Category Archives: 2014 Elections

November 4, 2014 · 11:17 pm

South Milwaukee Election Results: 70% Turnout

South Milwaukeeans yet again turned out in big numbers for an election.

Tuesday’s turnout: 70.6% of registered voters, according to unofficial results from the city clerk’s office. There were more than 8,400 ballots cast on Tuesday.

Here are the results. Some local highlights:

  • Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch tallied 51.7% of the votes in South Milwaukee, to 45.9% for Mary Burke and John Lehman.
  • Brad Schimel topped Susan Happ in the attorney general’s race locally, 49.4% to 43.6%.
  • Dan Sebring beat U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, 49.8% to 42.3%, in South Milwaukee, even as Moore scored a big victory across the district.
  • State Sen. Chris Larson beat challenger Jason “Red” Arnold 48.2% to 45.9% in South Milwaukee.

Thanks to everyone who got out to the polls and made their voices heard. And thanks to City Clerk Jim Shelenske, his City Hall team and all of the pollworkers for their efforts. They do important work, and they do it well.

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November 4, 2014 · 6:43 am

It’s Election Day: Vote!

Today is Election Day. Please do your duty as a citizen and vote!

Here are some details …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Here is a sample ballot. Contested races include governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state, Wisconsin State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. There are also four county referendeum questions, and one state question.
  • First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
  • Second District voters vote at Lakeview School, 711 Marion Ave.
  • Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
  • Fourth District voters vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.
  • Voter ID is not required in this election. But you will be asked to sign the poll book.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page … and look for more information on local results from South Milwaukee Blog later tonight or Wednesday morning.

See you at the polls!

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October 19, 2014 · 5:20 pm

In-Person Absentee Voting Opens Monday

Starting Monday, you can cast a vote in the Nov. 4 election.

In-person absentee voting opens then, meaning you can vote at South Milwaukee City Hall during regular business hours through 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.

You don’t need a reason to vote this way — you can simply show up and request a ballot and cast it right there.

Learn more on the city’s elections web page, where you can also see a sample ballot.

And keep in mind that an ID is not required to vote for this election.

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August 12, 2014 · 11:43 pm

South Milwaukee Primary Election Results: Big Turnout

Results are in from Tuesday’s primary election, and one of the big headlines locally was turnout.

More than 28% of registered voters voted, ahead of expectations.

Among the local results in contested races:

  • In the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s race, David Clarke scored a big win locally, with 56% of the vote. Challenger Chris Moews had 42%.
  • Mary Burke easily won the Democratic gubernatorial primary, as did John Lehman in the lieutenant governor race.
  • For attorney general, Susan Happ and Jon Richards nearly split the vote in South Milwaukee.
  • Incumbent U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore narrowly defeated challenger Gary George in the Fourth District Congressional race. She will face Republican Dan Sebring in the November general election. Sebring beat David King in the Republican primary Tuesday.

The number of “undervotes” — blank ballots for certain races — was also telling, albeit not necessarily surprising. Some of the races had hundreds of blank ballots reported. There were only a handful in the sheriff’s race, suggesting to me there were a number of Republican voters who “crossed over” to vote only in this race, as Democrats.

Check out the full results here.

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July 28, 2014 · 10:23 pm

In-Person Absentee Voting Open

In-person absentee voting is now open at City Hall for the August 12 partisan primary election.

You can vote in person at the clerk’s office during normal business hours through 5 p.m. on Friday, August 8.

Check out a sample ballot here. Here is a link to the city’s general election information page.

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April 2, 2014 · 12:10 am

Humbled By A Mayoral Victory

Election results are in, and I’m proud to say I won the South Milwaukee mayoral race with more than 60% of the vote.

