Milwaukee’s search for a new leader at the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has become more complicated after the board reopened its shortlist upon discovering some finalists were tied to litigation. The move adds pressure on an agency already under federal oversight and dealing with major financial and staffing challenges.
Board adds four finalists amid scrutiny
At a Jan. 30 meeting, commissioners voted to consider four finalists for the top job: Ralph Jordan, Harold Ince, Keon Jackson and Berdie Cowser. The move expanded a shortlist that had been narrowed to two candidates and came as board members and resident advocates pressed for deeper background checks while HACM continues to operate without several senior executives. According to Urban Milwaukee, the board’s decision reflected concern over how thoroughly candidate histories were vetted the first time around.
Lawsuits in candidates' pasts complicate the search
Two of the finalists have recent legal entanglements that are now shadowing the process. Harold Ince is named in a federal lawsuit connected to his 2024 departure from the Flint Housing Commission. Ralph Jordan filed a complaint in Aurora on Jan. 2 that was dismissed a few days later, as reported by TMJ4. Those filings have fueled tenant groups and some commissioners who are demanding fuller disclosure of the finalists’ records before anyone gets the keys to the agency.
Search consultant warns of résumé red flags
Board consultant Stan Quy reminded commissioners that inflated résumés are hardly rare, telling them that roughly 40% of résumés contain some form of exaggeration. He said one of the two candidate issues had been known to the search committee, while the other surfaced later in the process. Commissioner Howard Snyder said there were “two red flags” he wanted the board to understand before moving ahead, according to Urban Milwaukee.
Leadership gaps strain day-to-day work
All of this is unfolding while HACM struggles with financial shortfalls and churn in its senior ranks, a backdrop that residents say makes the hire feel especially high stakes. The agency fell behind on Section 8 payments for hundreds of households earlier this winter, though interim director Ken Barbeau has said that outstanding vouchers will be paid. Barbeau has also said he does not intend to pursue the permanent job, including in an interview with Shepherd Express.
What comes next
The board says it will continue vetting the finalists and conduct in-person interviews before making a selection. That could slow the timeline as commissioners balance pressure to fill the job quickly with a desire for more exhaustive background checks. Resident advocates and tenant groups say they want the board to put transparency about candidates’ records front and center, along with a clear plan for fixing long-standing maintenance and payment problems.
Legal implications
The recent or ongoing lawsuits pose reputational and procedural questions for an agency monitored by HUD. Commissioners must weigh each candidate’s operational experience against the risks of bringing in someone who has fresh litigation on their record. With one case already dismissed and another still pending, the board is left with a tricky calculation over how much legal baggage it is willing to accept in HACM’s next leader.
