Speaker, Ponto survive mayoral primary
Brookfield Mayor Jeff Speaker and Fourth District Alderman Steve Ponto shake hands at City Hall after both advanced in the Feb. 16 primary election. Photo By NOW Photo by C.T. Kruger
Feb. 17, 2010 | 0 comments
It's down to two in Brookfield's mayoral race.
Surviving challenges from a Waukesha County supervisor and a former alderman and former member of the Elmbrook School Board, incumbent Mayor Jeff Speaker and Alderman Steve Ponto earned the most votes in Tuesday's primary election and will square off in the general election April 6.
Speaker and Ponto held off Waukesha County Supervisor Thomas Schellinger and David Marcello, both former Brookfield aldermen.
Election results are unofficial until certified by the municipal board of canvassers, which was to meet Wednesday afternoon, after NOW's deadline.
About 20 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, according to figures from the city clerk's office.
The mayor serves a four-year term and will make $99,149 a year through 2012, with 2 percent increases scheduled in 2013 and 2014.
Speaker cautiously optimistic
Speaker said he was "cautiously optimistic" about Tuesday's results.
"I'm very pleased," he said. "It appears that the majority of the people who came out to vote in this primary like the job I'm doing and want me to come back and complete that job, and I'm very humbled by that."
Speaker said he plans to keep up his campaign efforts over the next two months and expand his level of support.
"I don't want to lose any ground," he said. "We're just going to continue to do the hard work that's necessary to get elected as mayor."
Ponto: Results a good omen
Ponto said he thinks Tuesday's outcome bodes well for his chances in April.
"I'm very optimistic based on these results," he said. "I think if these same people were asked to revote between Jeff Speaker and myself that I would win."
Ponto said he would like to see some more "freewheeling debates" with Speaker over the next two months. He said the series of three candidate forums was a good way for the candidates to share their ideas but "there wasn't any real exchange" over issues or differences of opinion.
Ponto said he has received a lot of support from residents during his campaign push.
"I've been very enthused by the reaction from people when I've gone door to door, and I plan to go on doing that," he said.
Others disappointed
Marcello, who in November resigned his post on the Elmbrook School Board to run for mayor, congratulated Speaker and Ponto on their victories and said he was proud of the campaign he ran.
"I think I advanced some important ideas to better represent the taxpayers of this community," he said.
Marcello said he accepted the community's decision to go with two candidates who represent the status quo at City Hall rather than someone who would have brought a change in leadership.
"I'm naturally disappointed, but not overly so," Marcello said.
Marcello said he was unsure if he would run again for political office.
Schellinger said he was disappointed by the results but thanked his supporters and congratulated Speaker and Ponto for advancing to the general election.
BROOKFIELD MAYOR
Jeff Speaker (inc.)…2,116
Steve Ponto…1,556
David Marcello…1,051
Thomas Schellinger…457
Unofficial final results
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from News and Features
- Business Calendar: Feb. 16-March 28
- Healthy choices topic of Heartfelt Sunday
- Ask NOW: Traffic light rumor laid to rest
- Full appeals court to hear Elmbrook graduation arguments
- Gala for cancer research
- Business Calendar: Feb. 15-25
- Grab a Bite: One Way Cafe: A Tosa Village melting pot
- New zoning district eyed for 124th Street neighborhood
- Government Meetings: Feb. 9-16
- Musician shares hope, faith
.jpg)
0 COMMENTS