Mayor Ehley Wastes No Time Shaking Up Wauwatosa Council Committees

Among the greatest powers of the mayor is one he or she wields immediately upon taking office: the appointment of Common Council committees and the council member who will chair them.

To insiders, committee assignments are the most important act of the mayor — committees, they say, are "where the real work gets done."

And committee leadership assignments — chairmanships and vice-chairmanships — can set the agenda for that work.

Mayor Kathy Ehley did not wait to get her feet wet, or even to be officially sworn in, before reconstituting council assignments.

In a memo Tuesday, Ehley made her appointments, with some significant changes. Leadership will change in all of the five standing committees of the Common Council.

Budget and Finance: Formerly chaired by narrowly defeated incumbent Michael Walsh, this important panel will be chaired by Ald. Craig Wilson of the 8th District. Kathleen Causier of the 2nd District was named vice chairwoman.

Community Development: The new chair is Ald. Jeff Roznowski of the 6th District, with District 5 Ald. Bobby Pantuso as his vice chairman. That committee, considered equal in importance to Budget and Finance, was formerly chaired by Ald. Jill Organ of the 4th District. Organ was assigned to membership in Budget and Finance and vice chairmanship on the Employee Relations Committee.

Employee Relations: Formerly chaired by Ald. Pete Donegan, who ran against Ehley for mayor, this will now be led by Causier, who holds both that chairmanship and the vice chairmanship of Budget and Finance.

Traffic and Safety: Leadership was assigned to District 8 Ald. Jason Wilke, with District 4 Ald. Dennis McBride as vice chairman.

Licensing, Legislation and Communications: Donegan will take the chair of this committee, with Brian Ewerdt as his vice chairman.

Patch will follow up with a list of all committee membership appointments.