Top Milwaukee races headed for primaries in February

Races for Milwaukee County executive, Milwaukee mayor and a host of others are headed for primary elections in what will be a busy election year.

The deadline for candidates to file nomination papers was Tuesday. If they have enough signatures and meet all other filing requirements, their names will be placed on the ballot.

The primary will take place Feb. 18. On April 7, residents will cast their final votes for local elections — the same day they can vote for presidential primary candidates.

Election officials are expecting a large turnout for the April general election that will feature not only the nonpartisan municipal and county races but a state Supreme Court race and Wisconsin's presidential primary.

"In 2016 I think we saw a record-breaking turnout in the state, and probably in the city of Milwaukee as well, for participation in the presidential primary," said Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Neil Albrecht. "I think that given the probability of a robust Democratic primary, and the city of Milwaukee having a tendency to vote ... a majority Democratic, that we’ll see something similar in 2020."

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Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson echoed Albrecht's assessment, saying that in the April 2016 election the county saw about 58% turnout among registered voters.

He expects the number to be even higher this year, possibly reaching 65%. Christenson's prediction is based on the number of candidates running to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, the county executive race and a state Supreme Court race.

Seven candidates submitted signatures to run for the county executive seat left open after County Executive Chris Abele announced in October that he will not be seeking reelection.

Incumbents are not seeking reelection to five seats on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors — Districts 1, 4, 6, 11 and 18.

Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr., who represents District 1, is running for county executive. District 4 Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic is instead seeking to represent Milwaukee's 14th District on the city's Common Council.

None of the remaining 13 incumbent county supervisors have challengers.

State Rep. David Crowley, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy, state Sen. Chris Larson, Lipscomb, Purnima Nath, Milwaukee County Transit System bus driver Yaghnam F. Yaghnam and Director of Milwaukee County Child Support Services Jim Sullivan submitted signatures.

Peggy Wittman, a clerk with the Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court and the first to file papers to run for the seat, dropped out of the race because she didn't get enough signatures. She has endorsed Kennedy and said she is running for alderwoman in West Allis.

Lipscomb's campaign announced Tuesday that he had received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore. Moore had supported Larson in his 2016 bid to unseat Abele.

Larson has received the endorsement of state Sen. LaTonya Johnson, state Reps. Jonathan Brostoff and Christine Sinicki and the American Federation of Teachers Local 212.

In the city, six candidates filed papers for the mayoral race: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Ald. Tony Zielinski, state Sen. Lena Taylor, Paul Rasky, David King and Ramone Williams.

Zielinski lists among his endorsements the Milwaukee Police Association and other law enforcement organizations.

Alds. Bob Donovan of District 8 and Zielinski of District 14 are not running for reelection to their aldermanic seats.

Comptroller Martin Matson also is not running.

Alds. Cavalier Johnson of District 2, Robert Bauman of District 4 and José Pérez of District 12 are running unopposed.

In Wauwatosa a primary will narrow candidates to two to succeed Mayor Kathleen Ehley, who announced last year she would not seek a third term. Filing to run are former council president Dennis McBride, Ald. Cheryl Berdan, Ald. Nancy Welch; and Terry Frye.

In Oconomowoc, a primary will narrow the field to succeed Mayor David Nold, who is not seeking re-election. Running are Ald. Kevin Ellis, Ald. Lou Kowieski and Robert Magnus

Elections officials in Milwaukee are also watching the legal battle over an effort to remove from the voter rolls people who may have moved. Officials estimate that more than one in 10 of Milwaukee's registered voters would be affected.

"Obviously, we are very concerned," Albrecht said. "We really don't know at this point how things will progress in the courts."

He noted the approaching high-turnout elections, including the February primary.

Milwaukee County is working on a campaign urging voters to "know before you go," said Elections Director Julietta Henry.

Officials want people to check whether they are registered at www.myvote.wi.gov and ensure that if they are not registered that they have the photo identification and proof of residence to register. Wisconsin residents can register at the polls and online.

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.