Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett resigns; 'Honor and privilege of my life'

MILWAUKEE - Tom Barrett resigned as Milwaukee mayor as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22. This, as Barrett prepares to become the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.

"I want to thank the residents of the city of Milwaukee for giving me nearly 18 years of the biggest honor and privilege of my life," Barrett said. "I have absolutely loved being the mayor of this great city."

Barrett, America's longest-serving current big-city mayor, described his job as mayor as the "hardest job" he's ever had in his life but also the most rewarding.

"I'm leaving this job filled with optimism for the future of this city," Barrett said. 

Barrett signed his resignation letter in front of reporters before fielding questions from the media.

"I am not running away from anything. I love this job -- I just have to emphasize this. There's some people who leave these jobs, and they leave embittered. They leave isolated. I am a happy guy. I am so thankful to have had this honor and this experience," Barrett said.

Barrett will take his oath as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg at the federal courthouse in Milwaukee at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 23. He expects to be in Luxembourg sometime in January. But he will still keep his home in Milwaukee, a city he says he loves.

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"I am very, very blessed. I am very, very thankful. It’s obviously sometimes a surreal experience as you’re leaving a job you love so much," Barrett said. "I know the people of this city, and I know that they believe in themselves and what we as leaders have to do is to work with the individuals throughout this community to make it better."

Wisconsin law says Common Council President Cavalier Johnson will serve as acting mayor as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. He will be ceremoniously be sworn in on Thursday. Johnson will serve in that acting capacity until Barrett's term is filled through a special election.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Common Council is set to meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday to schedule an election for a new mayor. City leaders can save thousands of dollars by ordering the mayor's race on the same days with the already-scheduled spring primary in February and general election in April.

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There are already eight people running including Johnson, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, former and current members of the Common Council and a state representative. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Barrett's term which runs through 2024. 

Barrett said he will not be endorsing anyone, and he will be staying neutral in partisan politics as an ambassador.