OMC: You seem to be a mayor with a sense of humor. What's the mood like in your office?

TB: I hope people are enjoying it. I think we're all learning together, which is always fun whenever you're starting something new. You can have fun doing it. I'm not a real yeller. I think you can get things done by working with people, as opposed to yelling at them. And I want people to enjoy coming to work.

OMC: In your 20 years in politics, you've dealt with some important issues. Perhaps the best-known is the Clinton impeachment trial. Being a U.S. Congressman is an prestigous job, but can you affect more change as mayor?

TB: Interestingly, when I was trying to decide whether to run for this job, I contacted Don Fraser, who had been a member of Congress for 16 years, then went back and became mayor of one of the Twin Cities. I asked him to compare the jobs. He said he loved Congress and had done a lot of work in Central America. But he said the mayor's job was the hardest job he ever had, but also the most rewarding, because in this job, you see the fruits of your labor, in both a positive and a negative way, much more quickly than you do as a member of Congress. Having said that, I absolutely loved being a member of Congress, but there's a time for every purpose under heaven. It was my time to leave it.

OMC: Have you had that moment yet where you sit back and say, "Wow, I'm the mayor of Milwaukee?"

TB: No, because they haven't given me a chance to sit back yet. There's been so much going on that I haven't had a chance to just sort of relax.

OMC: You could pick any neighborhood in Milwaukee to live in, but you grew up on the West Side and you stayed pretty close. What do you like about Washington Heights?

TB: I live about 150 yards from the house I grew up in. In fact, when I wanted to move back there, my wife initially balked and said that I was already fixated with my childhood and she didn't want to relive my childhood. But when we finally had our fourth child and were living in a two-bedroom home, also on the West Side, we decided we needed a home with more than two bedrooms. It's a great walk-around neighborhood, a very friendly neighborhood. Lots of kids, and as a father of four kids, that's very attractive to me. It's just a really, really good community.

OMC: What's it like to have dad as the mayor? Has it been an adjustment for your kids?

TB: I think what they like is having dad home a little bit more. When I was in Washington, they stayed here. I was traveling back in forth. Bear in mind that I got on that plane for Washington over 400 times in my 10 years. So having me around now is a plus for them.

At the same time, just the other night, my 7-year-old was over at her cousin's, who lives about a block away, and I went over to get her. I said, 'Erin, do you want to go for a walk?' She said,' Yeah, just you and me, Dad.' She stopped in her tracks and gave me a very firm handshake, which surprised me that her handshake was that firm. And she said, 'You don't talk to anybody.' So, she covets her time, which she should. There was someone who wanted to stop and engage me, but I just got dragged along. She just put the death grasp on my hand and said, 'Dad, keep walking.'

OMC: What kind of car does the mayor drive?

TB: A Ford Taurus, and my wife drives a minivan.

OMC: Do you get to drive to work?

TB: I do have security when I'm on city business, so many times I'll travel with someone.

OMC: In our "10 questions for the mayoral candidates" a few months ago, we asked you what's your favorite restaurant. You didn't tell us then, but now that you're in, where do you like to go?

TB: I'm not picking any favorites, but today I'm going to Slim McGinn's on Bluemound for lunch. Downtown, there are a number of restaurants along Milwaukee Street. A lot of times I'll stop at Bella's (on Brady Street), or the Highland Café on the West Side. Perkins is a good place to go eat. There are always a lot of friendly people at Omega or Mykonos.

OMC: So you're a mayor with simple tastes?

TB: Oh yeah, I've definitely got simple tastes. There's no question about it.

OMC: One more hard-hitting question. Is this position a stepping-stone? You've been in politics for a long time -- is this where you want to end your career?

TB: I've publicly stated that I don't want to stay in this job for more than 32 years. I'm just so excited to be here right now, I'm not thinking about anything else other than how we can take this great city and make it even better.