We are urging Shepherd Express readers to vote on Tuesday, April 7, no matter who you vote for. Although this has been a quiet campaign season and probably just a small minority of Wisconsin voters will cast a ballot in this election, it’s vitally important that voters make their voices heard. The races on the ballot are very important and the outcome will affect all of us in the years to come. Elections do matter. What’s more, each vote means more in a low-turnout race because fewer people are voting. Your vote could be the deciding one in some of the races on the ballot.
The Shepherd has endorsed candidates in a handful of races in our distribution area and encourage our readers to consider them when making your decision. In the Shepherd endorsements, we favor candidates who are honest and ethical, who care deeply about improving the wellbeing and the quality of life of their constituency, and who want to see their community and the entire state move forward in a very positive and progressive direction.
If you are already registered to vote at your current address, you don’t need a photo ID to cast a ballot in this election. However, if you are a new voter or have moved since you last voted, you will need to update your registration and show proof of residency at the polls. Go to the Government Accountability Board’s website at gab.wi.gov/voters for more information.
In addition, in-person absentee voting will be offered through 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, at your local municipal clerk’s office. City of Milwaukee residents can vote at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Room 501, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. this week. For more information about absentee voting, contact your local municipal clerk or the Government Accountability Board’s website.
Our Milwaukee County Board Picks
There are two vacant seats on the Milwaukee County board of supervisors—the 10th District, which represents the North Side of Milwaukee, and the 15th District on the West Side, which encompasses parts of Wauwatosa, West Milwaukee and Milwaukee.
We are providing a dual endorsement in the 10th District, which had been represented by David Bowen, who is now serving in the state Assembly. We believe that both candidates are qualified and show a strong commitment to improving Milwaukee. Supreme Moore Omokunde is the son of Congresswoman Gwen Moore and like his mother he is involved with community organizations. He is a chapter leader for Be the Change/Boys to Men Coalition Milwaukee and was involved with the Sherman Park Community Association and Public Allies. Solana Patterson-Ramos is president of the ACLU Student Alliance Chapter at UW-Milwaukee, is a community liaison at North Division High School and is a member of the NAACP. We believe that both of these candidates would serve this district well on the board of supervisors.
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We are endorsing Eddie Cullen in the 15th District. Cullen, the son of David Cullen, who had represented this district and now is county treasurer, is a first grade teacher at the Lloyd Street campus of Milwaukee College Prep. He’s concerned about providing county services such as transit, mental health and safety and, of course, supporting the county’s parks. We think that Cullen will be a strong progressive on the board.
Support Ann Walsh Bradley for State Supreme Court
We believe that Ann Walsh Bradley has earned another 10-year term on the state Supreme Court. Throughout her time on the bench, Bradley has shown that she has a keen legal mind, independence and a thorough appreciation for the role of the state Supreme Court in Wisconsin.
When she spoke with us a few weeks ago, Bradley, a former high school teacher, recounted a story about her early days of practicing law in Wausau when not many women were attorneys. What she learned back then is that she could take on her male counterparts in court if she was well prepared and could outsmart them. She told us that this story is never far from her mind while she campaigns throughout the state against a candidate who has aligned himself with the Republican Party, a highly unusual arrangement in this nonpartisan race. She will simply work harder and outsmart him and win another term on the high court.
Bradley also told us that the decision to run for another term wasn’t an easy one. Bradley was physically attacked in her office in 2011, when Justice David Prosser put his hands on her neck, something he admitted to law enforcement afterwards. The reason for Prosser’s attack? Bradley was standing up to him and his fellow right-wing jurists as they were trying to stage a coup. The right-wingers wanted to issue an order on Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial Act 10 by a deadline set by Jeff Fitzgerald, then the Republican Assembly speaker. The four justices entered Bradley’s office without an invitation, to force Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson to send out a press release saying that the order would be issued by Fitzgerald’s deadline. Remember—the state Legislature doesn’t determine the court’s calendar or deadlines. The justices do. The court and the Legislature are totally separate, co-equal branches of government. But the right-wing majority was willing to allow the court to be pushed around by legislators who had a political motivation for rushing the court’s decision. And for this defense of the court’s independence Bradley was physically attacked. So we totally understand why Bradley would hesitate to run for another 10-year term, although we’re glad that she made this commitment to the state.
As a Supreme Court justice, Bradley has been a staunch defender of the court’s independence and political neutrality. As proof of that, she has the strong support of prominent members of both political parties, including Congressman Ron Kind and former state Sen. Tim Cullen, both Democrats, as well as former state Sen. Dale Schultz and former First Lady Sue Ann Thompson, high-profile Republicans. These four well-respected supporters have urged Wisconsinites to vote for Bradley because they “share her commitment to maintaining a Wisconsin Supreme Court that is fair, neutral and nonpartisan.”
