Tom Ament was Milwaukee County Executive from 1992-2002. He resigned in the wake of an uproar over the approval of significant pension benefit changes. He was succeeded in office by Scott Walker.

Ament was born on November 17th, 1937.

Ament passed away on March 10th, 2014.

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Content referencing Tom Ament

Murphy’s Law: Who Will Blink on Brewers Subsidy?
Murphy’s Law

Who Will Blink on Brewers Subsidy?

Vos wants a local contribution and Milwaukee officials oppose this. The issue could get very ugly.

Murphy’s Law: Park East Removal Didn’t ‘Devastate’ Downtown
Murphy’s Law

Park East Removal Didn’t ‘Devastate’ Downtown

Controversy over its removal offers lessons to those opposing plan to take down I-794 link.

Back in the News: Actually, County Comptroller Could Get $1.3 Million Backdrop
Back in the News

Actually, County Comptroller Could Get $1.3 Million Backdrop

Or $815,000 if Scott Manske is not reelected. That would save taxpayers $485,000.

Group Pushes Evers to Oust John Chisholm

Group Pushes Evers to Oust John Chisholm

Led by activist Orville Seymer, group sends petition to governor bashing district attorney’s bail policies.

Special Report: Pension Costs Decimated County Services
Special Report

Pension Costs Decimated County Services

New generation of leaders has inherited government unable to pay for parks, buses, buildings and basic services.

Special Report: County Pension Plan’s Costs Still Rising
Special Report

County Pension Plan’s Costs Still Rising

Annual costs rose by 163%, may not be paid off until 2040s. First story in a series.

MKE County: Pension Backdrop Costs Hit $354 Million
MKE County

Pension Backdrop Costs Hit $354 Million

Total cost rose $58 million since 2016, may hit $460 million before all eligible workers retire.

Murphy’s Law: No More County Government Bickering
Murphy’s Law

No More County Government Bickering

Relationship between County Executive Crowley and Board Chair Nicholson is the best in decades.

MKE County: Furloughed Workers May Get Pension Credit
MKE County

Furloughed Workers May Get Pension Credit

Proposal allows county employees furloughed by pandemic to still gain pension credit.

Murphy’s Law: Mr Pension Scandal Wants Your Vote
Murphy’s Law

Mr Pension Scandal Wants Your Vote

John Weishan, who supported infamous pension plan that gouged taxpayers, is running for Register of Deeds.

Murphy’s Law: County Executive College Dropouts
Murphy’s Law

County Executive College Dropouts

For 20 years voters have elected college dropouts to run Milwaukee County. What gives?

The Contrarian: The Rise and Fall of Scott Walker
The Contrarian

The Rise and Fall of Scott Walker

He accomplished much, then was consumed by an insular hubris.

Eyes on Milwaukee: 11 Things to Know Before You Ride The Hop
Eyes on Milwaukee

11 Things to Know Before You Ride The Hop

How many people will ride it? How is it free? Oh so many questions, all answered here.

Murphy’s Law: Norquist Bashes Inspector General Idea
Murphy’s Law

Norquist Bashes Inspector General Idea

Council wants its own watchdog. Former mayor says post is unnecessary.

Wisconsin Residents See Democracy in Decline

Wisconsin Residents See Democracy in Decline

Nationally and here in Wisconsin, citizens feel their voices aren't being heard.

The $400 Million Pension Problem

The $400 Million Pension Problem

Infamous county pension plan's cost may hit $400 million, make many wealthy.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Will County Give Pension to State?
Eyes on Milwaukee

Will County Give Pension to State?

Board approves work group to study state takeover of pension system.

Murphy’s Law: Who’s To Blame for Pension Mess?
Murphy’s Law

Who’s To Blame for Pension Mess?

County’s countless expensive mistakes go back at least 15 years -- and still no solution.

Murphy’s Law: The Rise of Scott Walker
Murphy’s Law

The Rise of Scott Walker

Journal Sentinel’s lo-o-ng series struggles to explain it -- but omits the newspaper's role.

Back in the News: Chisholm Challenger Skips Debate
Back in the News

Chisholm Challenger Skips Debate

Verona Swanigan objects to moderator and drops out of debate with DA John Chisholm.

Murphy’s Law: County Pension Scandal Poster Boys
Murphy’s Law

County Pension Scandal Poster Boys

Six veterans seeking re-election voted for infamous pension plan that ripped off taxpayers.

Murphy’s Law: Who is Scott Walker?
Murphy’s Law

Who is Scott Walker?

The real, profusely documented story of the man who would be president.

Chairwoman Dimitrijevic Responds to Proposals that Would Wipe-Out Public Transparency and Erase Checks and Balances in Milwaukee County Government
Press Release

Chairwoman Dimitrijevic Responds to Proposals that Would Wipe-Out Public Transparency and Erase Checks and Balances in Milwaukee County Government

Requests that Assembly and Senate Remove Item #67 in Motion #999 from the State Budget

Plenty of Horne: Race for Dudzik’s Seat Could Get Heated
Plenty of Horne

Race for Dudzik’s Seat Could Get Heated

Will anti-streetcar group get involved? And did Journal Sentinel exaggerate the number of candidates?

Supervisor Alexander Issues Statement on Pension Buy-In/Buy-Back
Press Release

Supervisor Alexander Issues Statement on Pension Buy-In/Buy-Back

"This problem is not an issue of left versus right, Democrat versus Republican, or even management versus unions."

Murphy’s Law: Will County Pass Another Pension Giveaway?
Murphy’s Law

Will County Pass Another Pension Giveaway?

Board members favor a “grandfather clause” protecting retirees with illegal payments that could cost taxpayers $10 million.

Murphy’s Law: Will Anti-Streetcar Referendum Succeed?
Murphy’s Law

Will Anti-Streetcar Referendum Succeed?

The process is far more complicated legally than has been reported. Which will make it harder for opponents.

The Story Behind the Streetcar Referendum

The Story Behind the Streetcar Referendum

Conservatives from outside Milwaukee hope to join forces with black city residents to oppose the streetcar.

Data Wonk: The Assault on Wisconsin’s Campaign Laws
Data Wonk

The Assault on Wisconsin’s Campaign Laws

Given higher court’s slap-down of Judge Randa’s decisions overthrowing Wisconsin laws, just where does the law now stand?

Feature Story: The Battle Between Walker and Burke
Feature Story

The Battle Between Walker and Burke

They are two wildly different personalities with quite different agendas. A frank look at both candidates for governor.

House Confidential: Power Broker Bill Drew’s Home Office
House Confidential

Power Broker Bill Drew’s Home Office

Drew and his wife, consultant Mary Cannon, made a lot of money working from their lovely West Side colonial home. It's on the Spaces and Traces tour tomorrow.

Obituary: The Troubled Legacy of Tom Ament
Obituary

The Troubled Legacy of Tom Ament

Former county exec’s lucrative pension plan caused scandal, transformed Milwaukee politics, and led way for Scott Walker.

Memo to County Board from County Executive Abele re: Transit
Press Release

Memo to County Board from County Executive Abele re: Transit

Memo from County Executive Chris Abele

Murphy’s Law: Why Didn’t Chisholm Go After Democrats?
Murphy’s Law

Why Didn’t Chisholm Go After Democrats?

Republicans say the John Doe probe proves bias. So does the federal suit against DA. Are they right?

Murphy’s Law: Recall Effort Targets John Chisholm
Murphy’s Law

Recall Effort Targets John Chisholm

DA targeted by right wingers outraged by John Doe and liberal blacks angered by suspects killed in custody.

Murphy’s Law: Will Taxicab Issue Ever Be Settled?
Murphy’s Law

Will Taxicab Issue Ever Be Settled?

City Attorney’s legal opinion helps clarify things, but it’s still a contentious issue.

Murphy’s Law: Tom Ament Strikes Again
Murphy’s Law

Tom Ament Strikes Again

Author of infamous pension plan also devised a 1990 measure giving supervisors unconstitutional power over executive appointees.

Murphy’s Law: The Legacy of Betty Quadracci
Murphy’s Law

The Legacy of Betty Quadracci

Her impact on local journalism and the creation of Quad/Graphics was great -- and greatly underestimated.

Murphy’s Law: The Mystery of Sanfelippo’s Taxicab Empire
Murphy’s Law

The Mystery of Sanfelippo’s Taxicab Empire

Why is Rep. Joe Sanfelippo the registered agent for all of his brother’s many companies?

Murphy’s Law: Myths About a New NBA Arena
Murphy’s Law

Myths About a New NBA Arena

In their zeal to build new, publicly-funded arena, proponents are misleading the community.

Murphy’s Law: Why Republicans Are Wrong About Recalls
Murphy’s Law

Why Republicans Are Wrong About Recalls

The bill to restrict recalls is a naked attempt by political officials to protect their jobs.

Back in the News: County Backdrops
Back in the News

County Backdrops

Unions have filed suit to protect the infamous backdrops, which made many county employees wealthy.

Data: Richest Public Pensions in State History
Data

Richest Public Pensions in State History

Here are the backdrop payments received by 1,712 county employees. 255 collected anywhere from $255,000 to $1 million -- plus a monthly pension.

Murphy’s Law: Why We Need a Part-Time County Board
Murphy’s Law

Why We Need a Part-Time County Board

For 125 years, the board was part-time. Then Tom Ament and company nudged it up to full-time. Why?

Murphy’s Law: The High Cost of the County Board
Murphy’s Law

The High Cost of the County Board

We could save millions and improve efficiency by cutting the county board and its huge staff.

Murphy’s Law: The Mighty County Board
Murphy’s Law

The Mighty County Board

A doormat a decade ago, the board is now far more powerful -- much to Chris Abele’s chagrin.

Murphy’s Law: The Anti-Recall Patriots
Murphy’s Law

The Anti-Recall Patriots

Suddenly it’s become patriotic to oppose recalls. Wouldn’t Tom Ament be surprised.

A New Era For Urban Milwaukee: Bruce Murphy signs on as Editor
A New Era For Urban Milwaukee

Bruce Murphy signs on as Editor

Urban Milwaukee is happy to announce that Bruce Murphy has come aboard as our new editor and columnist, where he will revive his well-known column Murphy’s Law. Among the state’s best-known journalists, Murphy is most celebrated for his stories exposing the Milwaukee County pension scandal, which led to the resignation of County Executive F. Thomas Ament and the recall of seven county supervisors. No scandal in Milwaukee history resulted in more politicians being thrown out of office.

Milwaukee Streetcar Round-Up

Milwaukee Streetcar Round-Up

The Milwaukee circulator streetcar is moving forward, but there is still confusion in the mind of many. We've covered the issue in the past, but this article attempts to bring everything together in one place, the history, the frequently asked questions, and the proposed route.

Milwaukee Transit: The Game and The Players
Milwaukee Transit

The Game and The Players

Understanding the discussion around Milwaukee transit requires an understanding of who has the keys to unlock the federal funds to improve and expand the existing system. We need to lay some groundwork before any discussion on the actual proposals can start.

The Roundup: Shepherd Figure to Run Madison Paper
The Roundup

Shepherd Figure to Run Madison Paper

Capital Papers Puts up the Capital

Murphy’s Law: Karen Ordinans’ Role in Shaping the Pension Plan
Murphy’s Law

Karen Ordinans’ Role in Shaping the Pension Plan

One of the remarkable stories in local government is the continuing survival of County Board chair Karen Ordinans.

Murphy’s Law: Why Unions Don’t Like Scott Walker
Murphy’s Law

Why Unions Don’t Like Scott Walker

Given that Jim Ryan has not closed the door completely on privatizing some government functions, you might wonder why he was endorsed by labor for county executive.

Murphy’s Law: Why Scott McCallum Is In Big Trouble
Murphy’s Law

Why Scott McCallum Is In Big Trouble

It was amusing to see the photo of Gov. McCallum that ran on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week.

Murphy’s Law: Has the Teacher’s Union Taken Over the GOP?
Murphy’s Law

Has the Teacher’s Union Taken Over the GOP?

It was not long ago that the state teacher's union was the designated villain for Republicans.

Murphy’s Law: Is Scott Walker Qualified To Be County Exec?
Murphy’s Law

Is Scott Walker Qualified To Be County Exec?

Rep. Scott K. Walker (R-Wauwatosa) was the first candidate to announce for county executive, and is widely considered one of the front-runners for the position.

Murphy’s Law: Why Ament Will Lose And How Taxpayers Will Suffer
Murphy’s Law

Why Ament Will Lose And How Taxpayers Will Suffer

Tom Ament's suit against the recall petitions will probably fail. That's the prediction of George Dunst, legal counsel for the state elections board.

Murphy’s Law: Is Ament’s Pension Deal Biased Against Blacks?
Murphy’s Law

Is Ament’s Pension Deal Biased Against Blacks?

In the wake of the pension controversy, County Executive F. Thomas Ament has attempted to woo the black community in hopes that strong support there might keep him in office.

