The Community Journal Endorses...
Incumbents dominate our April 1 choices

Lena Taylor

Tom Barrett

Elizabeth Coggs-Jones

Ashanti Hamilton

Jeffrey Norman

James White

Compiled by Community Journal Staff

To hold state and local elections on April 1--"April Fools Day"--is, we admit, a little disconcerting. There is this fear that we all might wake up the day after the election and find that it was all a joke played on us, the voter.

But these 2008 elections are no joke. The stakes are too high for the future of our city, county and state given the myriad of issues we face: Crime and punishment, taxes, unemployment and job creation, business development, neighborhood revitalization and the quality and availability of public services like garbage collection, transportation and clean parks.

There are 13 individuals we believe can and will do what is necessary to address the aforementioned issues confronting the city, county and state and lay the foundation for a better future for all--especially in the Black community.

The City

Mayor: Our choice is the incumbent, Tom Barrett. Though his opponent, Attorney Andrew Shaw, is well intentioned and cares about the city and its residents, nothing beats experience. In our opinion, Barrett has that experience.

The mayor also has a list of accomplishments that runs counter to the belief by his detractors that he’s been "invisible."

Barrett has used his extensive political experience to initiate job programs--especially for youth, created 11,000 new jobs while retaining 2,000 jobs for the city.

His honor has been a very visible booster of the Fatherhood Summit. For the last two years, the summit has reached out to fathers--especially Black fathers--in helping them reestablish relationships with their children and provide education, resources and information to help them be better fathers.

Barrett has also tackled crime head-on. With anti-crime projects like "The Common Ground Initiative," Barrett is reaching out to residents in the community and listening to their concerns. He has also joined with new Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn to fashion a more aggressive approach to crime fighting.

The mayor has also been active in revitalizing neighborhoods, kicking-off a number of housing initiatives in the central city that is helping people attain the dream of homeownership.

Our pick for mayor is obvious. Vote Barrett on April 1.

Aldermen

First District: Four years ago when he first ran for the position, First District Alderman Ashanti Hamilton touted himself as a "man with a plan" to turn around the fortunes of his district.

We still believe that Hamilton is the man who can turn things around in the district as it relates to crime and business development.

Hamilton’s efforts have been low-key. He has spent his first term quietly working within city hall to effect positive change for his district. Perhaps his most notable accomplishment has been the 30th Street Industrial Corridor project.

He has also supported the redevelopment of the former Tower Automotive site and worked to help residents of the district reinvest in their neighborhoods via forgivable loans to help them fix-up their properties.

Hamilton’s opponent, C. Orlando Owens, has a number of good ideas--including tax breaks for businesses and using Tax Incremental Financing (TIFFs). However, our nod goes to Hamilton, who we believe will continue to work his plan to turn around the fortunes of the district.

Sixth District: If Alderman Michael McGee, Jr. were not facing his current circumstances (he faces state and federal charges of extortion, bribery and conspiracy and solicitation to commit a felony) and given his accomplishments as alderman--particularly with the Bronzeville initiative and his interaction with constituents in tackling crime--he would be our choice to continue representing the sixth district.

But given his current situation, Attorney Milele Coggs is our choice. The district needs a presence and a voice on the Common Council. There is no better choice in our mind then Coggs.

She would not be there to simply fill a seat or hold the distinction of being the lone woman on the council. Coggs would bring to the position a clear grasp of the district’s needs, focusing on job creation, neighborhood revitalization and business retention and development, while making sure constituents get their fair share of services and resources.

Our choice: Coggs.

Seventh District: Experience in dealing with the issues in his district gives Seventh District incumbent Willie Wade the clear advantage over his opponent, real estate broker Anntoinette McKee.

While both agree on the use of apprenticeship and other job training programs to help residents attain employment, Wade is our choice.

He is a strong proponent of utilizing people within the district to participate in whatever development is initiated there, whether it is in its construction or as employees.

Like his council colleague Hamilton, Wade has quietly worked to make changes and improvements in the seventh district. Among his varied accomplishments has been bringing in a $33.2 million property development.

