Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is one step closer to Luxembourg.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously approved Barrett’s nomination Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg during a 15-minute hearing. Barrett and other nominees will now be sent to the U.S. Senate for approval.
The committee approval was seen as a major hurdle for Barrett, a Democrat, because U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas has previously blocked Biden’s nominations. There are still 20-30 nominees waiting for committee approval.
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In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Barrett said he’s looking forward to serving the country abroad.
“My hope is there is no further delay in the process and our city can begin its own process to fill the office of mayor, without incurring unnecessary costs at the expense of taxpayers,” Barrett said. “I remain committed to every Milwaukee resident in my duties as mayor until the final moment in the office.”
If the Senate confirms Barrett by Dec. 28, the Milwaukee Common Council could order a special election for his seat to coincide with the spring election.
As of Wednesday, seven people had filed papers to run for Barrett’s seat: Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson; Milwaukee Common Council Alder Marina Dimitrijevic; Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas; former Milwaukee alder Robert Donovan, who unsuccessfully challenged Barrett in 2016; Swarmm Events founder Michael Sampson; activist and former Common Council candidate Nicholas McVey; and Sheila Conley-Patterson.
The primary would be held Feb. 15, and the general election would be held April 5. Until then, Johnson would serve as mayor.
President Joe Biden announced Barrett’s nomination to serve as ambassador to the small European nation in August.
Barrett, 67, is one of the country’s longest-serving big city mayors. He was elected to his fifth term as mayor in April 2020. He first became mayor in 2004, when he defeated incumbent Mayor Marvin Pratt.
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