Terry Witkowski to step down as alderman of Milwaukee's 13th District

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee alderman announced Thursday his intention to step down, mid-term, from his 13th District seat next week.

The news of Witkowski's resignation comes weeks after he came under fire for comments he made in a quarterly newsletter. However, Witkowski said the timing has nothing to do with his comments, but that it's been something in the works since last fall.

"I'm surprised to see you here. I've never known that a 74-year-old man deciding to retire was big news in the City of Milwaukee," Witkowski said during a press conference Thursday evening.

"Well, I tell you what, I'm not younger. Am I healthy? For the most part, yes. I'm not quitting for health reasons," said Witkowski, who's held the position for 15 years. "But the clock is ticking and I'd like to enjoy a little bit of life. Also, I think the City of Milwaukee is in great shape."

Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton was on-hand for Witkowski's press conference, detailing the next steps to call special election as soon as possible.

"We will be moving forward with a special election at the time Witkowski makes his formal submission of his resignation, so we can start putting the dates together to get a representative in the 13th," said Hamilton. "We're looking to make that announcement next week. From the looks of it the time schedules, the way the statute is written, if there's a primary, that primary will be mid-July. And the general election would be mid-August."

Witkowski came under fire earlier this month for comments he made in a constituent newsletter regarding City Hall politics and that "councils vote by the color of their skin."

Witkowski disputed the timing those comments and his announcement to step down from his post.

"You got one man's opinion from where my seat was in the house," Witkowski said when questioned about the timing. "It was not meant to be an indictment of anyone. It was me talking to my constituents in a newsletter."

Witkowski said his resignation will be effective May 30. He was first elected to the Common Council in 2003 in a special election to fill the seat vacated by then-Alderman Jeff Pawlinski. Pawlinski was sentenced by a federal judge in 2003 to eight months in prison after he pleaded guilty to defrauding his campaign fund.

On Tuesday, two days before Witkowski's announcement, a person filed to challenge Witkowski in the 2020 spring elections: Witkowski's current aide, Scott Spiker. FOX6 reached out to Spiker, but haven't heard back. Witkowski said he hasn't endorsed any candidate, but expects the field to be a large one.

Witkowski's announcement Thursday, came in the form of a letter as noted below: