Dailytakes

Getting reports from the Milwaukee County Courthouse that a number of Supervisors tried to vote ‘present’ during the first round of voting for the new board chair. It appears in order to not make a decision about whom to support, the brain trust is going to suspend the rules so that they can abstain from casting a vote for Board Chair on the first ballot.

The fun continues.

If Broderick or Weishan win though, Badger Blogger and I will have plenty of blog fodder for the next four years.

What a flippin’ joke.

UPDATE First Ballot Results:

Broderick 3; Holloway 5, Schmitt 5, Marina D. 2, Weishan 1, Coggs-Jones 2, 1 present

UPDATE II

They’ve voted several times. (Haven’t they heard of a runoff?)

Here was the last ballot I received totals for:

Broderick 3, Holloway 6, Schmitt 5, Marina D. 2, Weishan 1, Coggs-Jones 1, present 1

They then tried to go to recess for some behind closed doors arm twisting. Vote to go to recess failed.

Update III

Ninth ballot now, and the circus continues.

Schmitt 5, Holloway 5, Broderick 4, Coggs-Jones 1, Marina D. 2, Weishan 1, present 1

Update IV

Just when you think they couldn’t look any more foolish… they have now taken a break. After the 10th Ballot, the votes were:

Schmitt 6, Holloway 4, Broderick 3, Coggs-Jones 2, Marina D. 2, Weishan 1, present 1

During the recess the pressure will be applied. They will come back for one or two more ballots, I’d imagine. Maybe agree to suspend the rules and vote for between the top two vote getters from the first ballot after the break.

Will Holloway hang on? Will Broderick assume the mantle and lead the Board to all out mean-spirited confrontation with Walker? Will Weishan keep being the lone vote for Weishan?

Stay tuned.

Update V

After the recess they had several failed attempts to suspend the rules. Some supervisors want to drop the lowest vote getter, Karen Ordinans’ little brother objected (seeing as how he would be out, if that were the case). Coggs-Jones, who also only has her own vote to herself, has now also objected.

And the circus continues…

Is it really any surprise that a group that couldn’t oust Holloway also couldn’t figure out how to replace him?

Update VI

On the (I think) 16th ballot: John Weishan with only the support of John Weishan was the lowest vote getter and will be dropped from future ballots. On the 16th Ballot: Schmitt 5, Holloway 5, Broderick 3, Coggs Jones 2, Marina D. 2, Weishan 1, Present 1.

Update VII

FYI, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the paper that just won a Pulitzer Prize for outstanding local reporting, posted its first report on the voting at 3:41 pm, after the 10th ballot. The board just voted to take a quick recess, ostensibly so members could use the bathroom, but in all likelihood, to have an open meetings-violating roving quorum to figure out how to make sure Schmitt is not the Board chair.

Update VIII

20th ballot

Schmitt 5, Holloway 8, Broderick 3, Marina D 2, Coggs-Jones 0, Present 1

21st ballot, same as the 20th…

Rules were then suspended, and the rules were then attempted to be changed to remove the lowest two vote getters. That measure failed.

Update IX

Supervisor West moved to eliminate the one lowest vote getter. In the event of a tie for the lowest votes, both candidates would be eliminated from future rounds. That passed, so the lowest vote getter (or two in case of a tie) on the next ballot would not be eligible for future ballots.

22nd ballot

Holloway 8, Schmitt 5, Broderick 5, Marina D. 0, 1 Present, so Marina is out?

Update X

Could the Milwaukee County Board actually work past 5:00 pm today?

23rd Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Marina D. 0 Present 1 (I guess Marina is still in this)

24th Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 2 , Schmitt 5, MarinaD 3, Present 1 (Marina steals two from Gerry Broderick)

9-10 vote fails to suspend rules to drop the lowest (Broderick)…so the circus moves on.

25th Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Marina D. 0, Present 1 and Marina voluntarily withdrew

26th Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Present 1 (Theo Lipscomb by the way)

27th Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Present 1

Another motion to recess. Passes. 10 Minute break. I mean they’ve worked for almost 3 hours now, they are obviously wiped out.

