Virginia's Mayor Jeanne Zeidler Remembers Her Father
marco [reprint - Hampton Roads Daily wires], 12.07.2006 08:26
Here's a feature story about Frank Zeidler's daughter Jeanne.
I clipped it in fair use because it was written by a group
where no one had the courage to attach their name to a byline.
Figures. Only in Amerikan corporate journalism, eh?
Frank Zeidler At Onopa Brewery
Williamsburg's mayor remembers her father
A former Milwaukee mayor and staunch Socialist, Frank Zeidler dies at 93.
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
July 11, 2006
Four days after Williamsburg Mayor Jeanne Zeidler was re-elected by the City Council to the city's top public office, her father, former Milwaukee Mayor Frank Zeidler, died. He was 93.
Frank Zeidler, the last Socialist to run a major American city, died Friday of congestive heart failure and diverticulitis, hospital spokesman Gregg Hartzog said. Frank Zeidler led Milwaukee from 1948 through 1960.
Jeanne Zeidler, Williamsburg's first female mayor, remembered her father on Monday as a great influence on her path to public office.
"He taught me to listen to people and to try to address their concerns and needs," she said.
Calling him an "incredible person," she said he taught her what was important in a community: strong public education, libraries, public transportation and good housing.
Also, she said, "He taught me how to run a good meeting."
Born in Milwaukee on Sept. 20, 1912, Frank Zeidler was part of the Socialist Party's city stronghold, which was fueled by German immigrants who flocked there.
The party had thousands of members, a congressional seat and control of the mayor's office for nearly a half-century, ending with him.
His three terms as mayor were marked by large-scale construction of public housing, creation of the first educational television station in Wisconsin and city beautification programs.
He also made strong statements on behalf of civil rights, and Milwaukee became the 11th-largest city in the United States by the end of his term, Jeanne Zeidler said.
Frank Zeidler said the word "socialism" was discredited when Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler used it in their rhetoric. He remained an ardent Socialist until his death, serving as chairman of the national Socialist Party, even as numbers dwindled.
He wrote a 1,022-page manuscript in 1962 called "A Liberal in City Government" that was a memoir and a reflection on municipal government.
It was finally published last year.
"I thought I would discharge the contents of my mind," he said of his work. He ran for president unsuccessfully in 1976, receiving about 6,000 votes.
___________________________________
The closest they come to attributing this story is by saying
at the end, "Staff writer Carol Scott contributed to this report."
Kudos to her I guess.
[ref]=[ http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-70984sy0jul11,0,5769276.story?coll=dp-news-local-final]
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