Milwaukee County executive debate Milwaukee County executive candidates debate at the Marquette University law school. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WISN-TV] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ANNOUNCE TONIGHT, A WISN 12 "COMMITMENT 2016" SPECIAL. A CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR MILWAUKEE COUNT EXECUTIVE. THE INCUMBENT, CHRIS ABELE, LEADING THE COUNTY SINCE 2011. THE CHALLENGER, CHRIS LARSON, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR AND FORMER COUNTY BOARD MEMBER. THE COUNTY? HOME TO ALMOST A MILLION PEOPLE, THE STATE'S BIGGEST AIRPORT, AND WORLD-CLASS PARK AMONG THE ISSUES? TAXES, THE AGING DOMES, AND MASS TRANSIT. AND NOW, LIVE FROM THE MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, HERE TONIGHT'S MODERATOR -- WISN 12 NEWS POLITICAL ANALYST, AND "UPFRONT" HOST, MIKE GOUSHA. MIKE: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. AND WELCOME TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATES. WE'RE JOINING YOU LIVE TONIGHT FROM ECKSTEIN HALL AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, WHERE I ALSO WORK AS A FELLOW IN LAW AND PUBLIC POLIC DURING THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE CANDIDATES FOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE -- INCUMBENT CHRIS ABELE, AND HIS CHALLENGER, STATE SENATOR CHRIS LARSON IF THE FEBRUARY PRIMARY WAS AN INDICATION, THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE CONTEST. THE TWO CANDIDATES WER SEPARATED BY JUST 700 VOTES IN FEBRUARY, SETTING UP A SHOWDOWN ON APRIL 5 OUR RULES FOR TONIGHT ARE PRETTY SIMPLE. I'LL BE ASKING THE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR VIEWS, MANY IMPORTANT COUNTY ISSUES, AND WHAT QUALIFIES EACH OF THEM TO LEAD MILWAUKEE COUNTY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. I'LL BE ASKING THEM TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY AND CONCISELY, AND TO STAY ON POINT. THE CANDIDATES CAN TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT I'LL MANAGE THE TIME ON ANY GIVEN TOPIC, AND WILL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION ALONG. TOWARD THE END OF THE HOUR, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT. THAT SAID, WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO TONIGHT AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, CHRIS ABELE WHO GETS OUR FIRST QUESTION. THE SAME QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU, I WONDER IF BRIEFLY, IF YOU WOULD TELL THE VOTERS AT MILWAUKEE COUNTY WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR THE ELECTION? MR ABELE: CONTINUED MOMENTUM. FIVE YEARS AGO AND WHEN RA N, IT WAS SUBTITLED -- SHOULD IT STAY OR SHOULD HE GO? EXISTENTIAL QUESTIO THE DEBT HAD BEEN GROWING. THE COUNTY HAD BEE DECLINING, DEBT HAD BEEN ACUTELY. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED. AND YO KNOW, WE MADE ANNA NORDQVIST AMOUNT OF PROGRESS. YOU KNOW, WE STOPPED RAISING BUS FARE. WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT ONC IN FIVE YEARS. HE STARTED RESTORING SERVICES, SERVING THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE. WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL TEAM. I AM FOCUSED ON EXACTLY WHAT I WAS FOCUSED ON FIVE YEARS AGO. WHICH IS NOT A POLITIC WIN OR HEADLINE, BUT WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE THE COUNTY WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY? MIKE: SENATO LARSON, WHAT IS AT STAKE FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT? SENATOR LARSO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN CONSOLIDATION OF POWER INTO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE. WE HAVE SEEN CONTROL TAKEN AWAY, WHERE T COUNTY BOARD HAS BEEN CUT OUT OF THE PROCESS. WE HAVE SEE SOME OF THE PUBLIC PURVIEW TAKEN AWAY PUBLIC POLICY AND BUDGETING. I THINK THAT BECOMES DANGEROUS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO ELECT A COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO WILL MAKE TH OFFICE PUBLIC AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN YEAR AFTER YEA, WITH COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION. SO WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE GO AS A FUTURE. IT IS ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY PARTS. I BELIEVE EVERY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY PARK. MIKE: WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS RACE, YOU ARE BEING CHALLENGED FROM THE LEFT BY A DEMOCRAT. YOUR FIRST ELECTION, YOUR CHALLENGE BY A REPUBLICAN. AND THIS TIME, IT IS DIFFERENT. AND THE ARGUMENT FROM DEMOCRATS THAT YOU YEAR, THIS IS NOT THE GUY WE ELECTED. HE IS T COZY WITH REPUBLICANS, HE HAS AMASSED T MUCH POWER, HE IS DISCONNECTE STRUGGLING WORKING FOLKS. THEY SAY YOU CHANGE. HAVE YOU? MR. ABELE I R AN ADVERTISEMENT I WAS PARTICULARLY PROUD OF. IF IT IS A GOOD IDEA, WE WILL DO IT. I HAVE TWO CAMPAIGN COCHAIRS, MY GOOD FRIEND MIKE. AND NAIVELY I THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD SEE THAT THEY GET ALONG. THEY AGREE ON MOST THINGS. YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO ME. I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT. MY POLITICS CONFUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE. I DO NOT WAKE UP AND SAY WHAT IS THE PARTY? I DO NOT WAKE UP AND SAY, HEY, IS MY TEAM WINNING OR LOSING? I HAVE N HESITATION OF WORKING WITH ANYONE I CAN, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, TO MOVE THE COUNTY FORWARD. BUT TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE MOVED THE COUNTY FORWARD. THE GREAT EXAMPLE IS PRECISELY BECAUSE I HAVE DONE THAT, WORKED HARD TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOTH SIDES, WHEN WE WERE AB TO ENABLE ALL OF THIS GRE PERFORMANCE IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, WE FINALLY STOPPED WAREHOUSING PEOPLE. WE DO NOT DO THAT ANYMORE. WE ARE SERVING MOR PEOPLE, AND WE PASSED THAT LAW -- I THINK IT WAS 122-2 IN WISCONSIN. WITH TWO EXCEPTIONS, IT WAS ABOU WHO WAS RIGHT. I SAID I WOULD WORK WITH ANYBODY. WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ANYBODY. MIKE: LET ME HAVE YOU RESPOND TO THAT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU SAYING LET ME REACH ACROSS THE AISLE TO BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE POLITICS ARE, IF I CAN HELP. MR LARSON: CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVES HAVE USED THAT ABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO CONSOLIDATE POWER FOR HIMSELF. ARE SEEING THAT HAPPEN OVER THE UNILATERAL LAND DEALS. WE SAW THAT THE LAND WAS SOLD FOR DOLLAR OVER AT PARTIES. AND HI NEGOTIATIONS INSURED THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD BE DELIBERATELY CUT OUT AND NOT HAVE A SAY. SELLING IT FOR A DOLLAR, YOU END UP -- THE TAXPAYERS TO PICK UP AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION IN UNDERLYING COSTS. NOT ONL TO THE LAND GET SOLD FOR A DOLLAR BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WAS NOT AT THE TABLE THEY GOT CHANGE -- $5.1 MILLION IN CLEANUP COVERED BY US. EVERY TIME THERE IS POLICY BEING DONE, IT SEEMS TO BENEFIT HIM OR HIS OFFICE, WHICH HAS NOW GROWN. