Ponto tops Speaker in a squeaker
Alderman beats incumbent mayor by just 205 votes
Steve Ponto, daughter Stephanie, and other supporters cheer as Brookfield Alderman Steve Ponto receives word that he won the Brookfield mayoral race. Photo By C.T. Kruger
April 7, 2010 | 1 comment
It was all smiles as Steve Ponto addressed the crowd of family members, friends, aldermen and neighbors in a Venice Club banquet room Tuesday.
He thanked everyone for their hard work during his four-month run for Brookfield's top elected office, but his speech was interrupted several times by laughter, applause and cheers of encouragement.
Then, as the speech wound down and the hugs started, the biggest smile of the night crept across Ponto's face when fellow 4th District Alderman Mark Nelson handed him a baseball cap to wear. People in the back of the room couldn't make out the hat's full design, but one word stood out:
MAYOR.
Riding a wave of support from across the city, Ponto, 62, was elected as Brookfield's fifth mayor, narrowly defeating two-term incumbent Jeff Speaker.
Down to the wire
Ponto beat Speaker, a former city police officer who was first elected in 2002, by 205 votes. Ponto, who has represented Brookfield's 4th District for 12 years, earned more votes than Speaker in four of the city's seven districts, and wound up with 51 percent of the total vote.
All results remain unofficial until the Board of Canvassers meets Wednesday, after press deadline.
"I think this was a very hard fought but very fair campaign, and that each of us had a lot of respect for one another," Ponto said. "I think that this was a model campaign for mayor."
Ponto worked as a corporate attorney for 30 years before accepting a buyout package at the end of 2009. He praised Speaker's service to the city, both as mayor and as a police officer for 17 years before that.
"I value that (service) and appreciate it," he said.
Ponto said that while his margin of victory wasn't immense, it perhaps indicates that Brookfield residents are looking for a different type of leadership this time around.
"I think honestly that after eight years there was a feeling that it was time for a change," he said.
Speaker: 'A good race'
Speaker, who received more than 60 percent of the vote in his 2006 re-election bid over former Alderwoman Cindy Kilkenny, credited Ponto for running a respectful, tough campaign.
"It was a good race," said Speaker, 51. "Both Steve and I ran a good race. I think the results show it."
Speaker first won the mayor's post in 2002 and said he is pleased with what he has done while in office.
"You know what? I've got nothing to be upset about," he said. "I'm very happy with everything I've accomplished over the last eight years. It's wonderful to (have served) the city of Brookfield as long I have been."
Speaker said he doesn't know what his next move will be, but that he would continue to work hard as mayor for the final two weeks of his term.
Takes office next month
Ponto will be sworn in April 20. After that, the city will start the process of appointing a replacement to his District 4 aldermanic seat.
City Clerk Kris Schmidt said the search for an appointee likely will take months. A special election likely will be held next spring to fill out the rest of Ponto's aldermanic term, which expires in 2012.
The mayor serves a four-year term and will make $99,149 a year through 2012, with 2 percent increases in 2013 and 2014.
Ponto said one of his first goals will be to establish ties with other mayors and municipal leaders in Waukesha County and across southeastern Wisconsin.
"I want to reach out to other mayors in the area, get to know them and begin talking about how we can cooperate to the benefit for all of Brookfield - for the benefit of this whole area, really," he said.
BROOKFIELD MAYOR
Steve Ponto…4,458
Jeff Speaker (inc.)…4,253
Unofficial final results
→ The numbers: Breakdown of the mayoral vote. Page 4
→ Aldermanic races: Incumbents all re-elected. Page 4
→ School Board: Allgaier, Wilson, Ziegler victorious. Page 18
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)
1 COMMENTS
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
SPEAKER was good. An honest straight up guy without any of the preditory lying and schemeing we usually see. (like the mayor before him and most politicians in charge today).
- Share
-
Back to topzephyrmist - Apr 08, 2010 4:51 PM - Report Abuse
Ponto is also good. He won because he said he would hold the line on taxes. Although Speaker was of like mind, people see a new fire station, and figure Speaker would not. SO, Ponto won because of the clear "hold the line on taxes" position. That was it - hold the line. Let me rephrase that: Why does it cost so much to build a new gymnasium? And, do we even need to in the first place? Oh, right. A grand place for a small percentage of students to play a game is essential to education. Sure there are plenty of games that do not require a large multi million dollar facility, but nothing's too good for our children. But, good union jobs and rich contractors will donate more donations to charity - after passing it through Potawatomi. Well, lets just tax 'em to be sure. No, we're holding the line on taxes which means not getting things we don't need, but just really badly want.
This is an unfamiliar concept to the modern American, who will throw a tantrum like a 4 yr old in the checkout line who can't grab all the candy.