Mellone Endorsed over Schellinger for Alderman

A city committee unanimously recommended Lisa Mellone for appointment to the aldermanic seat she gave up in July to apply for the city clerk’s job.

If the Common Council approves the appointment Tuesday, Mellone will be sworn in and immediately take the seat during the meeting.

After Mellone stepped down, the city sought applicants for the vacant Common Council seat and two people applied: Tom Schellinger, a former alderman and current Waukesha County Board supervisor, and Shawn Conaway, an information technology professional. Conaway later withdrew his name, citing conflicts with his MBA courses.

Mellone was not selected as city clerk. She said she then tried to recruit people to apply but no one was interested and they urged her to do it.

Aldermen on the Common Council’s Legislative and Licensing Committee interviewed Mellone and Schellinger Wednesday night.

Schellinger told the committee that had he known , he might not have applied.

Schellinger served as alderman from 2000 until 2006 when Mellone defeated him. That same election night, Schellinger was elected as a county supervisor. They both have been re-elected since.

Aldermen said Mellone deserved to return to her aldermanic seat because she had served her constituents well and was more specific in her interview about issues facing the 7th district, her priorities and accomplishments.

“She serves her district exceptionally well,” Ald. Bill Carnell said.

Ald. Rick Owen said Mellone was “more comprehensive” with her answers and her handle on current budget and city issues.

Ald. Gary Mahkorn said Mellone “landed running” when elected in 2006 and “has given, in my opinion, her heart and soul” to serving as alderwoman.

Mellone cited as accomplishments helping to create a traffic calming policy, creation of more preschool classes in the city's park and recreation department, adding the Elmbrook School District newsletter to the city's newsletter, more police collaboration with local schools, better accountability and contracts with the Brookfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and prevention of cul-de-sacs south of Blue Mound Road.

Schellinger said he was proud of his time chairing the city's Greenway Corridor committee, saying the trails created before, during and after his time as alderman leave a lasting positive impact on the city. He also pointed to his work to help constituents, such as a man he helped get a flag erected outside his polling site when the city declined to do so.

Mellone’s four-year term expires in 2014. But because she stepped down and it became an appointment, she would have to run for re-election next spring to serve the final two years of the term.

After the committee meeting, Mellone said she was gratified by her peer support.

"I'd be glad to be back to finish the work I started," she said. "I look forward to continuing communication with residents.