County Executive Candidates Face Off
MILWAUKEE - The five candidates who hope to be the next Milwaukee County Executive appeared together for a panel discussion at Marquette University.
They are vying for the job previously held by Scott Walker before he was sworn in as governor earlier this month.
The five candidates, in alphabetical order, are Chris Abele, Ieshuh Griffin, Lee Holloway, Jeff Stone, and Jim Sullivan.
After a February 15 primary, two of the candidates will compete for the job in the April 5 election.
Abele is a local philanthropist and business owner. He proposed unifying economic development efforts between local government entities. "I think we need to target industries that we want to attract," he said.
Griffin drew attention last fall when she ran for the legislature. As an independent candidate, she was allowed to put a five-word description of candidacy on the ballot. Her choice of "not the white man's bitch" was eventually rejected by authorities. She decided to try another campaign for County Executive. "I am running to restore responsibility within the Milwaukee County government," she said.
Holloway is a county government veteran who recently served as County Board Chair. He became Acting County Executive when Walker left for the state capitol. He faced criticism at the panel discussion for recent problems with his rental properties in Milwaukee. "We're in this together," he said. "So just to pick on me in reference to me having the same kind of problems that everybody else is having, I'm in this." Holloway has also made headlines for personnel changes he made at the county soon after becoming Acting County Executive.
Jeff Stone is currently serving as a Republican state legislator from Greendale. In the past, he has been aligned with Governor Scott Walker and enjoys many of the same supporters. "I will not raise your taxes," he promised people at the forum. Stone and his wife own a printing business.
Jim Sullivan served as a Democratic state senator until he was defeated by a Republican in the November election. Sullivan, who is an attorney, lives in Wauwatosa and has been endorsed by the largest labor union of county employees. Sullivan said, "I am here to make sure we run this government efficiently."
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