The U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to a position in the Biden administration as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.
Barrett, who has served in the position since 2004, is expected to vacate his role by the end of the year while transitioning to the new job.
He was unanimously confirmed in a voice vote.
After Barrett’s departure, Common Council President Cavalier Johnson will become acting mayor until a special election is held to complete the remainder of Barrett’s term.
“I am extremely thankful to President Biden for having the confidence in me to serve him, the State Department, and most importantly, the United States of America in Luxembourg. It is a tremendous honor, it is a responsibility, and it’s something I am very excited about,” Barrett wrote in a tweet.
I will be in contact with the State Department & the White House on the timing of my transition. I anticipate the changeover to Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson will take place before the end of the year. I am very confident we will have a smooth transition over the next few weeks.
— Mayor Cavalier Johnson (@MayorMKE) December 17, 2021
“I will be in contact with the State Department & the White House on the timing of my transition. I anticipate the changeover to Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson will take place before the end of the year. I am very confident we will have a smooth transition over the next few weeks.”
The contest to replace the mayor is expected to become even more crowded with candidates. According to filing information provided by the city of Milwaukee Election Commission, eight candidates, including acting Mayor Johnson, have already registered their campaigns to compete for the vacancy: Nick McVey, former Alderman Bob Donovan, Sheila Conley-Patterson, entrepreneur Michael Sampson, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, Alderman Marina Dimitrijevic, and State Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee).
Both the special primary and general elections are presumed to be held in the first half of 2022, pending confirmation by the common council. The winner of the contest will serve until 2024, when Barrett’s original term is set to expire.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Tom Barrett” by barrett4wi CC BY 2.0.