I wonder how these clowns can twist arms while juggling, climbing in and out of packed VW bugs, riding on unicylces, etc.

Tale of the tape. Holloway…Meet the Old Boss, same as the Old Boss. Broderick…Meet the Old Boss, less corrupt, more liberal and more of a grandstanding obstructionist as the Old Boss. Schmitt…most personable of the candidates, more moderate than the old boss, thus least likely to be voted Chair by this gang.

Now it’s all about what the individual supervisors can ‘get’ from these guys (Think key appointments, committee chairmanships, etc.)

Update XI

32nd Ballot.

Same as the last several.

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Present 1.

33rd Ballot

Holloway 8…Broderick 5 and surprise..Schmitt 5, Lipscomb still on sideline.

34th, 35th and 36th ballot, same results.

Now, recess til 6pm.

This is a debate worth having. The first hour or so was pure comedy gold, however. Several people voting just for themselves, then not wanting to drop the lowest vote getter. Several failed attempts for a recess. Good stuff for political junkies and those of us who enjoy mocking the dysfunction that is the Milwaukee County Board.

Some bloggers choose to spend their time bashing the Pope and the billion around the world who follow him as the successor to St. Peter. I believe Holloway and Broderick are more fitting targets…

Broderick and Holloway have worked closely together in the past. Including on this doozy.

It’s bad enough that the proposed new ethics rules are now DOA at the Courthouse. Do not expect any reforms if Broderick wins. He’ll rally the supervisors in an all out us versus Scott Walker war of words and policy. Nothing unites a fractured group of politically like minded people like a common enemy and Broderick will spew the red meat to unite them against Walker. Broderick will do exactly what he’s inaccurately accused Walker of doing. He’ll make this all about national and state political conflicts, conservative vs. liberal wrangling.

But he’d be damn entertaining and a wonderful target. Too bad Milwaukee County businesses and taxpayers would have to get screwed in the process.

Luigi is a decent guy, and I imagine there is a lot of pressure from Broderick allies for Schmitt to withdraw to prevent a continuation of the Holloway reign.

Don’t blink Luigi. Keep up the fight.

And the wait continues…

Update XII

They came back. 37th ballot. Same results.

They voted to temporarily lay over the vote for Chair and are now voting for first vice chair, etc…

Mayo 12, Rice 4, Present 3

Michael Mayo is the new First Vice Chair of the Milwaukee County Board.

Peggy West is Second Vice Chair, 19-0 vote

39th Ballot, Broderick 5, Holloway 8, Schmitt 5, Present 1

They are now taking up other business. Is there a chance they will recess indefinitely tonight without picking a Chair?

Other business complete.

40th Ballot

Same results. Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Present 1.

Rice moved to suspend the rules to have a second place run off between Broderick and Schmitt, with the winner being the sole opponent against Holloway. The rules were suspended, and Rice’s proposal passed. So we now have a runoff to see who goes up against Holloway.

Schmitt 6, Broderick 6, Present 7. Wow.

Recess again, supposedly for only a few minutes.

Update XIII

41st Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Present 1

42nd Ballot

Holloway, Eight; Broderick, Five; Schmitt, Five; Present, One

Marina Dimitrijevic moved to see if the Board would be willing to reopen to new nominations, to find perhaps a consensus pick. That effort passed on a 10-9 vote.

Jursik’s name was forwarded by someone, but it did not get a second.

43rd Ballot

Holloway 8, Broderick 5, Schmitt 5, Present 1

44th Ballot

Holloway, Eight; Broderick, Five; Schmitt, Five; Present, One

After working for five and a half hours they took a vote on whether to recess until the morning.

That vote failed 4 - 15.

I however, am going to recess for dinner. I’ll have more after 9pm.

Final Update

Schmitt bested Broderick in the run off, 12-4 -3

Then on the 45th Ballot, Lee Holloway beat Luigi Schmitt 12-7.

Holloway remains Chairman of the Ridiculous Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

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