Marvin Pratt
Encyclopedia
Marvin E. Pratt is an American
politician who served as acting mayor of Milwaukee
, Wisconsin
, in 2004.
, the son of a sailor in the United States Navy
and his wife, Joyce. Pratt's father died in a car accident in 1949. In 1959, he and his family moved to Milwaukee. He joined the United States Air Force
straight out of high school. After serving for nearly four years, he was honorably discharged. He enrolled at Marquette University
in 1968, and graduated in January 1972. He became an intern for mayor Henry Maier and then starting climbing a ladder of local government jobs.
stepped down in 2004 three months before his term expired, Pratt became acting mayor. He was the first African-American to serve as mayor of Milwaukee. Pratt ran in a primary election for the Mayoral seat and finished first from a field of thirteen candidates during the primary. He lost his bid to retain the job to Tom Barrett
in the 2004 general election.
On February 4, 2011, Pratt continued a long career of public service when he was sworn in as interim Milwaukee County Executive. Appointed by County Board Chairman Lee Holloway
, he filled the unexpired term of former Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, who was elected governor of Wisconsin
, until the special Spring Election held on April 5, 2011. Upon swearing in, Pratt became the first person to serve as Milwaukee Mayor and Milwaukee County Executive. On April 5, 2011, Chris Abele
defeated Republican challenger Jeff Stone
, capturing over 61% of the vote and will succeed Pratt to serve out the remainder of then-County Executive Scott Walker
's original term.
get-out-the-vote vans the night before the presidential election on November 2, 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served as acting mayor of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, in 2004.
Early life
Pratt was born in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, the son of a sailor in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and his wife, Joyce. Pratt's father died in a car accident in 1949. In 1959, he and his family moved to Milwaukee. He joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
straight out of high school. After serving for nearly four years, he was honorably discharged. He enrolled at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in 1968, and graduated in January 1972. He became an intern for mayor Henry Maier and then starting climbing a ladder of local government jobs.
Political life
Pratt ran for an aldermanic seat in 1984 and lost to the incumbent Roy B. Nabors. He ran for the same seat and won in a 1986 special election. Upon his election in 1986, Pratt was appointed to the Finance and Personnel Committee where he continuously served as member and eventually Chairman from 1996 to 2000. He became Common Council president in 2000. When mayor John NorquistJohn Norquist
John Olof Norquist is an American politician and 37th mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as mayor from 1988 until he left office in 2004 to lead the Congress for the New Urbanism.-Personal background:...
stepped down in 2004 three months before his term expired, Pratt became acting mayor. He was the first African-American to serve as mayor of Milwaukee. Pratt ran in a primary election for the Mayoral seat and finished first from a field of thirteen candidates during the primary. He lost his bid to retain the job to Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett (politician)
Thomas Mark "Tom" Barrett is the Democratic Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving since 2004. He ran for Governor of Wisconsin in November 2010, losing by a margin of 52 percent to 47 percent to Republican Scott Walker. Previously, Barrett served in the United States House of Representatives...
in the 2004 general election.
On February 4, 2011, Pratt continued a long career of public service when he was sworn in as interim Milwaukee County Executive. Appointed by County Board Chairman Lee Holloway
Lee Holloway
Lee Holloway is a Wisconsin social worker and politician who is serving his second term as chairman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. Since then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker was elected the Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker vacated the office of Milwaukee County Executive...
, he filled the unexpired term of former Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, who was elected governor of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, until the special Spring Election held on April 5, 2011. Upon swearing in, Pratt became the first person to serve as Milwaukee Mayor and Milwaukee County Executive. On April 5, 2011, Chris Abele
Chris Abele
Christopher Seton Abele is the current Milwaukee County Executive, an American business owner and philanthropist and president of the Milwaukee based Argosy Foundation. On December 15, 2010, media reports began to emerge of Abele's intentions to run for the County Executive seat in Milwaukee County...
defeated Republican challenger Jeff Stone
Jeff Stone (Wisconsin politician)
-Biography:Stone was born in Topeka, Kansas. He was raised in Zanesville, Ohio, and graduated from West Muskingum High School before returning to Topeka to attend Washburn University...
, capturing over 61% of the vote and will succeed Pratt to serve out the remainder of then-County Executive Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
's original term.
Family
Pratt married Dianne Sherrill in 1971. They have two children, Michael Pratt and Andrea Pratt-Ellzey. They have five grandchildren. One of his sons, Michael Pratt, was among those convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to six months in jail on April 27, 2006 for his role in the tire slashing of 25 RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
get-out-the-vote vans the night before the presidential election on November 2, 2004.
Electoral history
- 2004 Race for Mayor (Milwaukee)
- Tom BarrettTom Barrett (politician)Thomas Mark "Tom" Barrett is the Democratic Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving since 2004. He ran for Governor of Wisconsin in November 2010, losing by a margin of 52 percent to 47 percent to Republican Scott Walker. Previously, Barrett served in the United States House of Representatives...
(D), 54% - Marvin Pratt(D) (inc.), 46%
- Tom Barrett