Update: Check out news coverage from Fox 6 and Oak Creek Patch.
Wednesday night’s South Shore Economic Development Forum was well-intentioned, well-done and well-received, and it was a good way to remind county executive candidates Rep. Jeff Stone and Chris Abele about some of the bigger issues facing our area.
An estimated (my estimate) 150 to 200 people joined Stone, Abele, the mayors of South Milwaukee, Cudahy and St. Francis and Milwaukee County Supervisors Pat Jursik and Marina Dimitrijevic at the forum. Issues discussed included the future of the Hoan Bridge, the extension of the Lake Parkway, the Aerotropolis concept, preserving and enhancing our parks and transit, and water concerns.
A few observations:
- Perhaps a couple dozen anti-Walker protesters gathered before the meeting at the entrance to the South Milwaukee Peforming Arts Center parking lot.
- The mayors seemed unified on every issue discussed, certainly a good thing as we work to stand up for our common interests. That said, it would have been nice to have Oak’s Creek’s mayor be part of that discussion. He was not there.
- I also thought there was too much mayoral/supervisor roundtable and not enough candidate forum. There was only time for three or four questions for Stone and Abele despite dozens being submitted by audience members. Abele arriving 30 minutes late didn’t help.
- The most interesting question posed to the candidates was one asking how each feels he differs philosophically from Gov. Scott Walker, the former county executive. Abele answered it by focusing on his differences with Walker over the right to collectively bargain and the handling of the budget repair bill. Stone chose not to answer the question … and deftly turned it into a chance to say how he is Jeff Stone, not Scott Walker.
- Another interesting question was around the concept of “metropolitan government.” The concept was roundly panned as potentially hurting community identity, although there was more support offered around at least the concept of consolidation of certain local services.
- Airport privatization was also broadly dismissed, with one panelist calling it “a solution in search of a problem.” With the airport drawing record traffic and its future brighter than ever, there seemed little appetite by either executive candidate to pursue the concept once pushed by Walker.
- The longest sustained applause and only standing ovation of the evening was directed at state Sen. Chris Larson, who Dimitrijevic announced as being in attendance early in the forum. Larson stayed well after the forum, longer than Abele or Stone, talking to constituents and even posing for pictures.
Jursik and Dimitrijevic should get a lot of credit for putting this together and working to keep the South Shore top of mind as we pick a new executive. We need to make sure we continue to be part of that conversation.
Were you at the forum? I’d like to know what you think. Post your comments below.
South Milwaukee Blog 
I did attend, Erik. You are spot on, so far as I’m concerned. You can see my take, “An Executive Position,” at: http://www.southmilwaukeenow.com/blogs/communityblogs/118139664.html.
From the Journal Sentinel today:
Abele took more than seven years to respond to OWI
* e-mail
* print
By Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel
March 17, 2011 9:39 a.m. |(226) Comments
There are, of course, the rules that most of us have to abide by.
And then there are the rules that millionaire philanthropist Chris Abele follows.
Glendale records show Abele, one of two candidates for Milwaukee County executive, took more than seven years to show up in Municipal Court to respond to a first-offense operating while intoxicated offense.
Abele’s campaign issued the following statement today:
“I made a stupid mistake 15 years ago, accepted responsibility, paid my debt and encourage everyone to make responsible decisions everyday, including today as they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.”
A spokesman for Abele’s opponent, state Rep. Jeff Stone, said there are two images of Abele that are emerging, the one of the candidate running for county exec and the one appearing in various news reports. Said Vi Hammelman, Stone’s campaign manager:
“Who’s running for county exec – Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Will the real Chris Abele please stand up?”
In July 1996, Abele was arrested in the northern suburb for driving while under the influence. Milwaukee police began pursuing Abele’s green, two-door Mazda after he was clocked driving 65 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. After a short chase, Abele finally pulled over at the intersection of N. Port Washington Rd. and W. Silver Spring Dr. in Glendale.
The report – obtained this week by No Quarter via open records from Glendale city officials – said Abele “had a strong odor of an intoxicant on/about himself, slurred speech and had trouble maintaining his balance.”
“I then asked Abele how much he had to drink tonight,” the officer wrote. “Abele said about 5 drinks.”
He failed multiple field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.21, more than twice the amount considered evidence of intoxication at the time.
He also was ticketed for non-registration of his car and operating after suspension of his driver’s license, second offense. .
He was 29.
But when it came time for the scion of Boston businessman John Abele to show up in court on Aug. 21, 1996, he was a no show.
A bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Not until December 2003 – more than seven years after the bench warrant was issued – did Abele finally appear in court.
Finally, in February 2004, Abele entered a no contest plea and was given the option of paying $694 or serving 27 days in jail. He paid the fine.
