SMOKEFEST COMING! (AND RECOUNT NEWS, TOO!)

By Michael Horne

Dear Reader,

There are a number of things up in the air in milwaukeeworld, including the smoke at Hector’s restaurant this afternoon. We can also learn about a new state park at an open house this evening, and if you read on, there is some news here about the recount now underway for the office of Municipal Judge, Branch 3, City of Milwaukee Municipal Court, which is really up in the air.

SMOKEFEST PLANS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Alderman Bob Donovan has it worked out pretty good – get out of those stuffy City Hall offices and grab a smoke at Hector’s – A Mexican Restaurant, 7118 W. State St., Wauwatosa, at 1:30 this afternoon. He teased us about his plans with this press release issued yesterday.

While there, he plans to announce plans for another chance to grab a smoke – this time on Saturday at American Serb Memorial Hall Banquet & Conference Center, 5101 W. Oklahoma Av. from noon to 3 p.m. Better bring a couple packs along.

Hector’s is owned by Rob Messinger, who opened the place on June 16, 1989. A Wauwatosa ban on smoking in those businesses that sell more food than alcohol affected him, yet not two neighboring taverns. According to figures provided to the Wautwatosa Common Council, Messinger’s business was off 11.2 per cent in December. The council’s Legislative, Licensing and Communications Committee voted 6-0 to exempt Hector’s from the ban on January 30th. The full council passed the resolution on February 6^th and the Mayor apparently signed it “shortly thereafter,” according to a worker in the City Clerk’s office.

Messinger’s exemption from the law is a rare victory for pro-smokers in an era where a tide of regulation, including an outright ban on all smoking in all public places, has been proposed by Governor James E. Doyle. Just this week the Village of Shorewood, which, like Wauwatosa, is a core suburb adjacent to the City of Milwaukee, passed a no-smoking ordinance for its taverns and restaurants effective 2009.

IN OTHER NEWS

The Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., will be the site tonight of the Lakeshore State Park Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. The objective of the gig is to inform us about plans for the Grand Opening of the park, membership in its support organization, “Friends of Lakeshore State Park,” its programs, etc.

It might be a good time to talk about the name of the park, which, although geographically descriptive, is commonplace (if not lame). Have a couple of glasses of wine first (provided along with beverages and snacks).

OH, YES, THE RECOUNT!

Attorney Michael S. Maistelman, representing judicial candidate Jeffrey B. Norman in his quest for a seat at the hallowed bench of the City of Milwaukee Municipal Court, dashed off a note yesterday to Sue Edman, the Executive Director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission complaining about the conditions of the facility where the recount is being held.

“It is my understanding that the Branch 3 recount will be taking place at the City warehouse,” Maistelman wrote. “I have concerns about conducting the recount in the warehouse as the lighting is poor the environment is damp and cold and generally the facility is not furnished to accommodate the needs of many people over a long period of time for a formal hearing.

The City of Milwaukee recounts that I have been involved in have all taken place at City Hall.”

This prompted the following response from Edman, sent to Maistelman and all interested parties:

“The recount will be held at the City warehouse at 1028 N. Hawley as scheduled. Election Commission staff have been working all day to prepare for the recount. The area we will be working in is large, clean, and well lit. And, there is heat in the building. To move to another location would require us to move machines, 628 poll books, and 314 wards of other election related documents.”

Norman picked up 59 votes when Edman and Assistant Director Neil Albrecht reviewed some election documents. According to Albrecht: “As noted in Monday's meeting, the Election Commissioners felt it was important to provide Mr. Norman with a number of write-in votes as quickly as possible so that he could base decisions on this information. Sue Edman and I later conducted a ward-by-ward executive review of the write-in tally sheets. We recorded 59 additional votes for Mr. Norman.”

Also, apparently it was not until Monday that the staff made a full physical review of all election machines. According to Albrecht, it took until Friday for the all machines to be delivered to the warehouse. A thorough investigation of the machines found 7 ballots in the write-in bin in the machine at Ward 188 and Ward 189 (Lyon’s Park, 3301 S. 55th) and the Atkinson Library (1960 W. Atkinson Ave.)

These, however, are the mere preliminaries; the actual recount began this morning at 9 a.m. Results could take several days. Perhaps the recounters will head to Saz’s for lunch – it’s right next door. – Michael Horne

[Update -- March 1st, 2007 3 p.m. -- Jeffrey Norman called off his recount yesterday. Crews will be arriving shortly to dismantle this roller coaster. ]