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD THAT IF IT ACTUALLY BENEFITED THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE IT HAS NOT COME YOU SEEM SO MAY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE COME OVER TO OUR SIDE, INCLUDING THE CONGRESSWOMAN, A LOT OF OTHER CIVIC LEADE HAVE COME TO OUR SIDE AND SAY IT IS TIME TO ACTUALLY MOVE MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S FORWARD. MIKE: IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WANT TO RESPOND. MR. ABELE I HAVE BEEN PUZZLED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY IT MEANS. I SAY ALL THE TIME FOR THE RESOURCES I GET TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT ARE NOT MY RESOURCES. THEY ARE YOURS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN UNCLEAR ABOUT THAT. POWER GRAB IS MORE LIKE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO WAS RUNNING FOR EVERY NEW OFFICE THAT POPS UP EVE TWO YEARS. THAT I NOT ME. I DID NOT RUN BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO WIN SOME FIGHT. TH CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE BEEN MADE BY ELECTED OFFICIALS. ABSOLUTELY, YEAH. AND EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ELECTED. THAT IS THE POINT. AT TO SAY THAT NO PROGRESS HAS BE MADE, WE ARE SERVING THOUSANDS MORE THAN WE WERE. IF YOU DO NOT SEE THAT IS PROGRESS, I MEAN, WE ARE PAYING MILLIONS MORE IN DEBT SERVICE. I MEAN, WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT RESTORING SERVICES, WE ARE SETTING RECORDS -- GETTING MODELS FOR NATIONAL RECOGNITION. MIKE: MORE SPECIFICALLY, YOU MENTIONED THE LAND SALE. BUT WHAT ELSE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SENATOR LARSON: YO ARE COMING OUT THE CHECKS AND BALANCE AND LOCAL DEMOCRACY. THAT IS WHAT I MEAN. YES, YOU HAVE THIS AUTHORITY FROM CONTRIBUTIO , THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM DEMOCRATIC. THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU HAVE THESE LANDED DEALS THAT HAPPEN NOW, YOU CUT OUT THE COUNTY BOARD. SOMETIMES, THE ONLY TIME THE PUBLIC WILL FIND OUT ABOUT IT IS WHEN THE RECEIPT IS THROWN OUT THERE. YOU HA SUDDENLY PUT AT RISK OF THE ZOO, THE MUSEUM. WE FOUND ABOUT 4 PARKS , THOUSANDS OF ACRES. NOT EXACTLY THAT THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS GOING TO SELL OFF THIS LAND, BUT SUDDENLY THIS POWER IS THERE, IS AVAILABLE. HE WILL HAVE A MEMORY. TH IS EACH OF THOSE THINGS HE WAS TRYING TO PRIVATIZE OURSELVES, CONSOLIDATING THAT POWER IS A POWER GRAB. WE WILL CORRECT IT AND GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE. MIKE: I WILL GIVE YOU MOMENT, YOU ARE ITCHING TO GET IN, ONE MORE QUESTION/ DO YOU THINK THE COUNTY BOARD, BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, WAS DOING A GOOD JOB? MR. ABELE: WE WERE CORRECTING SCOTT WALKER'S FAILED BUDGETS. THEY WERE SLASHI TRANSIT SERVICE. THEY WERE GOING AFTER PROGRAMS WE CARE ABOUT, GOING AFTER PARKS FUNDING. WHAT W DID IS SAY, OK HE HAS THESE MAKE-BELIEVE BUDGETS WHERE HE IS FREEZING PROPERTY TAXES. HE IS NOT READ IT IS A GIMMICK. WE HAD TO PUT TOGETHER A LEGEND YEAR, AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT GIMMICK HAS CONTINU UNDER THIS CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE. IT IS TIME TO HAV A HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE THE COUNTY IS AT AND WHERE IT WILL GO. WE CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN. I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO WILL LISTEN AND BE MORE OPEN ABOUT BUDGETING. SENATOR LARSON: THE NEW LAND DEAL OFFIC MUST BE SIGNED OFF BY THE NEW COMPTROLLER WHATEVER THE MINUTES OF PALATE HE IS, THAT THE LAND IN QUESTION IS THERE. AS YOU KNOW, AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT INVOLVED ON THESE PROCESSES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I MEAN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IS THE SORT OF RHETORIC. HERE IS THE THING. IF YOU ARE CORRECT AT THE TIME, SCOTT WALKER'S BUDGET ISSUES THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE MISTAKES, THE FACT IS THAT TRANSIT WAS STILL GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. AND THE FARES AND ROUTES WERE BEING CUT FOR FIVE YEARS. I MEAN, FOR FIVE YEARS WE NEVER RAISED FARES. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO BACK PRETTY FAR TO FIND ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR PERIO WHERE THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE. I THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO RIDE THE BUS AND TAKE IT TO WORK. I THINK IT IS WORTH MILLIONS MORE IN COUNTY TAX LEVIES TO NOT RAISE FARES. I KNOW EXACTLY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. YOU NOT WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FOR MORE EXPENSIVE. IT IS WORTH FIGHTING TO KEEP IT DOWN. IN A WAY THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING BEFORE, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE. MIKE: SENATOR LARSON? SENATOR LARSON: I DON'T THINK THAT IS A SUCCESS. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE HIGHEST FARES. IT HAPPENED DUE T LAWSUITS IN FEDERAL FUNDING SAVING THE DAY. WHICH IS GOOD. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE GET DEDICATED FUNDING, BECAUSE MILWAUKEE IS WHEN THE LAST METRO AREAS NOT TO HAVE DEDICATED FUNDING. WE HAVE A PLAN TO GET THERE. THIS CURRENT MINISTRATION IS NOT. THAT TO THE WHOLE POINT OF THE QUESTION, POWE GRABS, THESE THINGS DID NOT HAPPE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION DECIDE TO DO THESE, SCOTT WALKER DECIDED. THEY WERE INITIATED BY THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE. AND WE HAVE NEVER HEARD AN INFORMATION WHY HE WANTS THIS POWER OVER LAND. MIKE: IN TERMS OF POWE GRABS, I WANT TO GO LITTLE BIT FURTHER WITH THIS DISCUSSION. WHAT DO YOU WANT DONE ABOUT THAT? YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATUR AND SAY YOU NEED TO REPEAL THE LEGISLATION AGAINST THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ADDITIONAL POWER? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? MR. AB ELE: BY ELECTING SOMEONE WHO IS NOT INTERESTED IN FURTHER CONSOLIDATION, THAT WOULD DEAL WITH BUDGETING THAT GIVES NEAR UNILATERAL AUTHORITY TO THE COUN EXECUTIVE. THERE WAS A BILL THAT MOVED FORWARD IN DECEMBER, BUT HE GOT PULLED BACK. REALIZE THERE WAS AN ELECTION GOING ON. BOTH OF THOSE WOULD STOP. IF I AM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WE WOULD SAY WE DO NOT WANT THEM. THE SAME WITH THE PUBLIC TAKEOVER OF OUR SCHOOLS. MIKE: YOU DO NOT WANT THOSE. MR. ABELE; WE WOU NOT MOVE THOSE FORWARD. WE WOULD DO WHAT THE MAYOR DID AND SAY WE DO NOT WANT TO TAKE PART IN THAT. AND WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD BY REVERSING THE POWER GRABS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE. IN THE MEANTIME, I REALIZED THAT THEY MAYBE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT RIGHT AWAY. BUT WE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY BOARD THAT SAY THERE WILL BE AMERICAN-STYLE CHECK AND BALANCES. MIKE: LET ME GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT. I WANT TO MOVE TO ISSUES WITH THE COUNTY. SENATOR LARSON: FOR ME, ONE OF THE MO EASY EXAMPLES FOR THE POWER GRAB -- AND I'M STIL NOT SURE WHAT THE DEATH STAR LOOMING OV ALDERON IS I ACTUALLY ADVOCATED FOR ELECTED COMPTROLLER. WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE HAD BEFORE. THAT FO PERSON POINTED TO ME, AND I WANTED A COMPTROLLER THAT HAS THE FINAL SAY ON YOUR MONEY. WHO CAN SAY NO TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE IN THE BOARD, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD B INDEPENDENT. THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THAT HAS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE RESULT OF TAKING THE ROLE MANAGEMENT AND SHIFTING IT AWAY FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE' OFFICE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE A COUNTY. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT, OBVIOUSLY IF I WANTED MORE POWER, I WOU SAY NO, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNILATERALLY CONTROL OF. THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT. WHAT I HAVE IS WHAT WE GOT. AFTER 30 YEARS O CALLS TO INDIA, WE ENDED THE WAREHOUSING OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, ER VISITS ARE GOING DOWN. THAT IS WHAT I WANTED. MIKE: JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS. SENATOR LARSON: JUST SAYING THAT YOU DID NOT TAKE POWER OVER ONE INDIVIDUAL OFFICE DOES NOT MEAN YOU DID NOT TAKE POWER AN OTHER PLACES. I DID NOT GRAB IT HERE, I GRABBED IT OTHER PLACES. ON MENTAL HEALTH, TALKING TO NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY -- I TALKED TO THOUSANDS -- NOT A WEEK GOES BY THAT I DON'T HEAR A HEARTBREAKING STORY DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM NOR WERE THEY CANNOT GET THEIR VOICE OUT. I VOTED FOR THE BILL. BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS THAT THE BOA FEELS LIKE IT IS RESPONDING TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, INSTEAD OF FINDING TO THE PUBLIC. THAT IS A PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE EXPERT. HE THOUGHT THE EXPERTS MAKE DECISIONS. THEY ASKED FOR T 24-HOUR CRISIS CENTERS. THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE TURNED THEM DOWN. THEY LOOKED FOR A POLICY EXPERT TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION. THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE TURNED THEM DOWN, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE LEGISLATION INTENDED. THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE A PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THEM ACCOUNTABLE IS TO HAVE A COUNTY EXECUTIVE. MIKE: I DECIDED, SINCE YOU RATE IT, LET US GET INTO IT. HE IS SAYING THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT HAVING ENOUG INPUT, AND YOU MADE IT A HALLMARK OF YOUR MINISTRATION. YOU SAID WE ARE GOING T CHANGE FROM LONG-TERM INSTITUTIONAL CARE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY AND GO TO A COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL. SOMETHING YOU AGREE WITH. HE SAYS, ALONG T WAY, YOU HAVE PEOPLE OVERSEEING THE EFFORT THAT ARE NOT THE BEST TO HAVE. IT IS OPPORTUNITY. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? MRL A ABELE: PUT IT THIS WAY, IF THERE WERE A SWITCH THAT ANYONE COULD PULL THE SAY WE ARE GOING TO GO AWAY FROM WHAT EVERYBODY AGREED WAS A FAILING BEHAVIORAL HEAL INITIATIVE, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAD TO DO BETTER -- BUT IF YOU HAD SWITCH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD BE PERFECT, EVERYBODY WOULD BE JUMPING. THAT IS NOT THE WAY THINGS WORK. YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE PROGRESS YOU CAN. HERE IS WHAT NOBODY DISPUTES. THERE IS NOBODY WHO DOES NOT REALIZE THAT FINALLY ENDING THE WAREHOUSING, THE LONG-TERM CARE WAS A GOOD THING. I MEAN, THERE IS NOBODY DISAGREES THAT WE ARE SERVING MORE PEOPLE. THERE IS NOBODY DISAGREES THAT GOING FROM 19 OR S COUNSELORS TO OVER 100, MORE COMMUNITY-BASED CARE WITH DIGNITY, BETTER RESULTS, YOU KNOW, IS THERE WORK TO DO? ABSOLUTELY. LET US BE CLEAR. THERE IS NO PART OF ME THAT SAYS LET US PUT A TROPHY ON THE BATTLE THESE. BUT THERE IS NOBODY UNCLEAR THAT THIS IS A BETTER SYSTEM, AND UNLIKELY TO STAY THAT WAY, THE MORE WE HAVE BEFORE. MIKE: VERY BRIEFLY. SENATOR LARSON: IF YOU TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS I TALKED TO, THAT IS CLEARLY NOT THE CASE. JUST BECAUSE A BILL PASSE AND SOME PART OF THE REFORM HAPPENED, THAT IS ON THE FINISH LINE. RIGHT? THIS IS ONGOING. MENTAL HEALTH HAS NOT ALL BEEN SURE. RIGHT? SO IT CONTINUES TO BE URGENT THAT WE ADDRESS EACH OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAS MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS, THAT WE CAN GET AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE. AND I THINK THAT BY SHUTTING OUT THE PUBLIC AND HAVING EMPLOYEES SIGN SILENCING AGREEMENTS THAT SAYS THEY CANNOT TALK DISPARAGINGLY, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, THAT DISCOURAGING ANY TYPE OF FURTHER REFORM. PRETENDING THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE THAT CAN BE DONE, THAT IS SADLY NOT THE CASE. MIKE: YOUR CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT. MR. ABELE: I THINK YOU CALLED IT A GAG ORDER FOR THE N DIVISION DOES HAVE AN ETHIC SCOPE. THAT HAS A LOT TO DO ABOUT HOW YOU BRING UP WHATEVER ISSUES YOU BRING UP. YOU DO IT IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY THAT MAKES SENSE. IMAGINE WHAT Y HAVE HERE, MOST HIGH FUNCTIONING INSTITUTIONS, THERE AR NOTHING THAT PREVENT SHARING OF OPINION. THE PUBLIC INPUT THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, I THINK, IS THE PUBLIC INPUT THAT LED TO THE JOURNAL SENTINEL HAVING AN AWARD-WINNING SERIES AGAIN AND AGAIN, CHRONICLING SOME THING THAT HAVE TO CHANGE. IF HAD PAID MY CHEST, I WOULD WANT T TALK TO A CARDIOLOGIST. HERE IS THE PUBLIC INPUT, AND IT WAS DO BETTER BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY, SERVING PROFESSIONALS AND THE FAMILIES, WERE DOING THAT. MIKE: SENATOR LARSON, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE PAY FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR PARTS. EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM LOV OUR PARKS SYSTEM. IT IS WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL. HOW DO WE PAY FOR TRANSIT IN THE FUTURE? YOU SAID YOU HAV AN ANSWER TO THAT. FOR THE PEOPLE IN HIS ROOM AND THE PEOPLE AT HOME, WHAT IS THE ANSWER? SENATOR LARSON: GETTING A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE, THE ROLE OF 11% TAX. THIS IS SOMETHING WE PUT OUT THERE, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICE. THEY SAID YOU SHOULD NOT PUSH A SALES TAX. WE LOOK INTO IT. AND THE REALITY IS, IN WISCONSIN, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. BECAUSE WE HAVE SILLY THINGS ARE EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX, THINK ABOUT IT MIKE, IF YOU ARE IN POVERTY, WHERE WOULD YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR MONEY? FIRST OF ALL, RENT. THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SALES TAX. SECOND, GROCERIES. NOT SUBJECT TO SALES TAX. GASOLINE HAS AN INDEX TAX, THE SALES TAX WOULD NOT HIT THAT. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE MEDICINE - MEDICAL SERVICES. NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE SUBJECT TO SALES TAX. THE MAJORITY OF THE THINGS YOU'RE SPINNING YOUR MONEY O, THE PERSON STRUGGLING IN A WORKING FAMILY, IS NOT HIT BY SALES TAX. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WITHIN TO BENEFIT THE MOST BY ACTUALLY HAVING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE TRANSI, EXPANDED TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT CONTINUE TO MORE JOB THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE, AND EQUALITY PARK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WOULD YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE NOW BECAUSE THE FUNDS DWINDLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND TO GO UP. AND SALES TAX HAS THE ADDED FEATURE OF ONE THIRD IT BEING PAID FOR BY OUTSI MILWAUKEE COUNTY. THEY CAN HELP PAY INTO THE SYSTEM. RIGHT NOW, THEY COME IN AS FREE RIDERS. MIKE: WOULD YOU SUPPORT A 1% SALES TAX? MR. ABELE: ECONOMISTS DISAGREE ABOUT IT BEING REGRESSIVE. SALES TAX IS REGRESSIVE. AND ASK THE PARENTS WHO HAVE TO BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WHICH ARE NOT EXEMPT. EV FOR KIDS IN THE WINTER, IT IS NOT CHEAP. IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POWER, THE PEOPLE WHO NEED SUPPORT, YOU DO NOT DO IT BY MAKING MORE EXPENSIVE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO PURCHASE. HAVING SOME EXEMPTIONS DOES NOT ME IT STILL CANNOT HIT HARD ON THE THINGS THERE ARE NOT EXEMPTIONS FOR. AND THERE ARE ONLY A FEW THINGS, THAT IS JUST IT, THOSE THINGS MATTER. THEY COST A LOT. AND THEN THERE IS THIS OTHER POINT, WHICH IS NO IRRELEVANT, THE SALES TAX RIG NOW IS NOT CURRENTLY LEGAL. AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK HIM STATE CHANGE THE LAW SOME TIME AGO. AND THE PARTY THAT LED THAT CHANGE DID NOT LOS SEATS OH, THEY GAINED SEATS. WHATEVER YOU THINK, I'M A BIG FAN OF BUILDING A PLAN ON THINGS THAT WORK. MICHAEL AND LET US FOLLOW UP ON THIS. A COUPLE OF POINTS. YOU ASKING MADISON, WHICH IS A REPUBLICAN-LE CONGRESS AND THE PUBLIC AND GOVERNOR, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE PROMISING. THE 1% SALES TAX FOR THAT IS GOING TO HELP, BUT YOU WHEN A VEHICLE TO DO THAT. SENATOR LARSON: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A CHANCE. OTHER COUNTIES ARE STRUGGLING FOR REVENUE. BECAUSE UNDER WALKER' LEADERSHIP WITH A CUT LOCAL FUNDING ACROSS THE STATE. THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES HAVE UTILIZED THE SALES TAX AVAILABLE TO THEM. THEY ARE STARTING FO NEW REVENUE, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE THINGS WE WANT. IF YOU GO AND SAY THE COUNTIES ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT, IF YOU NEED TO BIND IT TO A REFERENDUM, GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE. THEY CAN VOTE FOR. WE PASSED A REFERENDUM YEAR. I'M CONVINCED WE CAN DO IT AGAIN. I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS IT. I FIND IT FUNNY THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO HAS GONE TO MADISON TO LOBBY FOR ALL KIND OF POWER AND CONTRO HERE IS SUDDENLY SAYING, WHEN IT BENEFITS THE PEOPLE, WEL THAT IS OUT OF THE PICTURE. WE CANNOT DO THAT. THE FACT IS TH WILL ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. IT WILL GET DEDICATED FUNDING, WHERE WE HAVE LAGGED BEHIND THE REST OF THE NATION. WE WILL HAVE A CLEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN OUR PARKS. THE WAY, IF WE DO NOT DO THAT, THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIE WILL HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES CAN WHICH ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. WE CANNOT ASK FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THE MAJORITY OF THIS BURDEN. WE HAVE TO SHARE THIS. WE HAVE HAVE MORE PEOPLE PAYING INTO THIS COMMUNITY. WE DO THAT TO THE SALES TAX. MIKE: IF YOU DO NOT DO A DEDICATED SALES TAX, HOW YOU GET THE MONEY YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN THE PARKS? THE FUND TRANSIT, DO THE THEY THINK PEOPLE WANT DONE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY? IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT, HOW WILL YOU DO THAT? CONTINUE TO SQUEEZE EFFICIENCIES? MR. ABEE: I GET ACCUSED OF NOT GIVEN SENTENC ANSWERS, I GIVE PARAGRAPH. I TALKED FINANCES A LOT. THE GIRL RELATIVE TO THE COUNTY, DEBT AND DEFICIT. HERE IS THE REASON. WHEN YOU START ON A BILLION AND HALF, IT HAS GONE DOWN A BIT, BUT THE CREDIT CARD BILL IS, YOU KNOW, $ MILLION, THAT IS MONEY THAT IS NOT GOING TO TRANSIT, MEAL PROGRAMS, SENIOR CITIZEN, PARKS, ANYTHING WE CARE ABOUT. HERE IS A BROAD ANSWER. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A REGIONAL FUNDING SUPPLIED, A STANDARD OF AUTHORITY THAT IS CONSISTENT, OF COURSE WE WILL TAKE IT. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM NOT SUDDENLY GOING TO SAY I'M ANGRY AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE CAUSE OF THIS, KIND OF ANGER MY WAY THROUGH IT. I WILL USE THE TOOLS I HAVE. PAYING DOWN DEBT, SOMETHING WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH MORE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME FOR INSTANCE, WITH MILLIONS MORE IN TRANSIT TO NOT RAISE FARES. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY SORT OF UPSIDE TO TAKING THIS BUILT IN CONTRARIAN APPROACH TO ANY PARTY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY ARE IN CONTROL. MIKE: YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. SENATO LARSON: THERE'S A SOLUTION FOR TRANSIT, DEDICATED FUNDING FOR PARTS, NOT A SOLUTION FOR REDUCING -- THE SAME SORT OF WALKER-STYLE GIMMICKS. THE PROPERTY TAX UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP HAVE GONE UP $18 MILLION. IT IS DISHONEST TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT LOOK AT OUR COUNTY AS A SPREADSHEET. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE AND PUT FOR THINGS THEY WANT, HAVE A HONEST CONVERSATION. THE NUMBERS ON THE SPREADSHEET, CHRIS, OUR PEOPLE. WHETHER YOU WANT TO A KNOWLEDGE IT, THAT IS HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS. AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU DID I HEAR AN ANSWER, WHAT I SAID IS OF COURSE I WILL WORK. WHENEVER I G ANY KIND OF OPPORTUNITY, AND I WILL NEVER STOP LOOKING FOR ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE, WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY CREATIVE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE HAVE MORE FEDERAL GRANTS AND WE HAD IN YEARS. AND WE HAVE BEEN MORE IMPACTFUL. IF YOU DO NOT THINK THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS, LICENSE PROGRAM'S, THAT WERE HAPPENING BEFORE, ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS CREATING JOBS. THAT IS AN IMPACT OF COURSE. I WILL KEEP WORKING. MIKE: FINAL WORD ON THE TOPIC. SENATO LARSON: WE NEED TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. IT I IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT LIVING WAGE JOBS ARE A PRIORITY. I WOULD JUST BY SAYING, LOOK, THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS GOING TO RUN ON HIS PHYSICAL SENSE, I WOULD LOOK AT THE FAILED DEALS. THE FACT THAT HE VOTED FOR THE -- MIKE: YOU VOTED FOR IT? SENATOR LARSON: EVERYBODY IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY WAS ON THE HOOK FOR $80 MILLION THEY WORKED ON BEFORE. IT IS A BAD THING THAT SCOTT WALKER HAS A BETTER DEAL FOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY THAN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID. HE DID THAT, $4 MILLION YEAR AFTER YEAR, WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AT THE TABLE. HE DID IT MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC COULD NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE FINAL AUTHORITY OF THE LAND THEY OWN. I WOULD SAY, LOOK, IF HE IS GOING TO RUN ON FISCAL MANAGEMENT, I HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY HE THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PUT US ON THE HOOK FOR $80 MILLION WITHOUT THE PUBLIC ON THE TABLE? MIKE: WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR IT? CENTER LARSON: BECAUSE DON'T WANT TO SEE MONEY LEAVE THE STATE. I TALKED ABOUT THE JOBS THAT WITH A JOBS. AND I WENT TO THE TABLE FOR HAVING LISTENED TO MY NEIGHBORS AND HER WITH A SAID. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS WHAT TO BE GOOD QUALITY, LIVING WAGE JOBS. FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEEDED THE MOST. WE GOT THE THOMAS FOR THEM. WE WENT TO MADISON AND WORKED WITH T REPUBLICANS. WE TOOK OUT THE WORDS THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PUT IN THERE THAT SAID WE WIL PUT MONEY IN THERE. THE FLAT SERVICE FEE ADDED TO THE ARENA DEAL. AND BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS, WE MADE A BAD DEAL BETTER. BUT, I MEAN, WE ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. HE HAD FOR OVER HALF A YEAR. I THINK, WHO IS IN THAT ROOM MATTERS. HE DID THE BEST HE COULD. BUT WE ONLY DID IT FOR A WEEK. MIKE: YOUR RESPONSE? MR. ABELE: THAT IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. IT ALSO INCLUDED A REVENUE SOURCE, PER YOUR REQUEST, WAS REMOVED. IF YOU HAD AN ISSUE, AND I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT AT THE TIME, WHETHER NOT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATE DEBT COLLECTION PROGRAM, AT BEST, YOU TOOK OUT WHA WAS THE CERTAINTY OF THE $4 MILLION A YEAR COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY. I MEAN, DID YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT OUT AS WELL? BECAUSE YOU KNEW WHAT YOU THEN VOTED FOR INCLUDED THE ONGOING COMMITMENT, $4 MILLION A YEAR, WITHOUT THE REVENUE SOURCE. JUST SO WE ARE REALLY CLEAR, THIS PROGRAM -- THE STATE ELECTI DEBT PROGRAM -- IT WAS BASED ON OUR FRIENDS IN MINNESOTA, BASED ON 20 YEARS. THEY ARE A FABLESS THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL STATE. THE DOYL ADMINISTRATION PUT IT IN. YOU HAVE DISABILITIES THAT USE IT. ASK TONY HOW MANY MORE MILLIONS HE GETS. 2% POVERTY LEVEL, WE DO NOT GO AFTER. WE P MORE PROTECTIONS IN THAT EXISTS NOW, MOVING OUT A PRIVATE DEBT COLLECTOR, BUT WE GO AFTER THE CORPORATIONS AND LLCS DO NOT THEY. THEY CAN AND DO NOT PAY. AND AGAIN, FILL UP THE WHOLE. MIKE: ANOTHER QUESTION IN A MOMENT. SENATO LARSON: I THINK HE POINTS AT ME AND PRETENDS I WAS A SINGLE PERSON THAT D THIS. THE FACT IS IT WAS THE MILWAUKEE DELEGATION, SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, WHO SAW THIS AND SAID WHY ARE WE BUILDING AN OUT-OF-STATE ARENA ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS? EV PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES, GOING TO THEM AND SAY THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA, THEY SAID NO. THEY SAID LET US TAKE THAT OUT THERE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE INDEPENDENT COMPTROLLER WHICH THIS CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID DID NOT ADD UP, HE DID IT WITH A SLIDESHOW. HE IS SAYING IT NOW THAT HE IS TRYING TO MOVE US FORWARD. THE WISCONSIN COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF THE LOCAL DRU TREASURER ALL SAY THIS DOES NOT ADD UP. THE PEOPLE HE IS POINTING AT THAT USE THE SERVICE, TH WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WORKED WITH THE LOCAL COLLECTORS OF DEATH. AND THEY WORK WITH THEM, SIGNING IT OVER TO THE STATE. IRA MILLER TALKING TO YOU DIRECTLY, ON THE CAPITAL, AND I SAID YOU CAN GO DO THIS. CALL THE TREASURER, CALL THE COURT. CALL THE COUNTY BOARD. YOU CA CERTIFY THE DEBT DIRECTLY TO THEM. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SEVEN MONTHS, YOU NEVER MADE A PHONE CALL TO THEM. THIS GUY NEVER TALK TO ME, EXCEPT FOR TODAY. THAT IS A PROBLEM. THAT IS A PROBLEM WHEN CAN EVEN WORK WITH THE PEOPLE IN HIS BUILDI DEALING WITH CERTIFIED DEBT, THERE IS NO REASON THE STATE NEEDS TO BE IN THE TABLE. NO REASON TO GO DIRECTLY TO SCOTT WALKER WITH THIS. GO TO THE PEOPLE, ELECTED OFFICIALS. MR. A DELE: MA DEMOCRATS WHO AR -- I DON'T THINK OF SCOTT WALKER. HERE IS THE THING. FIRST, THE POINT ABOUT THE NUMBERS ADDING UP. I HAVE BEE ABLE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO LOWER THE LIABILITIES AS MUCH AS I HAVE, IMPROVE OUR CREDIT RATING, IN A WAY THAT THIS WAS A HAPPENING BEFORE. TH PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW, REMARKABLE TURNAROUND. THIS CAN WORK. BUT NOBODY DISPUTES. YOU TAKE OUT A REVENUE SOURCE AND YOU LEAVE IN THE EXPENSE, GUESS WHAT, YOU HAVE A $4 MILLION HOLE. I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY -- MIKE: LET ME ASK A BRIEF FOLLOW-UP. THE ARGUMENT IS THAT YOU SORT O NEGOTIATED THIS DEAL SINGLE-HANDEDLY. IT WAS NOT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY NOT INVOLVED, OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS. WHY DID YOU THAT? MR ADELE: SENATOR LARSON KNOWS, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH LOTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REPRESENT DIFFERENT AREAS OF ALL OF WHOM NEED TO SIGN OFF, IT IS VERY RARELY THE CAS THAT WHEN EVERYBODY COMES IN WITH AN IDEA WHAT THEY WANT, THEY WALK OUT WITH EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. BUT THE WHY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STADIUM FOR MILLIONAIRES. IT HAS TO WHAT ALREADY HAPPENED, AN EMPTY PART OF DOWNTOWN -- PARK EAST SITTING THERE FOR 15 YEARS EMPTY. NOT FOR PEOPLE NOT TRYING. SUDDENLY, TALKIN POTENTIAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SINCE THAT DEAL WAS SIGNED, WE HAD FIVE PROJECTS IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS ON THAT LA -- $82 MILLION. THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING BEFORE. 