State Senator Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, announced Monday that he will run for Milwaukee County executive against Chris Abele in the spring of 2016.
Larson has been a member of the state Senate for five years and before that was a Milwaukee County Board supervisor for two and a half years. He was the Senate Democratic Leader from 2013-14.
Abele has been Milwaukee County executive since 2011.
Larson criticized Abele for working with Republicans in the state Legislature to reduce the power of the Milwaukee County Board and increase the authority of the Milwaukee County executive’s office.
“Over these past four years, we have seen the needs of the powerful trump the needs of our citizens,” Larson said. “We have seen the power of our elected representatives be stripped and consolidated into the powers of one man. We have seen coordination by the elite class seeking to dismantle the institutions that we cherish, like public education. We have grown disappointed to learn that Chris Abele is not who we thought he was. I’m running for County Executive because we need to restore power to the people. It is clear that Milwaukee County is heading in the wrong direction and, over the next six months, I will lay out exactly why I think we can do better.”
Abele said he welcomes Larson’s entry into the race.
“I look forward to the added opportunity to talk with voters about how we’re turning the corner in Milwaukee County and getting our fiscal house in order after years of uncertainty and mismanagement prior to my taking office,” Abele said.
