by Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.
For a candidate whose name won’t be on the ballot because the state Ethics Board claims it didn’t receive a required form, Municipal Court candidate Jeffrey Norman is confident he’ll be victorious in the February 20 primary election.

It’s his confidence--as well as his belief that he is the best candidate to preside over Branch 3 of the Municipal Court--that inspired him to continue his pursuit of the court seat as a write-in candidate.

He’s asking voters to write his name on their ballot. Norman is also handing out stickers to voters he meets while campaigning. He’s asking voters to put the sticker on their ballot indicating that they’re voting for him for municipal judge.

Norman stressed that the City Election Commission approved the use of the stickers.

"Denial of ballot access is a true travesty for the public," Norman said about what happened that forced him to pursue a write-in candidacy.

Norman said he sent the ethics form to the board on January 2 via mail. He later found out-via the Internet, more specifically MilwaukeeWorld.com--that the Ethics Board never received the form.

Norman sent the board another ethics form, this time by certified mail.

However, that form was sent back to him with the receipt taped to the packet unsigned.

As a result, in accordance to state law, non-receipt of the form in a timely manner as laid out by state election law, prevented Norman from having his name placed on the February 20 ballot in time.

Lamenting that the election processes is "messed-up," Norman stressed that he filed all required paper work--including the ethics form--on time.

"It doesn’t make sense for me to derail my own campaign, one that I put time, money and effort into," Norman said.

Norman has been knocking on doors all over the city, as well as attending public events to get his message out and to let people know he won’t let a little "setback" with the state Ethic’s Board derail his attempt to sit on the Municipal Court.

"It’s important to let the public see you and question you if you have a connection with them that would make them want to vote for you," stressed Norman.

Norman said his background and work in the community as a police detective, prosecutor, community volunteer, mentor and educator make him eminently qualified to be a municipal judge.

"I do a lot of work in the community such as mentoring and public speaking," said Norman, who described himself during a recent interview as a different type of candidate, one who brings a breath of fresh air to the court race.

"I know what it means to be a public servant," Norman continued. "It’s a privilege--not a right--to be serving as an elected official. We’re there because the people put us there. It’s not a right or a birthright."

Norman said the municipal court is seen by many as nothing more than a way to siphon money from the pockets of taxpaying citizens.

"The Municipal Court is not just a money maker. It’s about justice and doing the right thing."

Norman said if he’s elected judge, he would work to establish a better relationship with community-based organizations in connecting with youth and their problems.

"I would make use of community resources such as Northcott Neighborhood House and the House of Peace and attempt to establish programs that can be diversionary for our youth," Norman said.