Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is ousting Chairman Carl DuRocher from the powerful Transit and Parking Commission.

DuRocher, who opposed Cieslewicz on a recent bus fare hike, said the mayor is using reappointments to silence critics.

"I’m afraid the mayor may entertain an illusion that if you eliminate views of diverse opinion, you eliminate that opinion," DuRocher said. "It appears that rather than being a skilled coalition builder, he tries to eliminate obstacles."

TPC member Ald. Brian Solomon, 10th District, who opposed the fare hike and was reappointed, said, "I’m very, very upset. I think he’s an amazing, talented and committed person with a great deal of wisdom. I’m kind of shocked.

Cieslewicz, who is naming Dave Tomlie to replace DuRocher, said he’s following an informal rule of not reappointing committee members after 10 years of service, and that it’s his prerogative to shape panels.

He said he reappointed TPC members like Solomon who opposed him on the bus fare increase, but wants a majority who have "a basic understanding of his position on the issues.

"I don’t make apologies for it," he said.

People sometimes serve on city committees more than a decade. The City Council, in fact, created a 12-year limit — with the clock starting this year. The rule begins in August.

In the fall, Ciesleweicz said a 50 cent bus fare hike to $2 and other increases was needed to protect and add service, security, and for other reasons.

The council put the increases in the 2009 budget, but the TPC twice refused them, the second time offering a smaller hike. In February, the council overruled the commission.