Oak Creek Mayor Resigns to Join WTMJ as Talk Show Host

OAK CREEK, WI — After announcing he wasn't seeking another term as mayor in late 2016, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi made a major announcement Tuesday, saying that he is resigning his position in order to join WTMJ radio as an afternoon talk show host.

According to news posted on WTMJ Tuesday morning, Scaffidi will team with WTMJ Executive Producer Erik Bilstad to create the "Scaffidi and Bilstad" show which will run from noon-3 p.m. during the week.

In a statement posted on the WTMJ web site, Scaffidi said, “I’m looking forward to joining WTMJ to inform and entertain the listeners with honest conversation as a conservative. Now more than ever we need quality news, information and perspective on-air. I can’t wait to get started,” said Steve Scaffidi. “It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Oak Creek. It will always be home.”

Mayor Steve Says Done

Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi announced in Sept. 2016 that he was not going to run for a third term. His current term ran through April 2018.

According to a report from FOX 6 News, he’s always planned to serve only two terms and he thinks it’s time to see what someone else can do as mayor. Mayor Scaffidi says he’d like to give whoever is the next mayor plenty of time to plan for a run.

Scaffidi was first elected to the Oak Creek Common Council in 2009.

Mayor Steve Takes office in 2012

When Scaffidi was elected mayor in April 2012, big decisions awaited on the redevelopment of the former Delphi site, 7929 S. Howell Ave., which was arguably the top issue throughout the campaign.
At the time, Scaffidi has said the city must study carefully and consider residents' input in the type of businesses that will go on the empty 85 acres at the corner of Drexel and Howell.

Fast forward three years later, and Drexel Town Square is the city's pristine new municipal complex and one of the hottest development sites in the Milwaukee area.

Tragedy in 2012

Scaffidi was acting mayor when seven people, including the gunman, died after a shooting rampage at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek Aug. 5, 2012.
President Obama called Scaffidi that week to offer his condolences to the city. "His words were very comforting on a very difficult day," Scaffidi tweeted at the time.

In the tragic aftermath, Police Chief John Edwards and Mayor Steve Scaffidi spoke to countless reporters and camera crews, trying to put into words for the nation what happened in their city the day before. He spoke and acted with Sikh leaders and community members alike as the shock of the tragedy gave way to the lengthy process of healing.

Development in 2016

Then there was the May 2016 news that IKEA was planning to open a store in Oak Creek.

The news was a huge splash for the suburban Milwaukee community that Scaffidi said is positioned to see approximately $500 million in new development by the end of next year.

>>> image via Patch.com File Photo