Chris Abele is the current Milwaukee County Executive. He was elected in 2011. Abele's father, John Abele, was a co-founder of Boston Scientific.
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Chris Abele
Another Chris Abele Power Play
Chris Abele wants control. When Abele-funded candidates win elections, who do you think they will be responsive to: their constituents or the guy that bought them their job? more
Photo credit: Andy Arthur
Squeaky Wheels Getting Greased
As long as Wisconsin’s elected public officials aren’t greatly increasing their support of local road projects, it’s hard to believe they would have ever halted the ongoing general trend toward the adoption of county wheel taxes. more
Photo credit: Milwaukee County Parks' Facebook Page
Milwaukee County Parks at a Crossroads
It’s long been a truism that Milwaukee County residents love their historic parks. Nonetheless, continual defunding for three decades has left much of the county’s parks frayed and even derelict. more
Public Invited to Weigh in On the Domes' Future
The future of the Mitchell Park Domes is at stake. The public has an opportunity to express its ideas and opinions about various county proposals on Tuesday, June 26 in the lobby of the Mitchell Park Domes. more
Photo credit: J Ferrer
Have Milwaukee County’s Finances Become Unmanageable?
“Can the county afford a park system as extensive as it is today?” asks Wisconsin Policy Forum’s president Rob Henken. “Can Milwaukee County government continue its current level of support for things like the zoo, museum and the Marcus Center?” more
Skirting of Open Meetings Law an Open Secret in Milwaukee County
Despite Milwaukee County’s long-standing Anti-Secrecy Policy, County Executive Chris Abele and his administrators often operate in the shadows; indeed, four county committees addressing parks issues, convened since 2016 by Abele or his ... more
The Shepherd Express Endorsements for the Tuesday, April 3 Elections
The Shepherd Express announces its political endorsements for the Tuesday, April 3, Wisconsin elections. more
Photo credit: Chris Abele for Milwaukee County Executive Facebook Page
Bill Granting Abele More Power Gets Chilly Reception in Madison
A bill to drastically increase Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele’s power and decrease the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors’ jurisdiction drew much opposition and limited support at a recent state legislative hearing. more
Abele's Plan to Put Parking Meters in the Parks is Not Dead
Lest Milwaukee County residents who oppose parking meters in county parks feel too comfortable about the county executive’s decision to pull the plan, he is now trying to circumvent the public by gaining more personal power. more
Photo credit: Chris Abele for Milwaukee County Executive Facebook page
Citizen Outrage Forces Chris Abele to Back Down
As the Shepherd Express went to press this week, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele emailed and posted a statement entitled “You Spoke, I Listened.” more
Photo credit: Troye Fox / UWM Photo
Proposed Parking Meters in the Parks Outrages County Residents
Last week’s meeting at the Mitchell Park Domes about parking meters in Milwaukee County parks revealed an overwhelming rejection of County Executive Chris Abele’s plan to impose another “revenue stream.” more
Photo credit: Milwaukee County Parks
Paid Parking in Parks Raises Social Justice Issues
Our county’s exceptional network of public parks was developed to serve everyone, but now Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele is proposing a wrong-headed program of widespread and pricey paid parking throughout the park system. more
Photo credit: Milwaukee County Parks
Converting County Parks into 'Revenue Streams'?
Metro Milwaukee’s time-honored heritage of free and inclusively accessible parks is on the fast track to ending. more
Photo credit: Jeff Kramer
Pay-to-Play for County Parks?
Milwaukee County plans to install parking meters in many of its landmark parks, raising questions about public access as well as the need to raise revenue to maintain the park system. more
Why Virginia Matters to Wisconsin
Democratic wins in the recent Virginia elections and elsewhere in the U.S. are good news for Wisconsin. more
Abele's Dirty Little War Against the Honest Elected Officials
County Executive Chris Abele used his family money to win three elections, and he is now using his family’s money to launch a war against some of Milwaukee’s most respected elected officials. His line of fake news consists of half-truths an... more
Milwaukee County Pension Déjà Vu
County Executive Abele has taken another page from Donald Trump’s playbook by manufacturing a county pension crisis to distract from his own ongoing issues. more
Now Abele Sees Himself As a Job Training Expert
Out of left field, Chris Abele has petitioned Gov. Scott Walker to shift federal job training dollars from the successful Employ Milwaukee to some entity under him. There are many problems with Abele’s request. more
Courts Restore Some Integrity and Balance to County Government
Milwaukee needs to restore a system of checks and balances so the county supervisors have the powers to serve as a countervailing force to an abusive and self-serving county executive. more
Milwaukee County Pension Madness
Since the turn of the century, Milwaukee County has been shaped by pension scandal. The latest development—a recent revelation of an IRS report hidden for three years— demonstrates how the current pension system rules might actually incenti... more
