Wauwatosa has eight new alderpeople. They plan to address reckless driving, development and zoning and making the city more inclusive.
The Wauwatosa Common Council chambers were packed Tuesday night as eight new council members were sworn in.
The new members represent half of the common council, after six alderpeople out of the eight up for election decided to not run for reelection.
Two of the new council members — Sean Lowe and Margaret Arney — are Black, the first people of color elected to the council in its 125-year history.
The council also now has five women serving, as three of the new alderpeople elected April 5 are female.
"We will continue to work towards more diversity in city government as Wauwatosa becomes more diverse and we live out the principles of equality expressed in our country's founding document," Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said after the swearing-in ceremony.
The new alderpeople come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are educators, others are medical professionals or business leaders. Some have lived in the city for more than 50 years, others for only one year.
They'll strive to address several issues, including an increase in reckless driving and vehicle thefts in the city, issues related to zoning and development, increasing affordable housing, adhering to the city's comprehensive plan and making the city more inclusive for everyone.
They'll also be tasked with implementing the results of a referendum after Wauwatosa voters decided April 5 to shrink the size of the Common Council from 16 to 12 members.
We asked the new council members two questions in an attempt to help their constituents get to know them better.
What do you want your constituents to know about you?
Andrew Meindl: I have a wonderful wife named Amanda, two great boys and two energetic dogs, Rocket and Ivy. My hobbies include riding my Harley V-Rod, playing Magic: The Gathering, video games, guitar, drums, EDM and working out. I am an avid sports fan, supporting the Brewers and White Sox, since I am originally from Chicago. My family and I are very excited to serve the businesses and residents of Wauwatosa.
Margaret Arney: I would like my constituents to know that I am committed to Wauwatosa’s prosperity, safety, neighborly feeling and quality of life. I am a collaborative leader who listens and values the point of view of others. I’m a practical problem-solver and look forward to working together with my constituents toward common goals.
Joseph Makhlouf II: I am honored to be the newest alderperson of District 3. It is truly humbling to know so many people put their trust in me to represent them, and I will work hard to prove I deserve that trust. I would like them to know that I am here to represent them and to work for their best interests; and that I will be accessible to them to help serve those interests.
David Lewis: I am eager to go to work for all of Wauwatosa. I want to bring the constituents into the decisions that are made by the Common Council.
Sean Lowe: I’m someone who is hard-working, a proven leader in Wauwatosa ready to get things accomplished for my district.
Joe Phillips: I love Wauwatosa, and I am honored to serve on the Common Council. I plan to bring a collaborative approach to this role that helps neighbors come together to make Tosa even better. I want to represent the diversity of thought in my district well and hope to be responsive to the needs of my constituents.
Amanda Fuerst: I am very excited to represent my wonderful community and neighbors in District 7 and honored to have this opportunity. I plan to bring common sense and reason to the council meetings and welcome your views and perspectives.
Melissa Dolan: I want my constituents to know that I am extremely humbled to be the new alderperson-elect in District 8. I want everyone to know that I have many years of real-life work experience, mostly pertaining to customer service. I want everyone to know that I am here to listen and that I embrace problem-solving. I look forward to providing great service to all of my constituents on the aldermanic level in Wauwatosa.
What are some issues you'd like to address as an alderperson?
Meindl: We conducted a community survey when we first launched our campaign, and the issues remain the same. My focus will be on safety, responsible development, Schoonmaker Creek, ecological conservation, rebuilding our social bonds and smoothly running city services.
Arney: I am interested in working along with my fellow alders, city staff and constituents to implement the new referendum that changes the structure of the City Council in a way that best advances citizen engagement and transparency. I am looking forward to working on the city strategic plan and the comprehensive plan that map out how Wauwatosa serves people and how we will develop into the future.
Makhlouf: One of the first issues I hope to address is to make sure that future development is appropriate for Wauwatosa. Development must meet the needs of the community and city while respecting neighborhood residents. Appropriate building height restrictions and density restrictions must be put in place in all zoning districts to protect residents, and all development must follow the comprehensive plan, which needs to be re-done. We need to protect the suburban atmosphere of Wauwatosa.
Lewis: I am looking to improve our community relations and make Wauwatosa more inclusive for everyone. My main issues I want to address are zoning concerns with continued development to help us grow. Also, crime and reckless driving throughout or community.
