WAUWATOSA, Wis. — After spending hours recounting votes, candidate Sean Lowe has officially become the first Black man to be elected to the City of Wauwatosa's Common Council.
Lowe has become the next alderman of District 5, beating incumbent Rob Gustafson, after the aldermanic race ended in a tie on Election Day.
There was a tie at 702-702 with one provisional ballot outstanding. That provisional ballot, opened three days later, had Lowe's name written on it, which broke the tie, and ultimately prompted a recount.
"We're trying to keep things fair and equitable," Wauwatosa City Clerk Steven Braatz said. "It pretty much recounts the entire number of votes on Election Day and if you don't go by the book, things can be missed and that's unfair."
Now that the recount is complete, Lowe says he is looking forward to serving his city and making some major changes.
"I'm definitely going to be focusing on affordable housing," Lowe said. "I'm going to look to get a ban on no-knock warrants, and make sure that our county grounds are protected. It means the world to me to be able to make history alongside Margaret Arney and have that type of representation on the common council."