You can check out the full results here. Among them …

  • Turnout in South Milwaukee was 28%.
  • The final tally in the mayoral race: I had 2,021 votes, or 60.4%, to incumbent Tom Zepecki’s 1,248, or 37.3%. I’ll serve a three-year team.
  • In the only other contested race on the ballot, Laura Gramling Perez beat Cedric Cornwall in the race for Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge Branch 32, 53.9% to 28.7%.
  • In South Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Board pay reduction referendum passed, 66.5% to 20.5%.
  • Also winning re-election in uncontested races were City Clerk James Shelenske, Treasurer Karen Skowronski, and Attorney Joseph Murphy. They will serve three-year terms.
  • South Milwaukee School Board members John Haslam, Carol Dufek and Patricia Bordak also won re-election in uncontested races. They will serve three-year terms.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Also, thanks to all of the workers from the clerk’s office, led by Jim Shelenske, and those at the polls for their efforts with this and all elections. It’s thankless work, but critical. And it’s always run professionally.

And one final word on Mayor Zepecki. I want to thank him for his decades of dedicated service to South Milwaukee. He is a good man who leaves a strong legacy of leadership that I hope to build on in coming years. I can only hope to have the long-term impact he has had on this great city.

I promise to responsibly build on the foundation he has helped establish.

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April 1, 2014 · 7:02 am

Vote Today!

Tuesday is election day, and I humbly ask for your vote in the mayoral race.

Here are some details …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • There are only two contested races on the ballot — the mayoral race and a race for a Milwaukee County Circuit judgeship between Cedric Cornwall and Laura Gramling Perez. Also on the ballot is a referendum to reduce the pay of Milwaukee County Board supervisors. Here is a sample ballot.
  • First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
  • Second District voters vote at Lakeview School, 711 Marion Ave.
  • Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
  • Fourth District voters vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page.

And check out my campaign website and Facebook page.

Of course, check back to South Milwaukee Blog for more coverage of the election Tuesday night.

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March 18, 2014 · 8:30 am

In-Person Absentee Voting Now Open

You can now cast a vote in the April 1 election.

In-person absentee voting is open, meaning you can vote at South Milwaukee City Hall during regular business hours through 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28.

You don’t need a reason to vote this way — you can simply show up and request a ballot and cast it right there. But I’d especially ask you to consider voting early if you think you might not be able to make it to the polls on April 1.

Learn more on the city’s elections web page.

Of course, I humbly ask for your vote in the race for mayor.

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February 18, 2014 · 11:11 pm

Primary Election Results Are In, And I’m Humbled

I’m excited, yet humbled, to report that I won Tuesday’s South Milwaukee mayoral election primary.

The final results:

  • Erik Brooks: 53.38%
  • Thomas Zepecki: 36.38%
  • James Leavens: 9.32%

Thanks to everyone who voted on Tuesday, and don’t forget the April 1 general election. My pledge: Continue to do the work necessary to earn your vote, sharing a positive vision of South Milwaukee’s future and making you part of that conversation.

Check out full results on the South Milwaukee city website.

And don’t forget to vote April 1!

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February 17, 2014 · 4:11 pm

Tuesday Is Election Day: Vote!

The South Milwaukee mayoral primary is tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 18, and I ask that my readers get to the polls.

Of course, I humbly ask for your vote. But even if I’m not your guy, please cast a ballot. It’s our duty as citizens, an important part of what makes America America.

Here are some details …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • There is only one race on the ballot — the mayoral race. Here is a sample ballot. You’ll note I’m listed third; that’s the result of a random drawing done in January.
  • First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
  • Second District voters vote at Lakeview School, 711 Marion Ave.
  • Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
  • Fourth District voters vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page.

And check out my campaign website and Facebook page.

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January 7, 2014 · 9:15 pm

Mayor’s Race Update: Primary Set For Feb. 18

Update: Here is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.

It’s official — there will be a primary in the South Milwaukee mayoral race.

The Feb. 18 ballot will feature me, Tom Zepecki and Jim Leavens, with the top two finishers in that race advancing to the April 1 general election.

So mark your calendars and be sure to vote.

Of course, I humbly ask for your support.

It’s time for new ideas, perspective and energy around some of the key issues facing this city … and I look forward to delivering those. I pledge to continue to be a responsible steward of taxpayer money, while putting a fresh focus on redeveloping downtown, building local business, investing in community attractions, seeking efficiencies and enhancing communications.

