Political maneuvering yields a divided Council during Presidency vote

After the election, we discussed the winners and losers. We also highlighted how newly-elected Alderman John Nelson could play a pivotal role in Council votes. Based on last night's meeting, it looks like we have a lot to discuss.

Alderman Nelson's middle-of-the-road role came to an abrupt end. He nominated Alderman Steve Taylor for Council President. Taylor's Presidency bid came as a bit of shock, since there were no rumblings at City Hall that Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm was interested in giving up the post.

FT concluded something was up when Taylor posted a picture on Facebook of him and Mayor Steve Olson chatting it up over lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse in Greendale last week (see picture above). Olson and Taylor, longtime adversaries, breaking bread together (literally) was an eye-opener. I contacted Taylor later that evening regarding how things went. The typical chatty side disappeared in favor of "thumbs-up" emojis.

It looks like Taylor took no time to reassess the Council dynamic and went to bat, taking advantage of the departure of Wilhelm ally Susanne Mayer with Taylor ally Nelson taking her place. It doesn't take much to surmise that part of the "Longhorn Agreement" - as we shall come to call this - probably had to do with Taylor rising to the role of Council President by maneuvering around former allies and taking on some votes from the opposition.

By bringing on Olson allies Aldermen Mark Dandrea and Mike Barber, Taylor would have the Presidency wrapped up nicely in a bow with the additional vote of Nelson. Nelson would late be the one to nominate Taylor. Former pals Wilhelm and Dan Mayer be damned, or so it seemed.

Unfortunately for Taylor, it looks like Olson had other plans. Either that, or Olson's Council allies viewed a vote for Taylor as too tough to swallow. When the Council Presidency came up, a new situation unfolded.

Taylor, known for his "Et tu, Brute?" moments, likely inserted himself into a Presidency before consulting on Wilhelm's intentions. He enjoys a power role and an added title and probably led to Wilhelm deciding not to toss her hat in the ring at all. As we discussed, Taylor’s new bud Nelson nominated Taylor in what appears as a planned grab for Presidency. And then, the stunner...

Alderman Barber nominates Dandrea.

Taylor now has a different set of numbers to circulate around in his head. Where are his four votes going to come from? He'd have to rely on the original gang - Wilhelm and Dan Mayer - to keep the votes up in his favor.

It didn't happen.

One of those two kept voting for Dandrea - causing a 3-3 tie. In what's a laughable moment for FT, it pitted Olson in a precarious spot.

Does Olson support the "Longhorn Agreement", or back his campaign treasurer, neighbor and longtime Council ally?

Olson's response? He doesn't take a side. Instead, he chooses to let the Council go for another round of ballots. The result of Round 2? The same.

3-3.

Why not nominate someone else at this time? Perhaps Wilhelm could rise up from the dust and take her Presidency role back? No other nominations can be considered once the voting begins, leaving other options not in play.

So they go at it a third time. Then a fourth. How about a fifth?

Still 3-3.

Finally, after Round 6, Mayor Olson steps up to the plate and ends the madness before it goes into an all-night session.

Who does Olson pick?

None other than Alderman Dandrea.

While Taylor surely can be upset over the vote and backstab by Olson and his pals (it was), he should also look at the other picture - the one where he didn't have a Longhorn Agreement in the first place and kept the status-quo of Wilhelm remaining on as Council President. Because in that scenario, it's reasonable to assume Wilhelm would have had four votes - Wilhelm, Taylor, Nelson and likely Dan Mayer, who has supported Wilhelm's Presidency in the past and tends to share similar concerns she has with Olson's leadership skills (or lack thereof).

So now, thanks to all that unnecessary political chess, Olson outmaneuvered Taylor at his own game and planted his own campaign treasurer as Council President.