Tom Barrett and Milwaukee's "Collective Soul"

Of course, the verdicts of the Frank Jude Jr. trial were the main event yesterday. But beyond the actual outcome, I found reaction to the three convictions and one acquittal interesting. At a news conference after the verdicts were announced, I thought it was somewhat striking the way Steve Biskupic, Nan Hegerty and Mayor Tom Barrett addressed the media, and through them, the public. Both Biskupic and Hegerty seemed much more comfortable speaking than Barrett did. They didn't read their remarks. They weren't staring at notes when they made their comments. They made eye contact and thereby established more of a connection with the people. Barrett, on the other hand, sort of awkwardly read his prepared statement. There's nothing wrong at all with having something prepared to say, but Barrett seemed like he was an aide reading the mayor's statement rather than the mayor, leader of the city, addressing the people in his own words. Here's the text of his statement.

“With today’s verdict, I hope that Frank Jude and his family will be able to find some peace and move forward now that those responsible for the horrific beating on October 24, 2004 are being held accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney's office for its work on this case. This is not a day of celebration. The events that transpired that night stunned and repulsed the entire City. It is my hope that today’s verdict will prompt a renewal of our sense of community and lift our collective soul so that Milwaukee can move forward. The ugly imprint the brutal beating of Frank Jude has left on Milwaukee is a lasting one.The events of that October, 2004 night will not be forgotten. As we move forward, we must be aware of past events, as traumatic as they may have been, and do everything we can to prevent them from occurring again.”

I don't have a problem with the statement. It hits the right notes -- acknowledging the brutality of the beating and Jude's tremendous suffering, talking about healing and moving forward. Although it's very easy to speak of healing in the community compared to actually achieving it, Barrett is right to point out the need for the city to come together, not to forget about what happened to Jude but to learn from his nightmare. It's not what Barrett said that was troublesome to me. It was how he said it. The way Barrett read his remarks detracted from his message. He's been the mayor for well over two years now and he still doesn't seem comfortable in the role. Barrett had plenty of time to prepare his statement. He had to know what he wanted to say to the people of Milwaukee after the verdicts were read. It's not like he didn't know he'd be called on to comment when the verdicts were reached. I'm not suggesting that Barrett wasn't sincere in what he said; but it didn't seem like he was speaking from the heart. There was something rather forced about it. I was really put off by the way he so obviously read his statement. In short, Barrett projects a kind of detachment, as though he's not part of the city's "collective soul." He seems distant, like he's an outsider or a bystander, as though he's not fully immersed in his position. I believe Barrett does care about the city and the people of Milwaukee. I often don't agree with him but I don't question his desire to be a genuinely good mayor. However, putting political differences completely aside, I don't think he has successfully reached out to residents on that more intimate, personal level. A good mayor needs to be more than just someone occupying the office. It's more than just a job. The individual needs to really be the mayor -- the leader, the voice that unites, the embodiment of the city's "collective soul." It's evident to me, particularly on a day like yesterday, one that had the potential to be absolutely explosive, that Barrett hasn't managed to find his voice yet as mayor of Milwaukee.