Mayor dumps Keller from Alcosan

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is putting his 25-year-old brother Adam on the Alcosan board, and jettisoning Dan Keller -- who ran against his brother for the state House. From Rich Lord:

"Rep. Ravenstahl represents the people who are affected by Alcosan's location the most," said mayoral spokeswoman Joanna Doven in an e-mail. "There has always been a meaningful effort to have representation from the North Side on Alcosan's board as quality-of-life issues such as odor and traffic affect residents near the operation."

Ms. Doven wrote that the mayor sent Mr. Keller a letter thanking him for his service. Mr. Keller said this morning that he hadn't seen that letter yet, and learned of his would-be replacement from a reporter's call.

"I could not be prouder of the service I provided my community and provided to Alcosan," Mr. Keller said. "I serve at the pleasure of the mayor. [Replacing a board member is] his prerogative."

Adam Ravenstahl could not be reached. Nominees are normally interviewed the week after council gets their names, and a vote occurs the week after that.

Mr. Ravenstahl last week won both a special election to serve out the term of former Rep. Don Walko, and the Democratic nomination for a full term beginning next year.

A seat on the Alcosan board is widely considered a political plum because members have contact with engineering and construction firms that tend to be campaign contributors.

UPDATE: City ethics rules forbid appointing direct family members to city-controlled seats, so the mayor may have to get an ethics waiver.