Milwaukee Department of City Development Commissioner Richard “Rocky” Marcoux will hang onto his position following the City Council’s second vote on his reappointment.
Despite objection for his most vocal opponents, Aldermen Tony Zielinski and Jose Perez, the council voted 11-3 Tuesday to keep Marcoux in the job he has held for the last 12 years.
Alderman Robert Bauman cast the third “no” vote, with Alderman Robert Donovan abstaining.
“We have a lot of planning for our neighborhoods but not a lot of execution,” Perez said. “To me, he has fallen short.”
Tuesday was the second time the Common Council voted on Marcoux’s job, the council initially voted against Marcoux’s reappointment July 6, but later voted to send the matter back to the Neighborhoods and Development Committee July 19 for additional review.
Since the issue was raised about the future of Marcoux’s job, dozens of business and civic leaders and developers from Milwaukee and outside of the community have thrown their support behind Marcoux.
Alderman Nic Kovac, who led the charge against Marcoux’s reappointment four years ago, said he has changed his mind because Marcoux has changed.
“I poked him in the eye and let it be known why I did not appreciate his leadership,” Kovac said. “If you do that to Rahm Emanuel in Chicago, the garbage doesn’t get picked up in your district. I do think the underline point is, with this mayor and this administration, there is no revenge.”
One of the underline concerns over the last several weeks regarding Marocux’s reappointment has been the Department of City Development is too focused on downtown Milwaukee and other areas of the city have been ignored.
Kovac, who represents the eastside of Milwaukee, said he doesn’t agree.
“I believe he does support the neighborhoods,” Kovac said. “He’s competent and knows how to get projects done.”