Wade is reportedly working on proposed legislation creating business enterprise standards that would give companies wanting to do business in the city more points if they hire Milwaukee residents and locate their business in the city.

Given the aforementioned initiative and his other accomplishments, Wade gets our nod.

Ninth District: The ninth district, located on the far northwest side of the city, is not only one of its most racially diverse areas, but it faces some of its toughest challenges: crime and the stagnation of business development.

The candidate with the best plan to deal with those issues (and the issue of sharing water with suburbs) is Henry Hamilton III, an administrative judge who is seeking to oust incumbent Robert Puente.

We believe Hamilton, who is African American, has clear and workable ideas to revive business development, retaining city resources for the city, and a transportation plan that focuses dollars on mass transit and away from an emphasis on highway development that only benefits the suburbs.

Puente, a former police captain, seems willing to maintain the status quo in the district.

Hamilton is the only challenger we feel deserves a chance to make positive change. That’s why he’s our choice to replace incumbent Puente.

Fifteenth District: Common Council President and 15th District Alderman Willie Hines is our choice to continue working toward not only the betterment of his district, but the entire city.

Hines’ work within his district reflects his efforts for Milwaukee, public safety, affordable housing, economic development and unity among all citizens regardless of color, economic status or where they live.

Council president since 2004, Hines brings a calm, dignified and reasoned approach to leadership on the council, the same style he brings to his stewardship of the district.

He has worked to make city government transparent and accessible to citizens. It’s not flashy, but it works. It should be allowed to work for four more years.

City Attorney

There’s something to be said about longevity.

For 24 years, Grant Langley has held the post of city attorney. For those not familiar with the job, the city attorney provides legal counsel and advice to the city’s agencies, departments, boards and commissions.

The city attorney also works with the mayor, common council and department heads to assure their respective policy initiatives are implemented in an effective and lawful manner.

Langley’s opponent, state Representative Pedro Colon, seems to believe the office should expand its reach to crime fighting, which is the purview of the county district attorney.

One of Colon’s television commercials seems to suggest just that. It shows the state legislator shaking hands with Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm regarding a public safety project Colon worked on with Chisholm in his capacity as a state lawmaker.

For some reason Colon is trying to convince voters that the city attorney should do what the DA’s office already does--fight crime. That’s confusing to voters and misleading. It also suggests to voters that Langley has not done a good job fighting crime.

Though the city attorney does advise the police department to enable it to be more effective in its efforts, the city attorney deals with nuisance abatement, ordinance prosecution, code enforcement, municipal finance, real estate development and public contracting. It also works to shut down drug and gang houses, as well as taverns that attract crime.

As we said before, there’s something to be said about longevity--and a firm grasp of the job. That’s why we endorse the reelection of Langley.

The County

County Executive: With formidable endorsements from Mayor Barrett, Governor Jim Doyle and Congresswoman Gwen Moore, to name a few, State Senator Lena Taylor presents a real challenge to the incumbency of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.

During her campaign, Taylor has shown energy, passion and vision, qualities she would bring to the office if elected. Voters should seriously consider marking their ballot in her favor on April 1.

While Walker has kept a tight rein on County taxes, his efforts have lacked the kind of sensitivity needed to tackle the problems confronting the county that directly affects the community, such as the parks, pools and mass transit.

For our money, Taylor fits the bill when it comes to a leader who will address the issues facing the county without forgetting that the decisions she would make will impact real, tax paying people.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court: If you’re looking for someone to be a circuit court judge who has experience as a law enforcement officer, a defense attorney, a prosecutor, a court commissioner, a law instructor on the college level, is active in the community mentoring youth and is a family man who lives in the community then you should cast your vote for Jeffrey Norman.

As noted in last week’s "Community Journal" (Election Watch ’08 profile on Norman, dated March 19), it’s difficult to gauge judicial elections since candidates for this office can’t make definitive statements on particular issues relating to the law since they could be making a ruling related to that issue.

The only things left to run on are integrity, familiarity with the judicial system (both criminal and civil law), courtroom experience and community involvement.

As noted earlier, Norman has the qualifications and real-world experiences to effectively sit on the Branch 40 circuit court bench. He is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, a graduate of North Division High School, UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University.

