Re-Elect Langley et al.
Of all the Milwaukee citywide officials seeking re-election on Tuesday, April 1, only City Attorney Grant Langley faces serious opposition.
Langley, who was elected in 1984 and re-elected every four years since then, is opposed by State Representative Pedro Colon, who represents the near South Side of the City of Milwaukee. Colon intended to run for Mayor in 2004, but quit the race when he realized he could not beat Tom Barrett.
Colon says that the City Attorney should take a pro-active role in solving City problems, while Langley maintains that the proper role for the official is to provide legal advice and services to City departments. I agree with the incumbent on this; once the City Attorney becomes involved in setting policy, his legal judgment may be clouded by his advocacy of a particular idea or program. The Mayor and Common Council should determine policy, and the City Attorney should provide legal counsel as needed. Grant Langley has over 36 years of experience in municipal law, and Colon has none. Langley should be retained for another term.
Tom Barrett beat nine other candidates to become Mayor in 2004, and faces only Attorney Andrew Shaw this time. The fact that no elected official, present or former, is running against him is a sign that he has kept the political powers of this City rather happy these past four years. Barrett played a major role in persuading Manpower (1) to move back into the City, and his administration has been instrumental in the boom in condo and commercial construction near Downtown. Unfortunately, crime remains a major problem, but I do not believe than anyone else could have done more to solve it. Barrett will win easily, and he deserves another term.
City Treasurer Wayne F Whittow has done his job of collecting the City's property taxes since 1972 without any major problems or scandals, so he might as well keep doing it. His opponent, Rick Kissel, would introduce a left-wing political agenda into the Treasurer's office, which we do not need.
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(1) Manpower, the world-class temporary placement firm, was founded in downtown Milwaukee in 1948, but moved to Glendale about 1967.
Langley, who was elected in 1984 and re-elected every four years since then, is opposed by State Representative Pedro Colon, who represents the near South Side of the City of Milwaukee. Colon intended to run for Mayor in 2004, but quit the race when he realized he could not beat Tom Barrett.
Colon says that the City Attorney should take a pro-active role in solving City problems, while Langley maintains that the proper role for the official is to provide legal advice and services to City departments. I agree with the incumbent on this; once the City Attorney becomes involved in setting policy, his legal judgment may be clouded by his advocacy of a particular idea or program. The Mayor and Common Council should determine policy, and the City Attorney should provide legal counsel as needed. Grant Langley has over 36 years of experience in municipal law, and Colon has none. Langley should be retained for another term.
Tom Barrett beat nine other candidates to become Mayor in 2004, and faces only Attorney Andrew Shaw this time. The fact that no elected official, present or former, is running against him is a sign that he has kept the political powers of this City rather happy these past four years. Barrett played a major role in persuading Manpower (1) to move back into the City, and his administration has been instrumental in the boom in condo and commercial construction near Downtown. Unfortunately, crime remains a major problem, but I do not believe than anyone else could have done more to solve it. Barrett will win easily, and he deserves another term.
City Treasurer Wayne F Whittow has done his job of collecting the City's property taxes since 1972 without any major problems or scandals, so he might as well keep doing it. His opponent, Rick Kissel, would introduce a left-wing political agenda into the Treasurer's office, which we do not need.
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(1) Manpower, the world-class temporary placement firm, was founded in downtown Milwaukee in 1948, but moved to Glendale about 1967.
posted by Gerald S Glazer at 10:46 AM
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