Abele, a Milwaukee Democrat, and Stone, a Republican from Greendale, square off on April 5 for the right to complete the final year of Gov. Scott Walker’s term.
No Quarter reported earlier this year that Abele, who runs the family’s charitable foundation, Argosy, has not paid federal or state income taxes in years. He has noted that he had no tax liability – in part because of his substantial charitable giving. He also pointed out that he pays a large property tax bill annually.
Also, he has racked up nearly 100 parking tickets in Milwaukee since January 2007. He paid more than $2,100 in fines as a result.
Comments (226) View Comments »
Tags: Bice : politics : No Quarter
Permalink | Email This Blog
Probably why he was 30 minutes late for the Forum, a rich kid who doesn’t have to follow any rules, I can hardly wait for him to run the county. Does he have your endorsement yet, Erik?
Sorry, no endorsement in this one. I am kind of torn. Stone was dead wrong on his vote on the budget repair bill, but he strikes me as level-headed, well-reasoned and somewhat centrist — a demonstrated consensus builder. I respect him, and I respect that leadership style. Yet, to me, Abele is clearly on the right side of the biggest issue of the day…. and also, at least in speaking, consensus builder. To repeat, I’m torn.
This was a great opportunity to get more understanding of the County Exec candidate’s standing on issues. Too bad one showed up late and they weren’t a larger part of the forum. It was telling that the question posed to the County Exec candidates was how they differ from Walker. Question submitted by one in the standing ovation of the coward Larson – or, one of the union protesters? C0nsolidation of services and divestiture of County owned assets should be met with more enthusiasm by overburdened taxpayers. Was there anyone on the panel that had expertise that was endorsing it or was it just a question that was thrown out for big-government types to pan?
Could not make the forum unfortunately. Did Fleebagger Larson go back to Illinois? Looks like Abele has some baggage issues coming out of his closet. Sometimes money cannot buy office!
Abele has a DUI? From FIFTEEN YEARS AGO???? Big deal. Likes to set off fireworks? Big deal- so does everybody else.
At least he “fesses up” when he makes mistakes. That would be a first in government around here.
Half-hour late?
My wife is worse than that on a GOOD day!
Our standards are getting quite low for the people we want to represent us, aren’t they? The only reason Abele “fessed up” is that him ignoring the law for seven years was exposed by the media. I was actually surprised that the media around here actually went after a liberal.
Tom, It’s not just the DUI (although there are some that would like to make that a felony in itself – I’m not one of those), it’s the fact that it wasn’t taken care of until (depending on whom you believe) the media caught up with him or a bench warrant was issued on him. Also, this wasn’t a “mistake”, as you put it. It wasn’t that he had 3 drinks when he should have had 2 and lost track of time. He as twice the limit.
Now, don’t forget the 100+ parking tickets. Again, not a “mistake” of getting held up at the mall and the meter running out once or twice. Sound like a guy who figures he’s rich enough that he can just pay the fine rather than actually obey the law.
Your wife isn’t running for elected office, is she? If she were looking for a job, would she be a half hour late to the interview? If you were taking her to a movie or a concert would you walk in a half hour late because of her? If she goes to church, would she walk in a half hour late on Christmas? Erik is pretty good about reporting what goes on in these meetings. I’m sure if Mr. Abele came in full of apologies mentioning that the traffic was backed up for an hour due to an accident or another reasonable excuse, Erik certainly would have mentioned it.
SM Guy: Indeed, there was no explanation offered as to why Abele was late, although the moderator did warn us he would be.
His total disregard for the law goes to the character of the man.
I believe a misnomer needs to be corrected in your piece. While there may have been “pro union” people among the demonstrators Wednesday night, the demonstrations happening across the state are not merely “pro union” events…this appears to also have been the case with the group gathered before the meeting at the SMPAC. Certainly, union issues have dominated much of the conversation about the Budget Repair Bill and the proposed bienniel budget, but many people are upset with parts of the budget repair bill and the bienniel budget that have nothing to do with unions. For instance, I am not a union member (or a public employee), and I’m quite concerned about the no-bid sales of state assets, the insertion of political appointees into a host of state agencies, the massive cuts to state funding of schools and municipalities (and especially the potential negative effects on local businesses), and policy changes that will damage our waterways and other natural resources. I also think we need more information about the potential implications of the defunding of recycling programs, restrictions to Badgercare and changes to the state retirement program that appear to allow it to be defunded which will leave future taxpayers holding a bill that is at the moment paid in full. I can’t speak for the demonstrators outside the SMPAC, but I’m sure they are better described as people opposed to Walker’s propositions, who likely demonstrated Wednesday out of concern about Stone’s alignment with them.
Besty: Agreed. So changed.
Much appreciated.