Norman would bring knowledge and compassion to the position without sacrificing toughness when needed.

Though we’re sure his opponent, Rebecca Dallet, is a good attorney (she is currently a court commissioner), we endorse the credentials, experience or community involvement Norman has.

The verdict: Jeffrey Norman on April 1.

County Supervisor

First District: Though he’s running a write-in campaign, County Board Supervisor James White is still the best choice to represent the first district.

We’ve followed White’s career as a supervisor and he has been a conscientious representative of his constituents fighting for county services and keeping tax levy increases at a minimum.

White has advocated the adequate staffing of open positions that are funded and needed if the county is to run at maximum efficiency so as to provide maximum service to tax payers.

The supervisor says if he were reelected, he would continue his pursuit of full staffing by pursuing legislative changes that would give more leverage for the County Board to impact on the issue.

On transit, White would continue to push for the financing of the county transit system come from a sales tax instead of the property tax, which is how it’s done in other states, counties and municipalities. More importantly, such a shift would take the burden off of property owners.

White has also fought to maintain family supporting county jobs. While privatization of services in some areas might be prudent, the incumbent rejects privatization if it means sacrificing wages and benefits, as well as jobs.

We urge the constituents of the First district on the county level to return White to office by writing his name on their ballot.

Tenth District: Another veteran county lawmaker who deserves to be returned to office is Elizabeth Coggs-Jones.

Coggs-Jones has a lengthy record of accomplishments and championing the issues that impact greatly on her constituents. She is a staunch opponent of privatization of county programs and services, calling the employees an asset to the county.

Like White, Coggs-Jones supports using the sales tax to support the county’s transit system, which she called vital to working poor families.

On the park system, which, like the transit system, is hurting due to budget constraints, Coggs-Jones said she favors a penny sales tax to support the system. She also rejects privatization of the parks and turning them over to a separate parks board.

Coggs-Jones has also shown a commitment to education. Though county government has no say in school policy, she has taken it upon herself to support education by giving youth school supplies and book bags courtesy of her annual Dr. Martin Luther King Back-to-School Festival.

Coggs-Jones’ continued commitment to the community as a lawmaker and a youth and education advocate should be rewarded with a return to office on April 1.

Eighteenth District: Another write-in county board candidate is Sundrus Jordan, who is running for the seat being vacated by Roger Quindel, who is not seeking reelection.

A case manager for Milwaukee County Disability Services, Jordan said in a recent MCJ interview that crime is the district’s most pressing problem.

To combat crime, Jordan said she would focus resources and energy on initiatives that help youth and others engage in positive activities that stress free enterprise and business development.

She said she would also utilize existing institutions such as the church, community-based organizations and community leaders to address the problems in the district and the county as a whole.

We believe Jordan is a sincere individual who wants to serve the people of the 18th district. She deserves that chance. Vote for Jordan April 1.

The Supreme Court: The fact that he’s the lone African American on the state’s highest court is, in and of itself, a good enough reason to retain Justice Louis Butler.

Butler is able to bring a unique and needed perspective to the court as it makes rulings that impact on the millions of Wisconsinites--especially Black state residents.

But our endorsement of Butler goes beyond race. He is a respected jurist who knows the law.

Butler has been a judge for 15 years, longer than his opponent, Michael Gableman, has been a lawyer.

In addition to his four years on the Supreme Court--he was a Governor Jim Doyle appointee--he spent 12 years as a circuit court judge and municipal court judge.

The justice was also a practicing appellate and trial attorney, a public defender and served on the faculty of the Marquette Law School and the National Judicial College where he has trained judges from all over the country for 10 years.

In a questionnaire, Butler said though the Supreme Court reviews criminal cases, he did not think a "tough on crime" stance was relevant.

What is relevant, Butler said, is having the professional qualifications, expertise, intelligence, and judgment to properly apply the Constitution (U.S. and Wisconsin), statue, common law, and precedent to disputes before the court, in order to ensure a fair, just result that applies the law neutrally.

It’s for the above reasons we ask you to cast your vote for Butler to remain on the state’s high court.