Holloway takes oath

Lee Holloway is sworn in as Milwaukee County Executive by County Circuit Court Chief Judge Jeffrey A. Kremers during a special ceremony at the County Courthouse Tuesday. (Kemp photo)

Another chapter in Wisconsin Black history was written Tuesday when Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway took the oath to become Milwaukee County Executive at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

Holloway assumes the post after former Milwaukee County Executive and Governor-elect Scott Walker stepped down this week so that he can assume the office of governor on January 3.

Holloway will hold the post for 30 days, or until he names an interim county executive. That interim executive will hold the position until an April 5 election is held to fill the remaining year on Walker’s county executive term.

In the meantime, he has appointed Milwaukee County Supervisor Michael Mayo acting board chairman.

A host of city, county and state officials, community leaders and well-wishers witnessed the historic event that included a military honor guard. During his inuaguaral speech, Holloway outlined an ambitious agenda that would focus on transit (during his remarks Holloway proposed increasing the sales tax or finding other means of financing county transit), cut mental health costs and selling county services to other municipalities.

Holloway also outlined a plan for attracting federal Medicaid dollars to help cover60% of the cost of treating acute care patients. This would reportedly result in saving a large amount of property tax dollars from the current mental health budget, which amounts to $200 million.