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There has been a lot of speculation about why State Rep. Pedro Colon was the first candidate to drop out of the crowded field to replace Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist.

Several political sources said the Milwaukee Democrat dropped out of the race after seeing results of a recent poll his campaign did that found him way back in the pack, trailing front runners former Congressman Thomas Barrett and Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke. In fact, a political source said Colon actually was fifth in the poll, also trailing Common Council President Marvin Pratt and Alderman Thomas Nardelli. He was running close to former Municipal Judge Vince Bobot and businesswoman Sandy Folaron.

“He was back with many of the marginal candidates and realized he didn’t have much of a chance unless he spent a lot of money,” the source said. “He did not have much hope of winning.”

Colon had some success raising money. According to campaign finance reports filed June 30, he was able to raise $77,732, second only to Barrett, who raised more than $216,000. Several of his contributions came from Chicago-area politicians, including $1,000 from the political campaign committee of U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Chicago Democrat and $1,000 from the committee of Illinois State Rep. Cinthia Soto, a Cook County Democrat.

Political observers said Colon made the right decision, given his low name recognition and the uphill battle he faced. By getting out early and throwing his support behind Barrett as his campaign co-chairman, Colon has set himself up nicely if Barrett wins the election. He would likely end up with a cabinet position or other high-ranking job in City Hall.

“It was a graceful way out and done at exactly the right time,” the political source said. “By getting out now, he becomes a major player in the Barrett campaign and can reap the rewards if Barrett ends up in the mayor’s office.”

The political source said if Colon had waited and another poll was taken this fall that showed him way back in the pack, it could have hurt his political future. Did Governor Jim Doyle take an early morning parade jaunt through downtown Milwaukee before the Harley Davidson 100th Anniversary parade on August 30? It all depends who you ask.

Two sources said they saw Doyle, in a sidecar of Harley, traveling through downtown Milwaukee about 6:30 a.m. with a police escort, waving to the few people who were already marking out spots for the anniversary parade that got underway at the Milwaukee County Zoo at 9 a.m.

Doyle did not participate in the Harley parade because he was unable to get his motorcycle license in time after failing his first written test earlier this summer. He was to ride in a truck at the beginning of the parade, but decided against it, said Dan Leistikow, a spokesman for Doyle.

“He decided not to do the parade because he felt the spotlight should be on Harley on their special day,” Leistikow said. “He wished he could have ridden in the parade on a Harley, but he just ran out of time.”

Leistikow denied that Doyle had taken a early parade ride in a Harley, saying his own only appearances were at a reception prior to the parade and a video that he recorded congratulating Harley on its anniversary that was too be played at the big party at Veteran’s Park on August 31.

“He decided he wanted to stay in the background and let all the attention be focused on Harley,” he said. One unusual sight at the annual Common Council picnic on Sept. 4 at Helfaer Field, the Little League baseball field outside of Miller Park, was who was playing catcher for the aldermen in their game against the Common Council staff.

Recently convicted Alderman Paul Henningsen manned the catcher’s position for much of the game. But he didn’t stay around much afterwards to mingle with lobbyists, business executives and others, who had paid $10 to attend the event, which in the past has been held at the Summerfest grounds.

Henningsen is still serving as an alderman, despite being found guilty of four counts of mail fraud during his June trial in federal court. He is to be sentenced Sept. 26, at which time he is expected to resign and end his more than 20-year career at City Hall.

Other sightings at the picnic were Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who is expected to announce in the near future that he will join the crowded field that is running to replace Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist. Clarke chatted with many of the lobbyists and business executive in attendance, but left shortly after former Congressman Tom Barrett, considered the frontrunner to replace Norquist, arrived and began mingling with the crowd.

“Both of them were working the room trying to raise money,” said a political source. “They are getting ready for a heavy duty fight for the mayor’s job.” The Summerfest Board is expected to meet on Sept. 12 and the future of executive director Bo Black could be on the agenda.

Black, whose contract expires at the end of the year, is expected to be let go by the Summerfest Board when her contract expires. She is currently negotiating with board attorneys, seeking a long-term buyout agreement that would include health care benefits, with a value of about $1 million, said a source close to the negotiations.

Stephen Kravit, a Milwaukee attorney representing Black, declined to comment on the negotiations, referring all questions to the Summerfest Board. Kravit said did not know if Black’s contract status would be discussed at the meeting.

Evan Zeppos, a spokesman for the Summerfest Board, said the meeting agenda had not yet been set. He declined to comment further.

Prior to this year’s Summerfest, board members said they would wait until the festival was over to make a final decision on Black, which most political sources have predicted would be to not renew her contract. A meeting had been scheduled in May to decide her fate, but was called off at the last minute by Summerfest Board Chairman Howard Schnoll.