the job and work on his ambitious promise to make Racine a "Top 10 city" in 10 years.

Dickert said he held a strategy meeting Monday night with people to begin work on his 10-year plan.

In an interview prior to the ceremony, Dickert said he'd get to work on day one - in Madison. The city is fighting for every dollar of shared revenue the state can muster, he said. Gov. Jim Doyle has already warned about cuts in state money to cities because of the down economy and declining state revenues.

Dickert said the biggest, immediate change people would see out of City Hall was an effort to connect with state and federal officials. "It's something the city hasn't done a good job with," Dickert said.

Dickert also announced one staffing hire. Greg Bach, a lead worker on Dickert's campaign, will join the city as the mayor's assistant. Bach was at Tuesday night's inauguration.

As for other positions, including the vacant city administrator job, Dickert said he wasn't in a rush to make a hire. "We'll look for the best candidate at the right price," he said.

Dickert wasn't alone in dealing with emotions. Former Mayor Tom Friedel was feted for running the city while an election was organized. The audience and Common Council gave him a standing ovation, and Friedel fought back his own tears while thanking City Attorney Rob Weber and Interim City Administrator Scott Letteney.

Dickert's first act as mayor was to call for a motion to reappoint Friedel alderman of the 10th District. The motion passed unanimously. Dickert also named Friedel vice chairman of the Personnel and Finance Committee, a committee Friedel chaired until becoming mayor.

Dickert said in an interview he'll embrace the public by creating groups to address major issues in the city. "We'll let them go and get out of the way," Dickert said of the groups. "I'm not going to micromanage them."

Following Dickert's speech, Alderman Jim Kaplan said he supported the new mayor's vision.

"What he said is what I would say," Kaplan said. "Optimism (for the city) has to be clearly picked up and brushed off. Pessimism has to be sent packing down the road."

Following the Common Council meeting, Friedel said he was dealing with lots of emotions, including pride for the work the city did in pulling through a difficult chapter. "We made it," he said. "A lot of people made that possible."

Perhaps the biggest sign of a change in City Hall were a half dozen children, Dickert's son, Riley, and daughter, Eleanor, running around the council chambers following the inauguration. Dickert's wife, Teresa, said her husband's campaign was built around uniting the city. "We can change Racine if we all have a vision," she said.

She added not much will change around the Dickert household. "We're pretty grounded with our kids," she said. "They come home and do their homework like anyone else."

Monte Osterman, a Dickert supporter from Day 1, presented the new mayor with a 160-year-old gavel (right, in the above picture) used by historic Milwaukee Mayor Byron Kilbourn. Osterman received the gavel as a gift after serving as master of the Kilbourn Masonic Lodge in Milwaukee. "It's a gift to John," Osterman said. "Some day he'll pass it on."

Osterman said he supported Dickert because of the new mayor's ability to inspire people.

"Now, Racine has one of the best leaders it's had in a long time," Osterman said.

38 comments:

  1. Great photos. Wish him all the best.

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  2. Urban Pioneer5/19/2009 11:44 PM

    Good Luck Mayor Dickert. If you want the best for our City, I wish you luck, and will get your back. But I am still waiting on that 10 year plan... Salute!

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  3. Monty, What a cool gift. Best wishes Mayor Dickert. Oh this is sweet!

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  4. We have this one change to chance Racine for the better. Some seeds
    have been planted by groups like the Racine Urban Gardening Network and Eat Right Racine.
    I know one small busness shifting operations from Milwaukee to Racine to see if he can be part of the change that we can foster in Racine.
    Lets take full advantage of this one chance we have no matter who you may have voted for and bring back the glory days of Racine WI.
    I will not agree on every thing that the Mayor wants like KRM but will stand by him and have his back on ideas we argee on.
    God Bless the Mayor and God Speed sir

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  5. Thank you Mr. Friedel for your service at a time when Racine need someone to step up and calm the waters. it was a very selfless act. There may be hope for Racine yet. Let's keep go forward!

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  6. A new assistant mayor already ! Pay back for campaign work. Good old boys at work already. How much pay and benifits ?? Administrator too ?? Good luck Racine !!

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  7. I choked up also when Mr. Dickert mentioned his father. It was very emotional. I'm glad he's not afraid to show his emotions. After getting all emotional all I needed to do was look at Greg Heldings tie to get me laughing again.

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  8. I don't know how he can take an oath that he certainly will not follow. Most of those ninnys on the council don't care for the US or state constitution. They will go on taking away our rights. The Nanny council. Lets see how long it takes.

