Brookfield City Hall is in transition after Mayor Steven V. Ponto announced Saturday that he will take a leave of absence from his post. While he is away, Common Council President Gary Mahkorn will step in and handle the mayoral duties. Ponto's note did not give any indication of when he might return, and city officials have not released further information.
How the change became public
The shift in leadership first surfaced in coverage by TMJ4, which reported that Ald. Sara Monty shared Ponto's letter on Facebook. In that letter, Ponto wrote that he was taking a leave "due to my personal, physical or mental disability or absence." According to TMJ4, Mahkorn "will take over the mayoral responsibilities until Ponto returns."
Who will take over
Mahkorn, a veteran alderman who serves as Common Council President, will act as mayor in the interim. City records list him as council president and show him presiding over recent meetings, which positions him to assume the mayoral role while Ponto is away, according to City of Brookfield meeting minutes. Those records also show Mahkorn chairing council committees and appearing frequently in official documents this year.
Ponto's tenure and local context
Steve Ponto has led Brookfield for more than a decade after first winning the mayor's office in 2010, local coverage of the 2026 mayoral race notes. WUWM profiled Ponto during this year's campaign and highlighted his long tenure and involvement in city planning and redevelopment discussions. He has remained a visible figure in recent debates over development projects and municipal services.
What residents should know
For now, there is no public timeline for Ponto's return. As of this report, there has been no official update on how long the leave might last, according to TMJ4. Residents who want the latest word from City Hall can monitor the City of Brookfield's official online pages or contact the city directly. Brookfield City Hall is located at 2000 N. Calhoun Road in Brookfield.
