UNKNOWN ENGINEERS COUNTY EXECUTIVE RUN

Special to the Readers of www.Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

Curtis E. Bolton, the City of Greenfield Engineer, told people at Monday’s regular meeting of the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County that he was a candidate for the office of County Executive. As such, he would join Joe Klein and Lena Taylor as announced candidates, and County Executive Scott Walker as presumptive candidate for the mightiest job in the state’s mightiest county.

Bolton, who will celebrate his 10^th anniversary as a licensed Professional Engineer on November 14^th, 2007, apparently announced some time previously, although not prominently enough for anybody to have noticed. “I think it was on Wispolitics.com, or somewhere about a month ago,” said a spokesperson for the party. (Bolton could not be reached Tuesday morning.) His wife Marilyn is a nutritionist with the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Health in Milwaukee, where she is involved with the WIC program for women, infants and children. The Boltons reside in Franklin, Wisconsin. … Also at the meeting, Taylor told the crowd that she has raised $100,000 since her announcement of candidacy for executive. In an anticlimax, the group endorsed the candidacy of incumbent Tom Barrett for the non-partisan office of Mayor of Milwaukee.

Otherwise, things are slow for the spring county races. Bolton, for example, has yet to file a form EB-1, (neither has Walker), so his candidacy may be held at a discount. In fact, with just six weeks remaining until nomination papers may be circulated, things are downright slow with the county races. Only three others (none incumbents) have announced for supervisor seats: Jeanette Balistrieri, who filed her EB-1 for the 9^th District seat held by Paul M. Cesarz in July and placed third in the 2004 primary for the seat, Sebastian Raclaw, the Milwaukee detective who announced his challenge to 14^th District incumbent Richard D. Nyklewicz Jr., in May (although the Milwaukee County Election Commission misspelled his name as "Reclaw"), and Daniel Cody, who has announced for the seat held by 15^th District supervisor Lynne DeBruin.

While the Democrats were meeting at the Pettit National Ice Center Hall of Fame Lounge, Raclaw supporters gathered at the Milwaukee Ale House to raise funds for their candidate, a newly minted father. Among the attendees were William C. Carey and former Milwaukee Police Association president Bradley DeBraska, both of whom have served on the City of Milwaukee Employe’s Retirement System, as does the energetic Raclaw. They were joined by current police union president John Balcerzak. DeBraska had critical words for the leadership of Mayor Barrett on the crime issue, especially coming off a deadly weekend in the city. “He should show leadership,” DeBraska said. “He should have press conference after press conference to let people know he is working.” DeBraska said an example of the mayor’s lack of leadership, as he saw it, was the announcement – and prompt unannouncement – [and now today's reannouncement--Ed.] by Chief Nannette Hegerty of a proposed shift in the boundaries of Milwaukee’s police districts. “Once Barrett found the boundary shift would cost $2.3 million, he told her to forget it,” DeBraska added. [Apparently the cost problem has been settled, and you can find the new map, to go into effect on November 4th, 2007, at this link: Police%20Districts%20Nov%2007]

Also at the event, Leon Todd said he would like to see some races, just to give the election some life. A good way for a candidate like Raclaw to get recognition, he said, was to have frequent small events. Raclaw complied by scheduling a get together for the following Monday, October 29th, 2007, at Tres Hermanos Club, 1332 W. Lincoln Avenue. Eventually he will have some gigs in his own district, which is largely airport, or "Where Milwaukee Meets the World," as the Raclaw literature points out. Ald. Jim Witkowiak stopped by to talk about his district, which is just about ready to really pop with development as downtown steadily grows to the south.

The selection process for Milwaukee’s 18^th police chief is well underway, with public hearings scheduled for Wednesday, October 24^th when the Fire and Police Commission will interview Denita Ball, Edward A. Flynn, Ramon Galaviz, James Harpole and Leonard Supenski, the five remaining candidates for the chief’s job. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall, and will be broadcast live on City Channel 25. The public is invited.