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  9. How nice, a gavel from a corrupt politician, given to the new mayor makes ya wonder???

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  10. Every mayor has an office secretary - and it's not an "assistant mayor" or a new position.

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  11. ....and in further news Jim Smith bought him a ice cream cone

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  12. Anon 3:53-

    You are correct, however, what happened to the "old" secretary??

    Is she now terminated??

    If so, that's crap....Just so he can put a buddy in that position.

    What next?? - Mick Wynhoff as the City Administrator??

    VERY tacky to say the least.

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  13. And so now all you anti-union hacks can clearly see why a union benefits you. So some guy can't come into office and within 7 minutes fire a long time employee/secretary to give his buddy a job.I can't believe the gonads this takes.Mini Becker already.

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  14. Can Monte please stop riding John's coattails and stop trying to get his name in the media whenever possible?? We get it, you guys are good friends, true pals. Very Cool. Now Move on.

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  15. onbehalfofCityHall5/20/2009 7:01 PM

    Mayor Dickert,you have the right to bring in someone for your assistant. But the thing is, the person already sitting in the seat, is doing an excellent job and we don't want to see her go. We DON'T want her to lose her job. She is an excellent employee. We want people like that working at City Hall. So, sir, do the right thing and save her job. Thank you.

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  16. Downtown Julie Brown5/20/2009 7:22 PM

    so if I got this right, Dickert hired his campaign manager to be his secretary. I hope he is good at taking dictation as the previous secretary. And where is the outrage from the student council? Are they turning a blind eye? I'm glad I voted for Jody. We need her as an alderwoman. Go Jody, we need you.

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  17. The current secretary had already retired...She came back temporarily to help out and fill in with Tom Freidel.

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  18. So the new mayor brings someone he can trust to work with him at City Hall, and people are outraged? Change is very much an uphill battle....Good luck Mayor Dickert.

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  19. Mick Wynhoff would be one of the few who could do a good job as City Adim
    Monty O is a great great leader in this City we could use a few more like him

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  20. Hiring your buddies is an insult to this city. I thought we were moving in a new direction. Same seat just different name.

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  21. There are too many anonymous idiots in this city.

    I congratulate the new Mayor. He will do a good job for this City and keep his promises.

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  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  23. "I hope he is good at taking dictation as the previous secretary."

    What century are you living in?

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  24. Colt 9:15 That is very very funny!!A joke I hope?

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  25. Fair from a joke both a real men who have done alot for the City. Far more then most.
    In Monty's case not only has he year after year moved mnts to fix Racine he has allowed other to take the credit.
    Mick has invested like Monty in a business that gives jobs good jobs to others.
    Great men doing great things.
    God Bless them both and reward then their due.

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  26. What about the oath? He will never uphold that oath. Him and that nanny state council do not want us to have any liberties or freedoms.

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  27. This is the problem with the employees at city hall. The job you currently occupy is not yours, and it is certainly the prerogative of the mayor to bring in people who he has faith and trust in to help him run the city.

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  28. Colt? Good jobs? You do not know of what you speak! Everyone who has does, just ask around!

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  29. My guess is that both have done far more then say RCEDC or DRC. I do hope the new Mayor removes them both from anything to do with the City of Racine.

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  30. Why don't you whiners wait until Dickert actually does something to whine about - Gad's the guys in office 24 hours and you are already at him.

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  31. That gavel is just ugly, the new mayor and the ugly gavel look ridiculous in the photo IMO.

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  32. Oh Josh, shut up.

    It's no secret who you are.

    Jesus Christ.

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  33. Considering I use my real name, I hope not, but I am not going to put my real name up here. Maybe I should use anonymous like you.

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  34. Colt, where did you go to school? Honestly, to read your blogs is to shudder at the apparent total lack of concern for how you portray yourself. Are you really in such a hurry to tap out a blog that you can't make corrections? You come across as an ignoramus. Buy a dictionary and proofread!!! The era of communication is going down the tubes fast!!

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  35. I think Dickert is arrogant and cocky.

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  36. Josh 6:10 is Anonymous 6:22 trying to hide their identity. I am guessing they also post under several other handles as well.

    Question is, how many bag of Cheetos are in your Mom's basement?

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  37. Reggie:

    I'm not sure, but I can tell you that at your mom's house there are toys galore in her dresser drawers. Tell her thanks (Wink, Wink).

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  38. Wow, how juvenile "Josh", or should I call you Beavis or Butthead?

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