In 2005, when then-Mayor Ted Wysocki ran for re-election, he was defeated by Jack Chiovatero. Last month's New Berlin mayoral race was touted as a "re-match" between the incumbent (Mayor Chiovatero) and former mayor (Wysocki). Well, Jack Chiovatero not only won re-election, he beat Ted Wysocki by a bigger vote margin than he had in 2005.
Jack Chiovatero also "bucked the trend" of our having a new mayor every four years.
He has the distinction of being the first since1993 to serve back-to-back terms.
Speaking of breaking with "tradition"---
The School District of New Berlin's usual practice is for the Board Clerk to swear in the newly elected school board members at a board meeting in April. But at the April 27 Board Meeting, Judge Dorlack swore in the new board members (Susan Manley and Peggy LaSalle) instead. At the meeting's onset, Matt Thomas indicated that Keith Heun (who was Board Clerk) and Jennifer Eitel would not be attending.
Another oddity at that meeting:
New Berlin School Board members have traditionally elected their officers by secret ballot. At the meeting, six of the seven board members appeared to vote by secret ballot. The exception was Art Marquardt. Marquardt, who was attending by phone, cast his votes "verbally" for the officer positions.
Matt Thomas (who was Board President the past year) declared that he did not want to be board president. He made those wishes known publicly before the votes were cast.
Guess what? Board members voted and Thomas was not elected to ANY of the school board offices, nor appointed to any.
John Kegel was elected Board President
Dave Maxey was elected Vice President.
Joan Doberstein was elected Board Clerk and Art Marquardt, Treasurer.
Kegel made the following appointments:
Peggy LaSalle--Representative to CESA 1, Susan Manley, Representative to WASB, and Dave Maxey, Liaison to City.
Either John Kegel was confident he'd be elected Board President or believes, like the Boy Scouts, in being prepared. He quickly took control of the meeting, announced those appointments (mentioned above) immediately, and appeared to be reading from a script when making his "acceptance speech".
