Joel Plant, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's neighborhood liaison, this week ended his job with the city. He's leaving (pending final approval) for a job as chief of staff with the Milwaukee Police Department, in his hometown, after five years here.
Plant worked for two years as Madison's alcohol policy coordinator and for the past three years as its neighborhood liaison.
"I've learned a lot of things about process," he reflects, "[such as] who needs to be at the table when you have a proposal. It's a lot easier to be broad at the beginning and then narrow your focus." He urges his replacement to "listen first."
And lash out later. Asked about his soon-to-be-former boss, Plant offers some pointed criticism: "He's a terrible duck hunter. If you are a duck you are very safe when Mayor Dave is around."
Rachel Strauch-Nelson, the mayor's spokeswoman, says he intends to fill Plant's position as soon as possible.