Of course, Bradley’s foes have turned her independent-minded record against her, claiming that she’s an “activist judge” simply because she doesn’t do the expedient thing and automatically side with the party in power. Her opponent is also knocking her for not be sufficiently supportive of Walker’s political “reforms,” even though support for a political agenda would be a major reason to be disqualified from serving as a Supreme Court justice.
Bradley is also holding herself to a higher ethical standard than what’s required of her on the campaign trail. She isn’t accepting contributions from attorneys or parties with cases before the court. And unlike her opponent, she isn’t working with a political party to court easy votes or use their resources. Bradley is independent, impartial and truly loves the Supreme Court and Wisconsin. We are asking Shepherd readers to vote for Ann Walsh Bradley on Tuesday, April 7.
Reject the Partisan Attack on the Supreme Court
We are urging Shepherd readers to vote no on this statewide referendum on the April 7 ballot: “Shall section 4 (2) of article VII of the constitution be amended to direct that a chief justice of the supreme court shall be elected for a two-year term by a majority of the justices then serving on the court?”
On the face of it, this question doesn’t seem too controversial. But there’s no doubt about it: If this amendment passes, it will make the state Supreme Court much, much more partisan and full of conflict.
For the past 126 years, the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has been the justice with the most seniority. While this may seem unfair to some, there is a certain logic to it. It’s neutral. Everyone knows the rules. And it doesn’t require the seven justices to form alliances, trade for favors or be in competition with one another. Remember: The court is structured to be a collegial body. The seven justices must feel free to work together amicably to do the state’s work.
If this amendment passes, we can envision a state Supreme Court that’s even more divided and conflict-prone than it already is, since the justices would have to campaign for votes from their colleagues. It would turn state Supreme Court justices into contestants on “Survivor.”
There’s another major reason why this amendment should be rejected. It’s a partisan attack coming from Republican legislators and it’s solely aimed at the current chief justice, Shirley Abrahamson. Abrahamson has been chief since 1996. She’s a strong leader and a nationally respected jurist. But she has been in the minority on a number of issues that are favored by the conservative Supreme Court majority and the Republican Party. And instead of rolling over and allowing the state Legislature or the governor to interfere in court affairs, she’s stood up for the state Supreme Court as an independent, nonpartisan branch of state government. This amendment is a sneaky, all-out assault not only on Abrahamson, but on the Supreme Court as well, by Republican legislators drunk on power. Wisconsinites would be wise to vote no on this partisan attack on the court.
Michael Bonds and Wendell Harris for MPS Board
We wholeheartedly support Michael Bonds for another term on the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) board of directors. Bonds, who represents District 3, is the current president of the board and he’s become a strong leader who has somehow managed to reduce the board’s longstanding conflicts and emerge with consensus decisions. Bonds has a doctorate in urban studies and is a former senior fiscal review analyst for the city. Budgets and finance are Bonds’ specialty. Bonds has chipped away at MPS’ spending and has been able to channel funds into classrooms even when the district is under attack by the state. We think that he and Darienne Driver, the new superintendent, will be a good team going forward and we encourage Shepherd readers to vote for Michael Bonds on April 7.
We are also endorsing Wendell Harris for District 2 of the MPS board over longtime incumbent Jeff Spence. Harris is a well-known community advocate who will be a strong public schools champion during this time of crisis. We believe that Harris will put kids first while serving on the board and never waver in his commitment to support public schools that provide a top-notch education to all children, not just those who come from wealth or are easy to teach.
We are also supporting incumbents Terry Falk for the at-large seat and Mark Sain in District 1, as well as newcomer Carol Voss for District 8, which had been represented by Meagan Holman. These three candidates are running unopposed.
Vote for Bryan Kennedy for Glendale Mayor
We are endorsing Bryan Kennedy for Glendale mayor. Kennedy has a long track record in Democratic politics and has been very involved in Glendale issues. He has served on the Glendale-River Hills School Board since 2008 and has chaired Glendale’s Fourth of July committee. Kennedy wants to launch a long-range plan to develop parts of Glendale that aren’t connected to Bayshore Town Center and are underutilized. Kennedy has won the endorsement of former Mayor Jerry Tepper, who stepped down last year. “The recent influx of many young families into Glendale means that our city will continue to evolve and change,” Tepper said in his endorsement. “We need a leader that recognizes this and can serve as a bridge between the long-established Glendale families that built this city and the recent arrivals that will help mold and shape Glendale’s future.” We agree with the former mayor and ask Shepherd readers to vote for Bryan Kennedy on April 7.
Racine
We are supporting Racine Mayor John Dickert in his bid for re-election. Dickert has led Racine since 2009 and he’s a true champion of the city. He’s trying to make the most of Racine’s natural assets and draw new businesses to the city. Dickert has extensive experience working to make government more effective and efficient. He’s running on his successful record of reducing unemployment and crime in the city, two goals that are necessary for Racine to thrive. We think John Dickert has earned another term in office and we encourage Racine residents to support him on Tuesday, April 7.
