Racine Common Council Organizing Meeting - June 20, 2025
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Racine Common Council Organizing Meeting - June 20, 2025
Note on date discrepancy: The raw transcript indicates the meeting occurred on April 15, 2025, but per the provided metadata, this summary uses the date June 20, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. to swear in new aldermen, elect council leadership, and appoint standing committees.
Oath of Office & New Alder Remarks
- Incoming aldermen (Alder Jorgensen, Alder Pavan, Alder Allen, Alder Fraser, and Alder Escada) were sworn in. Returning Alder Land also made remarks.
- Several new aldermen expressed gratitude to supporters. Alder Jorgensen announced his wife was about to give birth that evening. Alder Pavan emphasized unity, noting 'we are spokes on the wheel that is city government.' Alder Fraser thanked her church family and a key supporter. Alder Land thanked constituents for approving a firefighter referendum and acknowledged city staff.
Election of Council President
- Nominees: Alder Maurice Horton (nominated by Alder Land) and Alder David Mack (nominated by Alder Kelly).
- Each nominee spoke for up to five minutes. Mack highlighted his experience as former council president and acting mayor, and pledged to restore collegiality. Horton emphasized seven years of service, committee leadership, and a vision for unifying the council.
- Ballots were cast; the clerk did not initially read votes aloud. Alder Weiner questioned this, prompting a roll call on the subsequent VP vote. Result: Alder Horton received 8 votes, Alder Mack received 7. Horton elected Council President.
Election of Council Vice President
- Nominees: Alder Marlo Harman (nominated by Alder Pete), Alder David Mack (nominated by Alder Press; declined and nominated Alder Davis instead). Alder Davis accepted.
- Harman spoke of fairness, team building, and seeing the glass half full; Davis thanked the council for the nomination and noted her long service.
- Roll call vote: Harman received 8 votes, Davis received 7. Result: Alder Harman elected Vice President.
Standing Committee Appointments
- Council President Horton announced appointments:
- Finance & Personnel: Alder Land, Alder Jorgenson, Alder Allen, Alder Townsend, Alder Horton
- Public Works: Alder Harman, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Perez, Alder Escada
- Public Safety & License: Alder Pete, Alder Fraser, Alder Pavan, Alder Wagner, Alder Kelly
- The council then approved the mayor's communications on remaining committees (Item 0412-25) by voice vote.
Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everyone. It the hour of six o'clock having arrived on this 15th of April 2025. It is my honor to call to order the city Racine Common Council for its organizing meeting. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So the first order of business is the oath of office for the incoming off uh for the incoming alders. If you are an incoming Alder or were elected this year and need to be sworn in as a returning alder, please stand and meet the clerk at the uh at the Diaz. Come on now. I mean everyone in the past here. All right. All right. Please raise your right hand and after me. I state your name. I'm swear. Solomon swear. That I will support the Constitution of the United States. And the state of Wisconsin. And the City of Wisconsin. And then I will faithfully. And partially. And partially. To the best of my ability. According to law. The new Alders, if they'd like to say a few words, they are entitled to do so. The way the microphones work, if you press the button on the base of your microphone, it turns uh it alerts me here to let you know that you speak. Uh and then I can call on you when you'd like to speak. So for for new alders who were just sworn in, if people would like to say a few words of gratitude or thanks, now would be the time to do that. Uh Alder Jorgensen. Alrighty. Well, thank you so much. I want to uh just say a thank you to uh all of my friends and family, everyone I met along the way um these past few months in the district for all of your help. Uh but there's a couple thank yous I really want to point out. Uh my parents are in town, thank you so much for being here. Uh, and my wife Nadia, who uh was with me through all of this. Uh and we've got a big day going on, actually, directly from here. Uh, we're getting in the car uh and going to the hospital uh to have our our daughter be born tonight. Uh thank you. Yes, so it's uh a big day in the Jorgensen household. Uh little Bonnie Jorgensen will be Racine's newest residence. So we're so excited to meet her. Um, and uh I'm very excited to get to work. Thank you. Thank you. Alder Pavan. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to say a thank you to the citizens and residents of District 15 that have allowed me to sit here and represent them at this level, as well as my lovely wife Hannah, friends and family that are here, my nieces Katana, Sylvia, and parents, of course. Um, and I think it's really important all that for all of us just to remember that we are spokes on the wheel that is city government, and we can only move forward if we're all going the right way. So thank you to all the people that vote entrusted me with their vote and everyone here.
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