An I-Witness account by Barbara White

If a statement was made with the landslide victory by Alderman Michael McGee, Jr. in the April 3 election, it is his constituents in the sixth aldermanic district--and the Black community in general--who see him as the lone voice calling out in Milwaukee’s political wilderness.

By giving the alderman 64% of the recall votes, the voters of McGee’s district--which crossed racial and class lines--sent a message that they would not allow the outspoken lawmaker to be silenced.

The voters realize that unlike other public servants, McGee is challenging the status quo of the city on such matters as police brutality, joblessness, and other crisis issues that are causing the destruction of families and denying our community a quality of life comparable to more affluent areas of the city.

An example of McGee’s popularity is his willingness to also take his message to the streets. In an MCJ story last year, I showed how McGee was combating crime in the community through the Rapid Response Team, a group of concerned African American male activists who go into areas of the community most of us would not dare go, trying to bring peace and hope to those who don’t believe hope exists.

The mainstream media in Milwaukee doesn’t mention this activity or other positives done by McGee. They would rather focus on his personal miscues such as the controversy at a Wauwatosa video store and with Tosa police, or questions about his name.

Yes, he’s made some mistakes, for which his father, former alderman now radio talk show host Mike McGee, Sr., and others who want him to grow and learn, has held him accountable. No, he’s not perfect. But then neither are many of us. However, as a public servant McGee is one of the best.

To this end, I thought I would share with readers an "up-close and personal" view of Alderman McGee that most people don’t see or read about outside of the Black press-especially the "Community Journal."

On a daily bases, McGee deals not only with the multitude of problems of his constituents, he even deals with the issues of individuals who don’t live in his district.

Every time there is a shooting in the community, McGee is on the scene trying to bring some comfort to the family and ease tensions. Recently, a shooting occurred in which there were rumors of retaliation. McGee and three ministers intervened, meeting with the victim and the victim’s family and resolved the situation, thus preventing the possible loss of more lives.

His courage, style and ability to speak the language of the streets and deal with various factions has enabled him to quell situations that might have made for negative headlines in the city’s mainstream media.

The Saturday before the April 3 election, I met up with McGee and his campaign team at Teutonia and Burleigh where they were about to start a car caravan to cast absentee ballots and encourage other people to vote. I followed the parade and its police escort through the city all the way down Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, heading to the Election Commission’s office at city hall where those who needed to vote could do so.

All the cars were tagged "Alderman McGee for me." As the caravan drove down King Drive, cars we passed blew their horns in support. Individuals walking on foot waved and shouted their support for the alderman.

At city hall, many folks were lined up to vote outside the Election Commission offices. One young man and woman had just gotten off work and thought they could use their work identification to vote. However, they were denied. They were told the work identification was not enough for them to be allowed to vote. Finally, they looked at each other and said they would go home and get their other ID's, stating "we have to vote for Alderman McGee before Tuesday. We promised him we would."

The alderman's campaign was a unique mix of the homeless, veterans, mothers with their young children, the poor, working class, grassroots and home-growns, young people and seniors like long-time activist Lucille Berrien, who is close to 80 years old.

Several young White people worked on his campaign as well. One of them, Donny Polin, said working on the McGee campaign was one of the greatest things he's ever done. "It was an experience. I will never forget this," Polin said.

Several Black businessmen from McGee's district put themselves on the line to support the alderman. Many of them stated that if McGee lost, the winning candidate could mess with them and their livelihood. "But we know we need to keep him in office because he's the only who deals with folks out here in these streets," one businessman and supporter said.
The alderman, with his warm smile, campaigned hard with his wife LaSonia by his side. Despite the challenges their marriage has faced during the last year, they appeared to be a genuinely happy couple, often smiling at each other as if they were courting all over again.

Being politically astute-having worked on several political campaigns, I could sense in the air victory for the alderman before the first official ballot was cast on April 3. Such a feeling is something you only learn after working on elections for several years. And besides, McGee had worked hard.
McGee had assembled a good campaign team who, like him, worked hard to get out the vote. They were people who believe in the good things about our community and who are willing to fight for them.

From my observations, two members of that campaign team, Jean Ware, and Andre' Lee Ellis, seemed to be good for the alderman and his effort to retain his office.

Ellis said he felt McGee was a good guy and expressed amazement at the types of people McGee seems to draw to his side.

"Even the homeless came to help him and maybe-for the first time-they felt like they had found a place to fit and Mike welcomed them as well as everyone else with open arms. He is a lot more than an alderman to many in this community. He is a hero to many because he has so much heart and he is doing what every council member ought to be doing."

Many people came through the campaign offices with donations they collected with little small fundraisers and it was appreciated because every cent or dollar was cherished. Just about every place McGee went he was applauded. Even folks who could not vote for the alderman gave him a few dollars or volunteered a few hours.

Election Day started with prayer and the call to the ancestors. There were many problems at the polling sites where it seemed some poll workers didn't know electioneering laws. But the McGee campaign didn't let polling irregularities distract them, keeping their focus squarely on the prize.

Aisha Turner a daycare worker and mother of five stated, "If it weren't for Mike McGee being in the race, a sista named Aisha wouldn't have voted and I'm keeping it real. If my children were old enough to vote, they would have voted for him. They asked me all the way up to the (election) day did I vote for Mike McGee yet?

"We don't need anyone coming into our community telling us who to get rid of. If he (McGee) is wrong, we're going to set him right. But we're going to do it, not anybody else."

When the polls closed and the tallying of votes began, the campaign office was filled with workers, friends and family as they awaited the results. The mainstream media were made to wait outside campaign headquarters. They were only let in after the 10 o'clock news projections gave McGee the nod.
In a voice of pure humbleness, McGee thanked all his supporters, his wife and family. "Black violence has to stop," the victorious alderman proclaimed to the jubilant gathering. "Praise God, this race has brought me closer to my constitutes. I'm willing to work with all those who want to work with me. No permanent enemies, no permanent friends. We are moving forward."

During the victory celebration, folks were coming left and right to congratulate the alderman on his win. McGee's former principal at Bay View High School, Tom Bailistarie congratulated him, stating he was so proud of him and told me he was always a good kid.

State Senator Lena Taylor and Phillip Scott showed the alderman some love. Folks asked McGee to autograph McGee yard signs and he did, thanking them and signing his name.
There was a semi-private special moment between McGee Sr. and son. The elder McGee took from around his neck a beautiful hand craved wood red, black and green medallion with the words, "The Wrath of God." He looked at his son and said, "You deserve this now. You have earned it and you are ready now, my son." It was a touching Rites of Passage moment between a father and his son.