The Milwaukee Common Council has unanimously voted for Ald. Ashanti Hamilton to serve as the Common Council President for its 2016-20 term.

The vote happened this morning during the Council’s Charter Meeting in the third floor Council Chamber at Historic City Hall.

Ald. Milele A. Coggs initially shared the news on Monday of the Council’s majority decision to support a new direction in leadership. In her statement, Ald. Coggs said she was proud to support Ald. Hamilton for Council President.

"He has a collaborative and results-oriented approach to getting things done that is sorely needed at this time in our city’s history, and he has the unique ability to work with all sides, all players to make progress on the issues and policies that we must address now to move Milwaukee to a better place for all citizens," Ald. Coggs said.

President Hamilton said he is committed to bringing the Council together to build bridges across communities and is dedicated to finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. "I am humbled and excited to have the support and trust of my colleagues on the Common Council," he said. "I look forward to a new era of unity in the City of Milwaukee and beyond. It is time for us to look at what brings us together and work toward a transformation of Milwaukee as we currently know it."

President Hamilton is a native of Milwaukee who grew up on the North Side and attended Riverside High School. After high school, he attended Marquette University, and while there he joined several organizations, including Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. He received his B.A. degree in English and became a teacher, and later earned his Juris Doctor degree from Thurgood Marshall Law School at Texas Southern University.

President Hamilton was first elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2004 and re-elected again in 2008, 2012 and most recently earlier this month (April 5) by an overwhelming margin. As an elected official, President Hamilton has sponsored numerous successful and groundbreaking pieces of legislation, and he was recently appointed to the MATC (Milwaukee Area Technical College) Board of Directors.

President Hamilton and his wife Rosha are parents to five daughters.