Thursday, April 14, 2022
Following in the footsteps of Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt, Cavalier Johnson became the second Black mayor and first elected Black mayor of Milwaukee in April 2022. Johnson won a special election on April 5 and was sworn into office on April 13, 2022.
Milwaukee Public Schools is celebrating Mayor Johnson! A lifetime resident of Milwaukee, Johnson graduated from Bay View High School in 2005 and received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2016, he became council president in 2018 and then acting mayor in 2021 following Mayor Tom Barrett’s appointment as ambassador to Luxembourg.
Johnson’s inauguration included a heartfelt speech from his 2nd-grade teacher from Parkview School, Carolyn Neumann. She proudly shared, “Seeing Cavalier grow up to be elected mayor of the City of Milwaukee has made me incredibly proud. His success is my success and indeed the success of every educator from Milwaukee Public Schools who has helped him along the way. I wish him nothing but the best as he takes the helm of the great city of Milwaukee.”
In his inaugural address, Johnson pledged to make Milwaukee a city of transformation, not only in visible ways such as buildings and landmarks, but by culturing a sense of optimism, unity, and partnerships. He also expressed his wishes to reduce crime, increase safety, and leverage opportunity.
Milwaukee stands at the threshold of a new era under the leadership of Mayor Johnson and County Executive David Crowley. These two MPS alumni make us #MPSProud!