It's a One-Man Race for Mayor – At the Moment

Suddenly, if only for the time being, John Pokrandt finds himself the front-runner in the campaign to become the next mayor of Wauwatosa.

Of course, right now he's the only runner.

With Jill Didier's announcement Thursday that to take a job with Milwaukee County, Pokrandt, , is alone in the race.

"I'm under no illusions that it's going to stay that way, though," Pokrandt said. "I think it's pretty likely that there are some people out there who were waiting to see whether (Didier) was going to declare for re-election.

"Not that many people are eager to run against an incumbent."

Pokrandt said that he had heard rumors for some time that Didier might be seeking another job and wouldn't run again, but he had also heard contrasting rumors that she wasn't leaving – right up to the minute of her announcement.

"I had an A and a B release ready to go, depending on whether she did or didn't declare," Pokrandt said. As it turned out, he sent his congratulations to Didier on Thursday for being accepted to the position of coordinator of economic development for the county.

In his statement, he said: "I would like to congratulate Jill Didier on her new position with the county and wish her well in this new endeavor.

"Wauwatosa is a prime driver of growth in Milwaukee County, and needs strong and engaged leadership. I believe I am the best candidate to lead this city to a bright future. My relationships with regional leaders and my ability to work with and balance diverse interests will help Wauwatosa continue its position of leadership within the Milwaukee metro area."

Pokrandt has not held elected office before; his professional background is in sales and marketing.

He said that he had heard nothing to indicate that any of the sitting members of the Common Council was planning to run for mayor, but acknowledged that any of them might still decide to and that other citizens from outside the sphere of City Hall could step forward with Didier no longer in the picture.

Actually, since last spring at least three council members have either spoken off the record of the possibility of running or were strongly rumored to be considering a run. They are, however, for now staying off the record and non-committal as the news of Didier's resignation sinks in.

Ald. Linda Nikcevich (District 1) told Wauwatosa Patch that she would not run again for her council seat but might consider a run for mayor. Within days, though, she decided she would not run for mayor either, and could not be reached for comment Friday as to whether she might now change her mind about seeking one office or the other.

A rumor that another city official in a non-elected position was considering running also could not be confirmed or denied.

In a sense, the door is wide open for anyone wishing to run for mayor and at the same time is closing fast. Any candidate for the office must file a campaign registration statement and a declaration of candidacy and collect and deliver a minimum of 200 valid signatures from voting-age Tosa citizens by 5 p.m. Jan. 3.

Thursday was the first day signatures could be collected. All the paperwork necessary for candidacy can be picked up at the office of the city clerk during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at City Hall, 7725 W. North Ave.

As of early Friday, no other candidates for mayor had submitted any papers, and only two sitting council members, Ald. Cheryl Berdan (District 7) and Ald. Jason Wilke (District 8) had submitted any paperwork. Wilke has filed both his campaign registration statement and declaration of candidacy; Berdan had filed her registration statement but not her declaration.

Pokrandt has long since filed both those documents for his mayoral run and said he had begun collecting nomination petition signatures first thing Thursday.