Five candidates are in a sprint to the Feb. 15 primary in the race to be the next county executive of Milwaukee County.
The candidates who filed enough voter nomination signatures to be on the ballot are: state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale); acting County Executive Lee Holloway; philanthropist Chris Abele; former state Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa); and Ieshuh Griffin, who gained fame as a candidate for an Assembly seat when she attempted to be identified on the ballot as “Not the ‘whiteman’s bitch'” last November.
The county executive post became vacant after Scott Walker was elected governor of Wisconsin on Nov. 2.
Although the county executive post is technically a nonpartisan position, the field essentially stacks up to be a showdown of one Republican (Stone) against a field of three Democrats (Holloway, Abele and Sullivan) and Griffin.
Stone was the first to file his minimum 2,000 voter signatures with the Milwaukee County Election Commission and appears to have a running start from a campaign organizational standpoint.
Stone, who has been planning his campaign for several months, has recruited businessman and philanthropist Michael Cudahy and MillerCoors executive Mike Jones to serve as his campaign co-chairmen. Stone also has recruited Vi Rowley Hammelman, a veteran of former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s campaigns, to serve as his campaign manager, and businessman and attorney Ulice Payne to serve as his campaign treasurer.
Stone said nearly 50 volunteers helped him collect the signatures needed.
“It was impressive to see the enthusiasm of the volunteers. So many different people went out to get signatures from every corner of the county,” Stone said. “With wonderful people like this helping out, we have the opportunity to accomplish great things. I would really like to thank them for all their hard work.”
Stone is likely to try to build a coalition to hold on to the voters who put Walker into the office in a largely Democratic county.
Holloway, who previously served as county board chairman, appointed himself acting county executive when Walker departed.
“My record speaks for itself as chairman of the board,” said Holloway.
Abele is a political novice who will certainly run the most well-financed campaign in the race.
“I understand very clearly the deep and serious challenges facing Milwaukee County, and I have real and new ideas to address them,” Abele said.
Abele’s campaign has hired former Tom Barrett gubernatorial campaign officials Phil Walzak as campaign manager and Pat Gurasci as a fundraiser.
Sullivan lost his Senate seat when he was defeated by Republican Leah Vukmir on Nov. 2. Sullivan has recruited Green Bay native Kory Kozloski, who most recently led the State Senate Democratic Committee, to be his campaign manager. Kozloski previously was chief of staff for State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee). Sullivan also has recruited Gillian Morris, who was the deputy communications director for Barrett’s campaign, to be his communications director.
“It has become increasingly clear that Milwaukee County is in trouble,” Sullivan said. “Every single day, you can read about the county’s woes in the newspaper. We need strong new leadership in the county executive office to help right the ship, and that’s exactly why I’m running.”
County Election Commission department administrator Lisa Catlin Weiner has hired eight additional employees to verify the signatures of the candidates.
The top two contenders from the Feb. 15 primary will advance to the April 5 general election.