Murphy’s Law: Ament’s Sweetheart Insurance Deal For An Old Crony
Murphy’s Law

Ament’s Sweetheart Insurance Deal For An Old Crony

Accusations about cronyism in the Ament administration just keep coming.

Murphy’s Law: Could Bob Ott Be Investigated For Ethical Conflicts?
Murphy’s Law

Could Bob Ott Be Investigated For Ethical Conflicts?

Milwaukee County is beginning to resemble the plot of And Then There Were None. One by one, top officials are disappearing from the courthouse.

Murphy’s Law: The Real Story Behind The Sheriff’s Departure
Murphy’s Law

The Real Story Behind The Sheriff’s Departure

There is bad smell surrounding the retirement of Sheriff Lev Baldwin.

Murphy’s Law: How Ament Prevented Any Research of the Pension Plan
Murphy’s Law

How Ament Prevented Any Research of the Pension Plan

Over and over the question has recurred: why would county supervisors, most of whom will not get the more lucrative pension payoff for veteran workers, approve this deal?

Murphy’s Law: Did Ament’s Aides Conspire to Replace the Chair of Personnel?
Murphy’s Law

Did Ament’s Aides Conspire to Replace the Chair of Personnel?

Did Tom Ament's aides scheme to replace the chair of the county board's personnel committee so they could get their blockbuster pension plan passed?

Murphy’s Law: How Gary Dobbert’s Buddies Got Yet Another Pension Benefit
Murphy’s Law

How Gary Dobbert’s Buddies Got Yet Another Pension Benefit

It's hard to believe there could be any more scandal associated with the Milwaukee County, but it turns out there was yet another group of insiders handed a neat pension boost by the administration of County Executive F. Thomas Ament.

Murphy’s Law: What Karen Ordinans Really Thought About Ament’s Pension
Murphy’s Law

What Karen Ordinans Really Thought About Ament’s Pension

It’s been amusing to hear County Board chair Karen Ordinans declare her outrage about the county pension plan.

Murphy’s Law: How To Kill Ament’s Pension
Murphy’s Law

How To Kill Ament’s Pension

Now that the mainstream media is having a feeding frenzy over the pension story I first broke back in October, Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament has gotten religion.

Murphy’s Law: The Bitter Feud Between the Bradley Center and Wisconsin Center
Murphy’s Law

The Bitter Feud Between the Bradley Center and Wisconsin Center

The "negotiations" by the Bradley Center and the Wisconsin Center District have begun to resemble the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys.

Murphy’s Law: How Mayor Norquist’s Salary Cut Lowers Property Taxes
Murphy’s Law

How Mayor Norquist’s Salary Cut Lowers Property Taxes

John Norquist styles himself as a budget cutter, but few are aware of how personally he has taken that mission.

Murphy’s Law: How The County’s Pension Fund Grew And Benefited A Few
Murphy’s Law

How The County’s Pension Fund Grew And Benefited A Few

Last year was a terrible year for stock funds, but it wasn't so bad for Milwaukee County's pension fund.

Murphy’s Law: How Tom Ament Gave Himself a Golden Parachute
Murphy’s Law

How Tom Ament Gave Himself a Golden Parachute

Observers have often described county government as an "old boy's club," where veteran politicos and long-term county employees get preferential treatment.

Murphy’s Law: Will Taxes Be the Key Issue in the Governor’s Race?
Murphy’s Law

Will Taxes Be the Key Issue in the Governor’s Race?

In the wake of the tragedy in New York and Washington, the Democratic candidates for governor have slowed down their campaigning, but they have been strategizing as to what the major issues will be in next fall's election.

Murphy’s Law: Why the State Doesn’t Hate Tom Ament Any More
Murphy’s Law

Why the State Doesn’t Hate Tom Ament Any More

Time was when Milwaukee County was a favorite whipping boy of the state.

Murphy’s Law: Milwaukee’s Mighty Economy Crushes Other Nations
Murphy’s Law

Milwaukee’s Mighty Economy Crushes Other Nations

Milwaukee has a new way to brag about itself.

Murphy’s Law: Is Wisconsin Short-Changed By Its Top Foundation?
Murphy’s Law

Is Wisconsin Short-Changed By Its Top Foundation?

With the resignation of Michael Joyce, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is looking for a new president.

Political veteran Mathews to head Marcus Center
Citation

Political veteran Mathews to head Marcus Center