Frank Zeidler passes

The Journal Sentinel is reporting that former Milwaukee mayor Frank Zeidler has died from congestive heart failure at 93.

Zeidler was Milwaukee's third and last Socialist mayor, and served from 1948 to 1960. His brother Carl also served as mayor from 1940 to 1942, but left to serve in World War II where he was killed.

Frank Zeidler was instrumental in expanding the city of Milwaukee during an era of suburbanization. The size of the city doubled during his three terms. He expanded the parks, fought for civil rights, and worked with the feds on improving Milwaukee's highway system. He ran for president as the Socialist Party's candidate in 1976.

Zeidler resided Milwaukee's north side, near 2nd and Locust, where he had lived since 1946.