Jeanette Kowalik unanimously confirmed as Milwaukee health commissioner by aldermen

Milwaukee has a new leader for its troubled Health Department, nearly eight months after the city's former health commissioner resigned amid reports the agency had failed to follow up with families of lead-poisoned children. 

The Common Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to confirm Milwaukee native Jeanette Kowalik as the city's health commissioner.

Before Wednesday's vote, Ald. Bob Donovan stressed the need for a "smooth transition" as Kowalik takes over for Patricia McManus, who has been serving as interim commissioner since February.

"It is our sincere hope that this community, this council, never go through what's transpired in the Health Department at the very least for the last six or seven months — and certainly for years — as indicated through our investigation," Donovan said. "Dr. Kowalik has a great deal of work ahead of her."

Her supporters packed the Common Council chambers and erupted into applause and cheers following the 14-0 confirmation vote.

Kowalik, who was picked by Mayor Tom Barrett to lead the agency in July, was sworn in by City Clerk Jim Owczarski shortly after Wednesday's meeting.

Her salary will be $129,500 per year.

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Kowalik called for a new era of transparency and accountability for the department, which has also struggled with its family planning, cancer screening, and sexually transmitted infection testing programs. She has also called for the establishment of a Board of Health for the department, which would be an oversight body composed of community members and clinical representatives. 

After being sworn in, Kowalik thanked a long list of supporters and officials as well as her family.

"My son, who's here, has been an inspiration since he was born in 1998," she said.

Kowalik, who's been working for a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, said she was especially excited to return to her hometown and help "move things forward" in Milwaukee.

"I can't even describe how I feel," Kowalik said. "Other than I'm holding it in. I want to just like cry tears of joy. But it's a wonderful moment of my life that I'm able to come home to serve."

Kowalik added Wednesday she hopes to serve as a mentor for others in the community, especially young people.

"My hope, not only as being the health commissioner, is also to coach and mentor and inspire others to pursue their passion and their dreams," she said. "We need more change makers in this community."

Kowalik has said her priorities for the department would include combating the city's lead crisis; reducing infant mortality; lowering rates of sexually transmitted infections; trying to erase racial disparities; and improving staff morale.

"We need to be able to move things forward, and take away the tensions and the negative things that are happening in this community," she said.

Asked about being confirmed despite having past financial struggles, she urged people not to be discouraged from doing public service or running for office because of things that happened in their past.

"My rule is just to be transparent and open about it. Don't lie about it. Don't try to hide it, because it will come out," Kowalik said. "Just be straight up about it. Own your story, and be able to move your story into greatness."

Barrett celebrated Kowalik's confirmation.

"It was great to see she has such widespread support, and I think that reflects the work that she has done in the community and her background. She's ready to hit the ground running, and there's a lot of work that needs to be done in the Health Department," Barrett said. "We are certainly going to support her in every way we can, because we want her to succeed. If she succeeds, the city succeeds."

Barrett said making sure "the homes are at a place where children can be safe" is a priority for him.

"I want to be at the point, sooner rather than later, where I can report to the people of this city that we had identified problems in the Health Department, and now those problems are resolved," he said.