"Frank Zeidler, last Socialist mayor, dies"

[mark414]

MILWAUKEE - Frank Zeidler, a former Milwaukee mayor who was the last Socialist to run a major American city, has died. He was 93.

Zeidler died late Friday of congestive heart failure and diverticulitis, hospital spokesman Gregg Hartzog said. He led Milwaukee from 1948 through 1960.

Born in Milwaukee on Sept. 20, 1912, Zeidler was part of the Socialist Party's city stronghold, which was fueled by German immigrants who flocked there. The party had thousands of members, a congressional seat and control of the mayor's office for nearly a half-century, ending with Zeidler.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060708/ap_on_re_us/obit_zeidler

as a native wisconsinite i can tell you that this is a man who stuck up for his beliefs and worked hard for change until the last days of his life...he will be greatly missed...this country would be a much better place if we had more people like frank zeidler

EDITED to add a link (and a better story) from the Milwaukee paper:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=459264