Oak Creek has new mayor with old city ties

Oak Creek - Al Foeckler, a former Common Council president and alderman, was appointed mayor of Oak Creek.

He will assume office Thursday and serve the duration of the late Mayor Dick Bolender's term, which ends April 16.

Foeckler, a personal injury attorney with Cannon & Dunphy SC, was appointed mayor Tuesday night. He got three votes, the minimum number needed to succeed Bolender, who died unexpectedly Dec. 10. Acting Mayor Stephen Scaffidi received two votes, and former Mayor Dale Richards didn't garner any, despite being nominated for the post.

Foeckler, a 13-year resident of the city, served on the council from 1999 to 2008, leaving after his fourth son was born. He received his bachelor's and law degrees from Marquette University.

He said he asked to be appointed out of respect to Bolender, who he served under, and because he was familiar with issues facing Oak Creek.

"It's just a civil calling to help the city in a time of need," he said. "I've kept my finger on the pulse of the city. I came here with no ax to grind. And I have no interest in running for mayor."

The vote came Tuesday after City Attorney Lawrence Haskin told council members they needed to appoint a mayor. Although Scaffidi has been acting mayor since Bolender's death, Haskin said the law distinguished between a temporary vacancy in the position, which an acting mayor could fill, and a permanent one, which it could not.

In light of that, he said Foeckler and Richards had been contacted to see if they would be willing to serve. Both indicated they would.

Scaffidi, too, could be considered, Haskins said, but the council would then have to appoint an alderman to fill that vacated position.

A third option was that the council begin an interview process to select a mayor, but Haskin cautioned that the law required selecting a mayor in a "reasonable time."

Those voting for Foeckler were aldermen Dan Jakubczyk, Michael Toman and Tom Michalski, who is up for re-election as alderman and also running for mayor.

Michalski said he voted for Foeckler so as not to lose Scaffidi's vote as alderman between now and the spring election. Scaffidi noted at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting that he would, in keeping with the role of mayor, refrain from voting on issues.

Those voting for Scaffidi, who is also running for mayor in April, were Daniel Bukiewicz and Ken Gehl.

Gehl said he backed Scaffidi because, as council president, there was already a "natural chain of succession."

"You've acknowledged your desire to hold the office of mayor," he said. "It would be my perspective to have a mayor right here and now."

A third candidate is Oak Creek-Franklin School Board member Mark Verhalen, who previously served as an alderman and once ran for mayor.