Milwaukee Common Council Ald. Jonathan Brostoff and former Ald. Terry Witkowski have died

Milwaukee Common Council Ald. Jonathan Brostoff (State legislative headshot) and former Ald. Terry Witkowski (

Milwaukee Common Council Ald. Jonathan Brostoff and former Ald. Terry Witkowski have died, according to a Monday release from the Milwaukee mayor’s office. 

Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a statement that he is “extremely saddened” by the passing of both men.

Brostoff, 41, was elected to the Common Council in November 2022 to represent a district on the east side of Milwaukee. Prior to the Common Council, Brostoff served in the state Assembly for eight years after being first elected in 2014. 

“Jonathan brought a unique energy to his work at City Hall. His passion and dedication were evident every day,” Johnson said. “No elected official brought more enthusiasm to their work than Jonathan. He was a husband, a father, a son, and, to me, a close friend. My thoughts and sympathy go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

According to records from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office shared with the mayor’s office, an autopsy will be conducted on Tuesday. The death is being investigated as a suicide.

Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife Kathy Evers are “shocked and saddened” by Brostoff’s passing.

“Jonathan’s passing is a tragedy to all who knew him and for many whose lives have been bettered because of his service and advocacy. As a legislator, Jonathan was always eager to seek the good in others, always working in earnest to bridge divides and bring people together of different backgrounds and perspectives,” Evers said. He noted Brostoff’s work to support the deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing community, advocacy to increase local government funding and to expand access to mental health services, saying Brostoff was “fully devoted” to the work and was “relentless in pursuing the change he believed in.”

“We are keeping his wife, Diana, their four young kids, their families and friends and all whose who knew and loved Jonathan close to our hearts,” Evers said. “We lost him far, far too soon.” 

Several other local elected officials mourned Brostoff’s passing in statements on Tuesday. 

“Jonathan was a loving father and husband, and greeted everyone he met with empathy and kindness. He was also a passionate advocate for the betterment of our community, and dedicated his professional life to the people he represented. It was an honor to have served in office with him, and he will be missed,” members of the Common Council said in a joint statement. 

The council asked people to respect the family’s privacy in this time of grief.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said the county “lost a beloved leader, partner, and dear friend” and that he was “devastated” by the passing. 

“Our friendship goes back to our days of community organizing, where we discovered our shared passion for improving Milwaukee County. From there, Jonathan and I worked our way up, eventually serving together in the Wisconsin State Legislature,” Crowley, who served in the Legislature from 2017 through 2020, said. “Every day, we walked through the halls of the State Capitol to support working families, build healthier communities, and foster a brighter future for our children. After our time in Madison, Jonathan was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, where he continued working on behalf of the people. Jonathan never lost sight of why he ran for office: To make a difference in the lives of all Milwaukeeans.” 

“Jonathan consistently brought new ideas, contagious energy, and endless optimism to every room he entered. When he saw an opportunity to benefit his constituents, he seized it. When he saw a challenge to overcome, he worked with others to address it. Throughout the years, Jonathan and I remained close friends and colleagues. We should all learn from Jonathan’s leadership, compassion, and genuine love for those around him,” Crowley continued. “My heart and prayers are with his wife, their children, and the many Wisconsinites who also consider Jonathan what I did: a dear friend.”

Witkowski, who was elected to the Common Council in 2003 in a special election, represented part of the city’s southside for more than 15 years. He stepped down from the position in 2019. Before that, he spent more than 30 years working for the city, including as the Milwaukee Safety Commission’s Safety Director. 

TMJ4 reports that Witkowski died of natural causes.

Johnson offered his condolences to Witkowski’s family and friends. 

“Terry spent most of his professional life serving the people of our city,” Johnson said in a statement. “As the long-time leader of the Milwaukee Safety Commission, he led a variety of efforts to protect our residents. Then, in his service on the Milwaukee Common Council, Terry was a champion for his southside District.  Every time I hear or see a reference to the Garden District, I will think of Terry’s work.”

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.