{image1} As Milwaukee's first newly elected mayor in 15 years, Tom Barrett came to office this spring on the heels of a heated election battle. The underlying race problems in Milwaukee again bubbled to the surface, revealing a polarized community he says must come together. A 20-year career politician and former U.S. Congressman, Barrett is facing his toughest challenge as mayor. Barrett says he's a man with simple tastes and a sense of humor -- qualities that can help him lead.
In this latest edition of Milwaukee Talks, we sat down with Mayor Barrett to discuss his new job, the impact it's had on his family, and what he sees for the future of Milwaukee.
OMC: You've been office for only three weeks. Any big surprises so far?
TB: There's a lot of information, and it's very exciting. I love it. But at the same time, there's a lot of information coming at me, flying in from many different directions. But that's part of the job, so it's actually good.
OMC: The election brought up some dormant racial tensions in Milwaukee. How do you, as mayor, start to narrow the gap?
TB: I think, as a city government, our employment practices have to be reflective of the population of the city. People have to be engaged and understand that they've got a place at the table. I think what we went through were some growing pains. We're a multi-cultural and multi-racial city. That means there are going to be some tensions along the way. My hope is that what we experienced were growing pains, as opposed to permanent scars.
{image5}OMC: Could you weigh in on the teacher cuts and property tax increase proposal that we've heard so much about?
TB: I will continue to work on that. In fact, I was just in another meeting (about it). I've probably met more with Bill Andrekopoulos, the head of (MPS), than with any other public official in the last three weeks, because the schools are so intertwined with the future of Milwaukee. Just this morning, we met and talked with a larger group about the challenges the school system faces and the potential for creating a group to work together to try to address some of those concerns.
OMC: Back in 2000, you were the first, and so far only, elected official or candidate to come and visit OnMilwaukee.com to see what we were doing.
TB: I remember!
OMC: How important are high-tech companies and entrepreneurs in the future of Milwaukee?
TB: I think a lot of the growth in Milwaukee's economy is going to come from the 20- and 30-year-olds who are creating companies right now. It's interesting, as this year and last year and next year, we're going to see some 100th and 150th anniversaries from some of the companies that really started Milwaukee. Whether it's Harley Davidson or Miller Brewery or Rockwell, my hope is that what we're experiencing right now are the births of some of the companies that will be here 100 years from now.
OMC: I was in Washington, D.C. around the same time you were in Congress. When I came back, Milwaukee was a really different place, which is one of the reasons we started OnMilwaukee.com. How do you think the city has changed since you entered Congress, and what will Milwaukee be like at the end of your first term?
{image2}TB: I think at the end of the first term, people will be saying there's something going on in Milwaukee. They'll look at the Calatrava (Milwaukee Art Museum), Pier Wisconsin, they'll see the continued renaissance in housing downtown and in the Third Ward, Walker's Point and moving north to Riverwest. They'll see a continuously growing and diverse city with a lot of energy. The future of Milwaukee's so bright I gotta wear shades.
OMC: What's the status of the Milwaukee Connector, and what's your position on light rail and Metra?
TB: I'm supportive of the movement forward of both Metra and the (Milwaukee Connector). At some point, I think a decision is going to have to be made as to the feasibility of both of those. Those will be on different tracks, and the place where you don't want them to collide, is there's $91 million of federal money sitting there. You can only spend that money once. So at this point, having them both move forward will allow the stronger of the two to emerge.
{image3} OMC: You seem to be a mayor with a sense of humor. What's the mood like in your office?
TB: I hope people are enjoying it. I think we're all learning together, which is always fun whenever you're starting something new. You can have fun doing it. I'm not a real yeller. I think you can get things done by working with people, as opposed to yelling at them. And I want people to enjoy coming to work.
OMC: In your 20 years in politics, you've dealt with some important issues. Perhaps the best-known is the Clinton impeachment trial. Being a U.S. Congressman is an prestigous job, but can you affect more change as mayor?
TB: Interestingly, when I was trying to decide whether to run for this job, I contacted Don Fraser, who had been a member of Congress for 16 years, then went back and became mayor of one of the Twin Cities. I asked him to compare the jobs. He said he loved Congress and had done a lot of work in Central America. But he said the mayor's job was the hardest job he ever had, but also the most rewarding, because in this job, you see the fruits of your labor, in both a positive and a negative way, much more quickly than you do as a member of Congress. Having said that, I absolutely loved being a member of Congress, but there's a time for every purpose under heaven. It was my time to leave it.
OMC: Have you had that moment yet where you sit back and say, "Wow, I'm the mayor of Milwaukee?"
TB: No, because they haven't given me a chance to sit back yet. There's been so much going on that I haven't had a chance to just sort of relax.
OMC: You could pick any neighborhood in Milwaukee to live in, but you grew up on the West Side and you stayed pretty close. What do you like about Washington Heights?
{image6}TB: I live about 150 yards from the house I grew up in. In fact, when I wanted to move back there, my wife initially balked and said that I was already fixated with my childhood and she didn't want to relive my childhood. But when we finally had our fourth child and were living in a two-bedroom home, also on the West Side, we decided we needed a home with more than two bedrooms. It's a great walk-around neighborhood, a very friendly neighborhood. Lots of kids, and as a father of four kids, that's very attractive to me. It's just a really, really good community.
OMC: What's it like to have dad as the mayor? Has it been an adjustment for your kids?
TB: I think what they like is having dad home a little bit more. When I was in Washington, they stayed here. I was traveling back in forth. Bear in mind that I got on that plane for Washington over 400 times in my 10 years. So having me around now is a plus for them.
At the same time, just the other night, my 7-year-old was over at her cousin's, who lives about a block away, and I went over to get her. I said, 'Erin, do you want to go for a walk?' She said,' Yeah, just you and me, Dad.' She stopped in her tracks and gave me a very firm handshake, which surprised me that her handshake was that firm. And she said, 'You don't talk to anybody.' So, she covets her time, which she should. There was someone who wanted to stop and engage me, but I just got dragged along. She just put the death grasp on my hand and said, 'Dad, keep walking.'
OMC: What kind of car does the mayor drive?
TB: A Ford Taurus, and my wife drives a minivan.
OMC: Do you get to drive to work?
TB: I do have security when I'm on city business, so many times I'll travel with someone.
OMC: In our "10 questions for the mayoral candidates" a few months ago, we asked you what's your favorite restaurant. You didn't tell us then, but now that you're in, where do you like to go?
{image4}TB: I'm not picking any favorites, but today I'm going to Slim McGinn's on Bluemound for lunch. Downtown, there are a number of restaurants along Milwaukee Street. A lot of times I'll stop at Bella's (on Brady Street), or the Highland Café on the West Side. Perkins is a good place to go eat. There are always a lot of friendly people at Omega or Mykonos.
OMC: So you're a mayor with simple tastes?
TB: Oh yeah, I've definitely got simple tastes. There's no question about it.
OMC: One more hard-hitting question. Is this position a stepping-stone? You've been in politics for a long time -- is this where you want to end your career?
TB: I've publicly stated that I don't want to stay in this job for more than 32 years. I'm just so excited to be here right now, I'm not thinking about anything else other than how we can take this great city and make it even better.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