With growing support across the city, my campaign has some really good momentum, and I look forward to continuing that into the spring. Join me! Check out my campaign website here. And please “like” my campaign Facebook page.

Also of note: The three South Milwaukee School Board positions up for election this spring will be uncontested. Only incumbents John Haslam, Patricia Bordak and Carol Dufek will be on the April 1 ballot, according to the district. 

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November 19, 2013 · 10:49 am

It’s Election Day!

Today is special election day in the race for the 21st Assembly District seat vacated by Mark Honadel.

The candidates: Democrat Elizabeth Coppola and Republican Jessie Rodriguez.

Learn more about them by clicking on their websites linked above and in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article and this Wisconsin Public Radio story.

And here are some details on voting …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Check out a district and polling location map here. All Fourth District residents vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • See a sample ballot here.
  • Learn more on the city website elections page.

And visit South Milwaukee Blog later tonight for local election results.

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October 3, 2013 · 8:51 am

I’m Running For Mayor In April … And Humbly Ask For Your Vote

Fresh ideas for South Milwaukee’s future. That’s what I pledge to deliver if I am elected mayor this April.

I humbly ask for your vote.

I announced my candidacy this morning, and I am officially breaking the news here because this platform is one example of my commitment to delivering new ideas and new solutions for the issues facing South Milwaukee.

I launched South Milwaukee Blog to address a need to improve communications – a commitment that I carry through as part of my mayoral platform. We need to do a better job telling our story to our neighbors and prospective residents, businesses and visitors and keeping neighbors informed on key issues.

But that’s just the start. Fixing downtown is job No. 1. And my plan is straightforward: Develop a plan. Then work the plan.

Today, if you ask 20 people what the vision is for downtown, you get 20 different answers. We need a single, community-generated and community-supported plan for our city center – something all of South Milwaukee can rally around in restoring vitality to our struggling downtown. That plan demands short-, medium- and long-term objectives … then we need to make a commitment to achieving those goals.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers here. But there are plenty of smart people who do – and plenty of best practices upon which we can draw. We need to tap those ideas and bring them to life, devoting renewed energy and focus to this critical issue.

My platform includes more than improved communications and a downtown action plan. It also calls for investments in economic development, city services, efficiency and infrastructures. I also want to see increased investment in our city attractions, doubling down to ensure the long-term future of the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, Mill Pond and more.

You can learn much more about my campaign on my website: www.brooksformayor.org., or on Facebook (Facebook.com/brooksformayor) and Twitter (#brooksformayor). And here is the press release I’ll be sending out.

I encourage you to read more about me and my vision, and I appreciate any support you can provide for my campaign.

I love South Milwaukee, I am anchored in this community, and I am excited about the future of this city. Please join me in helping shape that future on April 1.

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May 8, 2013 · 7:54 pm

South Milwaukee Council Votes On Terms, Elected Vs. Appointed Issue

The South Milwaukee City Council has weighed in on the length of elected officials’ terms — and whether or not some of our elected leaders should remain that way.

Tuesday, the council voted to introduce a number of ordinances on these topics.

  • We voted to make the term of mayor, alderman and municipal judge three years. Currently, the mayor and aldermen serve two-year terms, and the judge serves four. The votes were 8-0 except for the aldermanic term issue. It passed 7-1, and I was the “one.” I voted no on that one because I feel strongly our terms should also be staggered. I explain my position here and here. 
  • We also voted to make the positions of city attorney, clerk and treasurer appointed vs. elected — effective in 2017. So that means these three officials will be seeking three-year terms next April, like other elected officials. Then, once that term is over, the positions will become appointed … with the details as to how that will work to be worked out down the road. These measures all passed 8-0.

So, for now, the debate continues. Since these measures were only introduced Tuesday, they must have their first, second and third readings (and more votes) before they are passed. I expect that will take at least two council meetings. Then, because they represent changes to city “charter ordinances,” there is an extra period of time that must elapse before they go into effect.

Of course, I’d like to know what you think of this. Post your comments below!

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