When Eric Payne heard the District 15 aldermanic position was going to have an opening, he knew the perfect person for the job.
His youngest son, Cory.
"He never mentioned that he was interested in running for alderman, but he has always followed city issues really close," said Eric Payne, who has been the District 2 alderman for 10 years. "We'd have discussions on them and he was always asking 'Why is the city doing something this way or that way.'"
While Eric admitted he initially caught Cory off guard with the aldermanic proposition, he presented the idea to him, nonetheless, with little time before candidates needed to have their paperwork into City Hall.
The younger Payne didn't need long to think about the proposition.
He got the appropriate signatures and began connecting with constituents by going door-to-door, passing out flyers and as Eric said, he was even "addressing problems in the district" before the election.
"He was taking it very serious," Eric said.
The voters recognized this as Cory easily defeated Russel Stewart, his challenger in the April 2 General Election, to replace Alderman Duane Paulson, who did not seek re-election.
First father-son duo
At 29-years-old, Cory is the youngest member of the Common Council. But that isn't what is making his election win noteworthy.
Cory's victory marks the first time in the City of Waukesha's rich past that a father and son have served on the Common Council at the same time.
"It's such an honor just to be elected, because I remember when my dad was elected how proud I was of him," Cory said. "So now to look over (inside the Council Chambers) and say there's you and this is me together I appreciate that from a historical point of view."
Cory said it's his understanding the only other parent-child combination on the Common Council came in the late-1800s or early 1900s.
Given the city dates back to the mid-1800s, it shows how rare this is.
"By no means was it intentional," Cory said. "It just happened that the opportunity presented itself and it was the right time in my life to do it."
But Cory's interest in history and the city is what makes being an alderman, first and foremost, so special.
"I've had a love not just for politics but for government and how society is run in general," Cory said. "I have a strong love of history and civil structure and this led me to having aspirations in the civil spotlight, not necessarily politics but something to help better the life of people."
A love for Waukesha
Cory grew up in Waukesha and attended Blair Elementary School, Butler Middle School and Waukesha North High School.
Shortly after, Cory, who works in corporate sales at Milwaukee Sporting Goods, graduated from North, his dad was elected to his first term as an alderman.
Cory soon found that discussing the ins-an-outs of the city at the dinner table with Dad intrigued him.
"There aren't many 19- or 20-year-olds watching (Council) meetings on TV but I did and was gathering opinions and would definitely let my dad know mine growing up," Cory said.
As an adult, he stayed in Waukesha, a city he said "he loves" and one he plans on living in for the rest of his life.
This passion led him to the aldermanic position.
"His mother and I are extremely proud of him," Eric said. "The people in District 15 got one heck of an alderman and the (constituents) are pretty lucky they got somebody that is as concerned about the district as he is. And I'm not just saying that because he's my son. He was born and raised here and he cares about the environment and budget."
Providing guidance
Even so, leading up to the election Cory had one worry.
"One of my concerns was if people would see me as Cory Payne or if they would see me as Cory Payne, Eric Payne's son and my answer to them was they can view me as Cory Payne who happens to be Eric Payne's son."
But Cory said his dad has allowed him to be his own person.
And Eric has provided valuable advice for his son.
"It's been a learning process and you can never prepare for it but former and current aldermen and obviously my father have assisted me and told me what to expect as far as who to call for issues, how to make referrals and things such as how to address the mayor at meetings and minor things like how to turn on my microphone," Cory said.
At Cory's first meeting after the election, father-mode kicked in for Eric.
"I asked him at the start of the first meeting if he wanted to sit next to me to help with the procedural things for meetings and he said 'no,'" said Eric, a truck mechanic. "He didn't want to make it look like I was holding his hand."
There are differences
While they come from the same family and discuss issues together, the two are not the same.
Cory, who said his communication skills are his strengths, describes himself as more vocal who says he "tends to talk too much."
He said his dad is more of a quiet leader but added "my dad leads by example and when he speaks people listen, which is why he's been elected repeatedly."
And don't expect father and son to vote the same in the time they are on the council together (Eric is up for his fourth term next year).
"Some people were saying that you'll vote the same but I told them 'Oh no, no, no,' That isn't the case and he's already voted opposite of me and he's only been to a couple of meetings," Eric said. "We don't always see eye-to-eye on things but what father and son do on everything? He's got his ways of getting things done and every once and a while they'll be the same."
Mayor Jeff Scrima said Eric adds wisdom and commonsense to the 15-person Common Council, while Cory brings vitality and innovation.
"So far the only similarities is they both have the hearts to serve the residents of Waukesha and both have the same last name," Scrima said.
No more Paynes
So could there be any more Paynes interested in a seat on the Common Council?
Cory's older brother lives outside of city limits in the Town of Waukesha so that takes him out of the running. Cory's older sister lives in another district within the city, but said she doesn't have any interest in joining in on the aldermanic family fun.
"One's enough," Eric chuckled.