Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway has stripped South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik of her Personnel Committee chairmanship and dropped her from the key Finance Committee following Jursik’s opposition to a Holloway hiring earlier this year.
Surprising? No. Mean-spirited, under-handed and desperate? Yes.
But this is apparently how the game is played on the County Board, Lee Holloway’s County Board, where the focus is too often on personal squabbles vs. finding solutions to the daunting issues of the day.
This Journal Sentinel story sums it up pretty well … and shows exactly why people are growing increasingly frustrated, disgusted even, at politics and politicians these days.
From it:
The drama started when Holloway, during his brief stint as acting county executive, hired Renee Booker to lead the county’s Department of Administrative Services. Holloway automatically took over as county executive after then-County Executive Scott Walker was elected governor.
Jursik spearheaded a successful effort to block the Booker nomination, saying it was inappropriate for Holloway to fill such a key job when Holloway was serving in a caretaker role.
Holloway withdrew the nomination when it became apparent he couldn’t get Booker confirmed.
Jursik said she had no doubt that having her committee chairmanship removed and being taken off the board’s finance committee was Holloway’s way of punishing her.
“Of course it is,” Jursik said. “I was expecting this . . . I stated in committee I would probably lose a chairmanship over (Holloway’s Booker appointment), and that’s what happened.”
I stand behind Jursik on this, and most, issues. She is a strong representative for South Milwaukee and a passionate, intelligent and hard-working leader for her constituents.
She deserves better. So does the county.
What do you think of this? Post your comments below!
South Milwaukee Blog 
Erik,
I totally agree. This is just another example of Holloway’s petty payback to board members that don’t succumb to his heavy-handed tactics. I might not agree with Supervisor Jursik on every issue but no one should have threats of retaliation held over their heads because they disagree with the Chairman.
And Holloway’s pettiness benefits the people of Milwaukee County how?
I agree with you about Supervisor Jursik, Erik. She’s everything you say she is. We, in South Milwaukee, are so fortunate to have her represent and work for us on the County Board.