

Sen. Chris Larson announced he would run for Milwaukee County executive Monday. Chuck Quirmbach/WPR

Democratic State Sen. Chris Larson kicked off his campaign to be Milwaukee County executive Monday, saying incumbent Chris Abele is too close to Gov. Scott Walker to be re-elected.

Larson, a former Senate minority leader, said he supported Abele when the county executive was first elected five years ago. However, he said that Abele has since collaborated with Walker and Republican legislators to limit the power of the Milwaukee County Board and to possibly have an Abele appointee control some failing Milwaukee public schools.

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Larson says Abele also hasn't been fair in contract talks with county bus drivers.

"He took to his own Facebook page and he took to going after them in the public, and using language right out of Scott Walker's playbook of divide and conquer," said Larson.

Abele said he's looking forward to talking with voters about how he's been getting the county's fiscal house in order. The election for Milwaukee County executive is next spring.