Lowe: Infrastructure issues with Schoonmaker Creek, affordable housing, banning no-knock warrants, making sure we support small business owners.
Phillips: 1. Public safety, especially working to create safer streets for bikers and pedestrians and addressing reckless driving issues. 2. Advancing the Midtown Business District master plan on North Avenue to make the streetscaping more accessible and helping distressed properties get developed. 3. Working to make Tosa more inclusive, especially through housing needs.
Fuerst: The role of an alderperson has its limits so there need to be reasonable expectations of what can be addressed by the Common Council and the alders. For District 7, I’d like to address how we can attract more local businesses and create more walkability on the west side of Wauwatosa. As a city, I’m also interested in how we address continuing to develop, yet retain the charm and characteristics we all love about Wauwatosa.
Dolan: As a newly elected alderperson I look forward to being a helpful, active listener to all of my constituents. As problems or concerns arise I look forward to finding the appropriate help and workable solutions. I am concerned about crime, and I look forward to working with the Wauwatosa Police Department to help restore safer streets and school environments for all people. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help Wauwatosa move forward.
Andrew Meindl
District: 1
Age: 33
Occupation: Project manager, United States General Services Administration
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: Three years
Past political experience: Volunteer for campaigns in Chicago, no elected office experience
Past community involvement: Fourth-degree Knight of Columbus and Washington Highlands Board member
Email: ameindl@wauwatosa.net
Margaret Arney
District: 2
Age: 52
Occupation: Leadership development program consultant
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: 22 years
Past political experience: Ran for District 2 alderperson in 2010
Past Community Involvement: Wauwatosa Equity and Inclusion Commission vice chair; Wauwatosa Senior Commission member; founding member of Tosa Together; Wauwatosa Neighborhood Association Council president
Email: marney@wauwatosa.net
Joseph Makhlouf II
District: 3
Age: 54
Occupation: AMI medical professional
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: I have lived in Wauwatosa my entire life except when away at college.
Past political experience: None
Past community involvement: Coach and former coach for sports teams in the Wauwatosa School District; ski and snowboard club adviser for Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West high schools
Email: jmakhlouf@wauwatosa.net
David Lewis
District: 4
Age: 64
Occupation: Sales director, Red Star Yeast
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: Five years
Past political experience: No direct political experience but have always been active in politics via numerous avenues.
Past community involvement: President of a 120-unit condo association; volunteer, Hunger Task Force; Wellauer Heights Neighborhood Association past president and current member; Rise Against Hunger; Red Star Yeast organization to address global hunger; Big Brothers/Big Sisters board member and a Big Brother; Meals on Wheels volunteer
Email: dlewis@wauwatosa.net
Sean Lowe
District: 5
Age: 41
Occupation: Product and sales support consultant
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: Seven years
Past Political Experience: Capital Hill visits fighting for civil rights and racial justice for the National Urban League
Past Community Involvement: Chair, city of Wauwatosa Equity & Inclusion Commission; past president, Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals; former Central Region vice president; treasurer, membership chair, National Urban League Young Professionals
Email: slowe@wauwatosa.net
Joe Phillips
District: 6
Age: 41
Occupation: Executive director, Luther Manor Foundation
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: 10 years
Past political experience: none
Past community involvement: My wife and I have been active members of Wauwatosa since we have moved here. I’ve been involved in volunteering in the schools and coach through Tosa Kickers and Tosa Baseball League.
Email: jphillips@wauwatosa.net
Amanda Fuerst
District: 7
Occupation: Education
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: Since 2021
Past political experience: None
Past community involvement: Weekly homeless outreach in California
Email: afuerst@wauwatosa.net
Melissa Dolan
District: 8
Age: 44
How long have you lived in Wauwatosa: 32 years
Occupation: Pianist
Past political experience: None
Community involvement: Active speaker and participant at several Wauwatosa Common Council meetings. Spoke on saving the county grounds, advocated for neighborhood during the crematorium controversy, fought to preserve the log cabin and advocate for equality, including respect for law enforcement and fire/EMS.
Email: mdolan@wauwatosa.net
Evan Casey can be reached at 414-403-4391 or evan.casey@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @ecaseymedia.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wauwatosa Common Council: eight new alderpeople set to begin terms