450 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PIPELINE, AND THAT IS BEFORE YOU GET TO -- I ME DISEASE WERE JOBS WE NEV HAD. MICHAEL AND DOING IT ON YOUR OWN, YOU HAVE NO REGRETS? MR. ADELE: I DON'T GET TO. HE VOTED ON. THIS IS SOMETHING KNOWS IT OR LARSON IS FAMILIAR WITH. THIS IS A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN. THE AMOUNT O TIME FOR TO GET TO VOTE ON, SURPRISINGLY LITTLE. BUT THAT IS OK. YOU CAN WORK TO IMPROVE IT. BUT YOU DO NOT IMPROVE IT WHEN YO LEAVE IN LIABILITY AND PULL A REVENUE. MIKE: AGAIN, A FINAL WORD ON THE TOPIC. SENATOR LARSON: AGAIN, I WISH HE LISTENED TO THE COMPTROLLER. I WISH HE WOULDN'T LISTEN TO THE REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATORS WHO SAID THIS DEAL DOES NOT ADD UP. DO NOT BUILD IT ON THE BACK OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS. AMERICAN-STY CHECKS AND BALANCES, BECAUSE IT HASN'T, MIKE HE ENDED UP SELLING THE LAND FOR A BUCK. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY GET CHANGE. THE UNDERLYING CLEAN COSTS, AND BECAUSE HE IS A BAD NEGOTIATOR ON BEHALF OF OF THE COUNTY, THE TAXPAYERS WILL HAVE TO PICK UP THE CLEAN COST TO THE TUNE OF $5 MILLION. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE ONE PERSON AT THE TABLE THINKS HE IS SMARTER THAN THE PUBLIC. IT IS NOT ALLOWABLE ANYMORE. MICHAEL AND GOT BE VERY BRIEF. MR ADELE THEY WERE PERFECTLY WILLING TO SELL THE SAME PARCEL OF LAND, WHEN KOHL'S WAS CONSIDERING MOVING DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT WAS A SIMILARLY LARGE-SCALE DEAL. NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE THINKING WE ARE LOSING OUT ON SOME OF THE VERY SMALL AMOUNTS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY GET FOR THE LAND. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING THE SAME THING IN THIS CASE, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED. THOUSANDS OF JOBS WHERE THEIR WERE NONE. MICHAEL AND I WANT GET T TOPICS ARE FRONT AND CENTER. I WANT TO TALK FOR A MINUTE ON DOMES. SENATOR LARSON, YOU SAID THIS IS DIPLOMATIC OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN MILWAUKEE PARTS. CONCRETE CRUMBLING FROM THE CEILING. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME REPAIRS TO GET IT OPEN AGAIN. THE QUESTION I HAVE TONIGHT IS, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS GOING TO COS $45 MILLION OR $65 MILLIO OR $75 MILLION, IS THERE A POINT WHERE REPAIRING THIS ICONIC THREE DOMES JUST DOES NOT MAKE FISCAL SENSE FOR THE COUNTY? SENATO LARSON: I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, LIK MOST PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, LIVED HERE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. PARENTS, THEY SEND THE PICTURES WHEN I WAS THERE AS A KID. IT IS WHERE I TAKE MY KIDS IN WINTER: WE NEED TO RUN AROUND. WE DON'T HAVE WEATHER AS NICE AS IT IS NOW. I THINK IT IS A GOT CHECK. WHEN THEY SAY TH DOMES ARE IN TROUBLE, IT IS A SYMBOL OF MILWAUKEE. BUT ON YOUR HAT, AND LET US FIGURE IT OUT. I WENT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORS WHO WANT TO SEE OUR DOMES REBUILT. I WILL DO THAT, MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US. IT IS A REGIONAL ASSET. NEED FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. HIS ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INFLATED. I TALKED TO OTHER PARK EXPERTS. THEY SAY IT IS ABOUT 15 MILLION PER DOME. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, CANNOT WORK WITH HIM, SO THEY ARE N THERE ANYMORE. THE PUBLIC IS CLEARLY THERE ON THIS. I THINK IT IS DIFFERENT, ESPECIALLY THE TRANSITIO WHEN YOU MOVE FROM THE BOX TO THE DOME. WHEN THEY WERE HAPPENING, IT WAS A PUSH TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. NO TIME TO GET PUBLIC INPUT. BUT NOW, WITH THE DOMES, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU S BREAK LIGHTS ASSEMBLE. HOLD ON, THIS MIGHT COST $75 MILLION. THE HIGHEST I HAVE SEEN IS FROM HIM. SUDDENLY DON'T NEED TO HAVE A SLOW PUBLIC INPUT WITH A PUBLIC COMMITTEE BY HIM. THERE IS NO COMMITMENT TO OPEN THE DOMES UNTIL AFTER THIS ELECTION IS OVER. IT IS INTERESTING THAT YOU SUDDENLY FOUND RELIGION ON ALLOWING THE PUBLI AT THE TABLE WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIM. WHEN IT WAS IMPORTANT TO US. MIKE: ARE YOU OPEN TO THE IDEA OF TEARING DOWN THE DOME'S? IF PUBLIC SAID HEY, WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS? MR. ADELE: THIS IS NOT MY ESTIMATE. IN A SENATOR LARSON KNOWS THE DOMES OF HAD ISSUES FOR 30 YEARS. WE HAVE DONE BIG REPAIR PROJECTS. ALMOST UNBEARABLY, ON THE ANALYSIS WE HAVE GOTTEN, PEOPLE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO GET MORE FREQUENT. 50 YEARS AGO, WE WERE CLOSING THE CONSERVATORY THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE LOVED IT. I WOULD HAVE LOVED IT. BUT IT WAS HAPPENI MORE AND MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. FINALLY COPY WILL SO BEFORE WE GO AND REBUILD THE WHOLE THING, LET US THINK BOLDLY. LET US AT LEAST GIVE US A CHANCE OF THE COMMUNITY TO ASK IF YOU WANT TO REBUILD THE WHOLE THING. MAYBE WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF NOT MILWAUKEE AND LOOK FORWARD. ANYBODY WHO DOES NOT THINK GOING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE VICTORIAN CONSERVATORY -- MIKE IS THERE A PRICE POINT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO GO BEYOND IN TERMS OF REPAIRING THE DOWNS? MR. ADELE: TWO SENATOR LARSON'S POINT O , DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC? I THINK WE SHOULD SAY, I DON'T SEE THIS AS CHALLENGE, I SEE THIS AS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT IF. WHAT IF IT WAS MORE LIKE 500,000 OR MORE. INSTEAD OF LOSING MONEY LIKE THEY DO RIGHT NOW, WHAT IF SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THEY GAIN REVENUE. WHAT IF SIX PARTNERS IN THE NONPROFIT UNITY TURNED TO 30. WHAT IF WE DID SOMETHING THAT COULD DO MORE AND BETTER. EITHER WAY, I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU SOME EXAMPLES TO THE PUBLIC. IF THE PUBLIC SEES THAT AND THE COST OF AND THEY STILL SAY NO WE'RE GOING WITH THE DOMES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT MY MONEY. IT IS YOUR MONEY. MIKE: BRIEFLY, SENATOR LARSON. SENATO LARSON: THERE WERE $5 MILLION ABLE T PAY THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THAT IS GROWING IN OUR PARKS. HIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE VETO THEM. THEY MOVE FORWARD AND SAID WE WOULD DO IT ANYWAY, WITH $500,000 TO HELP THE DOMES. HE REFUSED TO SIGN. HE DID NOT ACT ON THE NEEDED SOME NETS. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE DOMES ARE ALL CLOSED OFF. SUDDENLY, THERE IS THIS COMPARISON THAT SAYS OUR PARKS ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE MONEY OR THEY ARE NOT VALUABLE TO US. THAT IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR 156 PARKS. IF YOUR PARK IS NOT TURNING REVENUE, SUDDENLY READY TO RESTRUCTURE SO IT DOES IT SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR SOMEONE WHO WENT TO MADIS FOR THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO SELL LAND WITHOUT PUBLIC APPROVAL. IT MOVES US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THE DOMES ARE IMPORTANT TO US. OUR PARKS ARE IMPORTANT TO US. AND IF I GET ELECTED, I WILL HELP CONTINUE THE LEGACY. MIKE AND VERY VERY BRIEFLY, PLEASE. MR. A ELE: I KNOW WHAT HE IS SAYING WE CANNOT HAVE VENUES OR ASSETS THAT DO NOT MAKE MONEY. BUT I DON'T THINK THER IS ANYBODY HERE WHO DISAGREES THAT WHEN WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC, LIKE SAY THE BEER GARDENS WHICH THEY LOVE, CREATE LOCAL JOBS BECAUSE WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL BREWERIES AND HAVE MORE AMENITIES FOR T PUBLICS, 630 $5,000. THAT GOES BACK INTO THE PARK. I MEAN, NO HARM IN LOOKING. MIKE: WE WILL PURSUE THIS POINT LOBOS FURTHER. VERY QUICKLY, EACH OF YOU, JUST TO GET YOUR POSITION ON THE ESTABROOK PARK DAM. THEY SAY T DAM IS DANGEROUS. IF YOU TEAR IT DOWN OR APPARENT. CHRI SHOULD YOU TEAR IT DOWN OR APPARENT? ON THE MILWAUKEE RIVER. MR. ABELE: TORN DOWN. I HAVE BEEN WITH A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, SHARING THE REVITALIZATION GROUP FOR YEARS, REMEMBER WE TOOK DOWN THE NORTH AVENUE DAM. THERE WERE THE SAME GROUP THAT PREDICTE THE SAME DISASTER. MORLAND, HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES, CLEANER WATER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY NATURE TO BE MAJOR. MICHAEL AND YOU SUPPORT TEARING DOWN? SENATOR LARSON: IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP. THE RESULTS WE OVERWHELMINGLY SAYING WE SHOULD KEEP THE DAM. THAT IS FOR THE POLICY WENT. THAT WAS 6, 7 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, NOT MUCH IS HAPPENING. EXCEPT FOR A LOT OF SQUABBLING BETWEEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND BOARD. NOW I'M HEARING ABOUT IT FROM BOTH SIDES, AND I REALI THAT OPINIONS MAY HAVE CHANGED ON THIS, PEOPLE MOVING MORE TO THE MINDSET OF SAYING LET US TEAR IT DOWN. SO IF IT IS NOT SOLD WITH THE TIME, IF I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ELECTED, AND IF BY THE TIME I AM IN THERE IT HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED, I WILL WORK WITH THE COUNTY BOARD TO DO PUBLIC HEARING. LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE ON THIS. SEE WHERE IT IS AT. IF WE CARRY DOWN, WE WILL DO IT BY THE END OF THE. MICHAEL AND A NUMBER OF ISSUES I WANT TO GET THROUGH QUICKLY. NOT THAT FAR OUT THERE. IN 2008-2009, THERE WAS A PRETTY SERIOUS DISCUSSION IN THIS TOWN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD HELP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SELL IT OR LEASE IT? COULD MAKE A BILLION DOLLARS IF WE SOLD IT. I SHOULD SAY THIS, THIS IS NOT COMMON IN THE U.S., COMMON IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD. YOU ARE BOTH TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE MONEY FOR DEFERRED MINUTES FOR THE PARKS THE NEED TO BE A WILL TO HOLD DOWN THE COST OF TRANSIT BECAUSE YOU NEED A DEDICATED REVENU STREAM, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NEEDS THAT EXIST OUT THERE. WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF SELLING MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. YOU ARE NOT LETTING ME FINISH THE QUESTION THERE. [LAUGHTER] THAT IS FREQUENTLY END OF IT. THIS WILL BE A REALLY SHORT SEGMENT. WHY NOT? SENATOR LARSON: THE AIRPORT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY. IT IS NOT OPERATED BY THE COUNTY. MIKE: THE REVENUE, THE AIRPORT IS REVENUE-NEUTRAL. SENATO LARSON: ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR AIRPORT IT IS HAS CHEAPER PARKING. YOU CAN FLY OUT EASIER THAN O'HARE. IT CAN HELP FUEL OUR ECONOMY. AND I THINK WE SHOULD USE IT AS THAT. THERE WERE A LOT OF RULES, UP UNTIL THIS COUNT EXECUTIVE, WE'VE GONE THROUGH HOW MANY AIRPORT DIRECTORS? FOUR? YOU NEED SOME STEADY HAND AT THE WHEEL MAKING SURE THEY ARE ATTRACTING PASSENGERS FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY COMPETE WITH NO HAIR. TO DO THAT, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SELL IT AND SUDDENLY HAVE TO PAY ABOARD A DIRECTORS SIX-FIGURE SALARIES. ALL YOU NEED IS ONE GOOD AIRPORT DIRECTOR. BY THE WAY, THE AIRPOR PROVIDES HALF $1 BILLION ASS THAT HELPS OUR UNDERLYING BOND RATING. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT. I AL WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS UNDER PUBLIC CONTROL. MIKE: LE ME GET YOU ON THE RECORD. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT, OR IS IT A POSSIBILITY? MR.DELE: THE ONLY AIRPORT THAT CA CLOSER TO THIS WAS MIDWAY. AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY TURNED IT DOWN. THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD REASON TO TURN IT DOWN. A LOT OF WHICH WER LISTED BY SENATOR LARSON. IN TERMS OF THE DIRECTOR, I'M INCREDIBLE PROUD OF OUR NEW AIRPORT DIRECTOR. HE IS FANTASTIC. WHEN YOU HAVE 41 BUSINESS LINES IN A LOT OF STAFF, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE SOMEWHERE BETWE HAVING A DIRECTOR OF 30 YEARS, LIKE WE DID BEFORE, AND SOMETIMES YOU DO HAVE TURNOVER. BUT HERE IS THE THING. WHEN YOU' ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS, WHATEVER HAPPENS, WHETHER HE GOES THE WAY YOU WANTED TO OR NOT, YOU NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME -- I DON'T THINK WE ARE SERVING ANYBODY BY DWELLING ON IT OR POINTING FINGERS. YOU MOVE ON AND HIRE SOMEONE GOOD. DURING THAT TIME THOUGHT WE EXPANDED SERVICE. JUST ANOTHER STORY TODAY, ADDING AIRLINES, ADDING COVERAGE, ADDING PASSENGERS. I THINK WE ARE WELL-POSITIONED. MIKE: BUT MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH THESE. SENATO LARSON: AIRLINE USE IS UP. I DON'T THIN THE AIRPORT AND TAKE CREDIT FOR THE NATION. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE ENTIRE NATION, GO AHEAD. YOU CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR THE GOOD WEATHER, TOO. BUT I WOULD SAY ON TOP O THIS, YOU PUT THE AIRPORT AT RISK THROUGH POWER AT THE STATE LEVEL. EVEN THOUGH I'M SAYING ABSOLUTELY NOT TO PRIVATIZATION ARE SELLING. HE IS SAYING THAT NOW. BUT NOW, IT BECOMES THAT MUCH EASIER, WHETHER IT IS THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR A FUTURE ONE TO MAKE IT THAT MUCH EASIER TO SHIFT THE PRIVATE CONTROL. THAT IS WHAT IS DANGEROUS. THAT IS WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT ABOUT LEADERSHIP. MICHAEL AND THIS HAS TO BE VERY BRIEF MONFILS. MR ABELE: I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT IF I SAID AM ON THE AIRPORT, SOMEONE FROM WASHINGTON WOULD BE CALLING UP SOON. THE SAME WAY WE NEED FEDERAL APPROVAL TO SELL THE TRANSIT CENTER, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO INDEPENDENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT THE -- MIKE: YOU DID CUT OUT A LAYER OF PUBLIC APPROVAL? I WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO TALK ABO SOMETHING WHAT WE WISH TO BE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE METRICS IN THIS COUNTY, T MANY OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORS ARE STRUGGLING. JOBLESSNESS, POVERTY. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ADDRESSI THAT POPULATION IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY? I'LL BEGIN WIT YOU. MRABELE: ANYTHING WE CAN. RECENTLY, WE HAVE THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS. ONE OF THE THINGS I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS I SPENT A LOT OF DIVISION HEADS AND COUNTLESS GROUPS -- LOT OF TIME FIRST GATHERING DATA. YOU WANT TO COMB CRIME, LET US GET SPECIFIC. LET US GET NUMBERS. THEN LET U MAP OUT EVERY POSSIBLE VARIABLE, EVERY POSSIBLE TOO WHATEVER LEVERETT WEEKEND PULLED MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I HAVE TALKED TO EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD. LOOK WHERE DO WE HAVE AN IMPACT ON THIS COMMUNITY? EVEN T THINGS WE MAY NOT THINK HER DIRECTLY IMPACTING, BUT WHAT COULD WE DO DIFFERENTLY? AND WE WILL. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YOU KNOW, I DID NOT WAIT. FOR FIVE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING MORE FROM TRYING TO GET PEOPLE BEING INVESTIGATIN -- INCARCERATED MORE. THE HIGHEST RATE FOR INCARCERATED AFRICAN AMERICANS, ANYBODY WHO DOES NOT THINK THAT IS AN OUTRAGE IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION. WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT? NO MORE BULLHORNS. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE. NOW IT IS HEALTH CARE, GED, JOB PREPARATION. ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE ADDED JOBS TRAINING, LICENSE RECOVERY. WE HAVE ADDED UPLIFT. AND WE WILL DO MORE. IS I ENOUGH? NO. BUT IT IS MORE THAN WE HAVE DONE BEFORE. THAT IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY. SENATOR LARSON: I FIND IT DISTURBING, IT'S IS THE THIRD TIME THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ASKED ABOUT ADDRESSING DISPARITIES, THAT IS MINE GOES OVER TO THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION. WHEN TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR QUALITY JOBS. LOOKING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR EMPOWERMENT. THAT IS WHAT WE OFFER. I GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY I GAINED THE SUO PPORT. I HAVE A HISTORY OF FIGHTING FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE LEVEL. I THOUGHT FOR A LIVING WAGE AND THE STATE LEVEL. I ENCOURAGED IT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE VETOED THAT. NOT ONLY THAT, HE WENT TO MADISON TO STOP IT FROM BEING ENACTED. WHEN THERE WAS A PROGRAM STRUGGLING, HE VETOED DOWN TO A FRACTION OF WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN. TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ABLE TO JOB TRAINING THEY NEED. AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO SOMEONE TO THE BOARD WHO REPRESENTS PEWAUKEE FOR THE PLACE FOR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GE JOBS, HE POINTED TO SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. NOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS SHOW A PAINFUL DISCONNECT WITH WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I WILL BE SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION, BUT WELL AFTER. MAKING SURE THERE IS THE PRESENTATION. THE OFFICE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS IS COMING FORWARD NOT BECAUSE OF HIS URGING. MR ABELE: I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS VOLUNTEERING, SUPPORTING, AND RAISIN MONEY FOR GROUPS LIKE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS. NOT MILLIONS. BUT SERVE 40,000 GETS. I DON'T TWEET OR POST ABOUT THAT. I DON'T BECAUSE I CARE. I'D DO I AFTER I WAS IN OFFICE. I HAVE WORKED WITH THE COVENANT FOUNDATION, THE PROMISE FOUNDATION. WE HAVE ADDED SO MANY MORE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAN WE EVER DID. I AM NOT GOING TO BE BACK TO ANYBODY. IS IT ENOUGH? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT IT IS JUST SILLY -- MIKE: YOU MENTIONED A LIVING WAGE, SENATOR LARSON. HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT -- A $15 AN HOUR? OR AN INCREA BEYOND $11 FOR COUNTY WORKERS, WHAT ARE YOU CALLING FOR? SENATOR LARSON: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH AREAS THE COUNTY HAS CONTROL OVER. WE A NEGOTIATING DEVELOPMENT, THAT WILL BE A KEY POINT WE ASKED FOR. SAYING LET US MOVE TOWAR $15 MINIMUM WAGE. SO PEOPLE GET THE BENEFITS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY T DOLLARS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EARN A LIVING. THEY WILL NOT BE STRUGGLING IN POVERTY, WORRYING ABOUT THEIR HOME BEING FORECLOSED ON OR PAYING THEIR BILLS. IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WHERE WE HAVE THAT SPHERE OF INFLUENCE FOR THOSE BENEFITING FROM COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPER DOLLARS. THAT IS IMPORTANT. THAT IS SOMETHING WE FOUGHT FOR. WE HAVE TO MOVE FOR BIG CHANGES AT THIS DAY, CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT. AS IT WAS BEING ADVOCATED ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. BUT WHEN WE ARE SPENDING PUBLIC DOLLARS, IT SHOULD BE ABOUT IMPROVING THE PUBLIC GOOD. MIGHT: I WILL LET YOU RESPOND. MR. ABELE: I VETOED LOSING $28 MILLION IN THE COMPTROLLER SAID WOULD COME FROM FAMILY CARE, A PROGRAM THAT SERVES THE FRAIL AND ELDERLY. THERE IS NOBOD DISAGREES WITH PAYI PEOPLE WHATEVER WAGE WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT DOING IT SUSTAINABLY. AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND WHAT I WILL WORK HARD TO DO, IS DO IT IN A WAY WHERE IT IS NOT JUST ONE YEAR. WE CAN KEEP DOING IT, WITHOUT RISI THE COST OF ANYTHING ELSE. THERE IS NOBODY, I DON'T THINK, WHO WANTS TO SEE LESS FAMILY CARE. BUT IN TERMS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUPLE YOU WERE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, IT WAS YOUR CHOICE AND YOUR CHOICE ALO TO GREEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, YOU DID NOT HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN. OR EVEN SOMEONE FROM MILWAUKEE. THAT WAS YOUR CHOICE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT INCREASES REPRESENTATION FOR MILWAUKEE. MIKE: LENA TAYLOR? SENATOR LARSON: WE DO NOT GET ALONG. MR. ABELE: THAT IS N THE POINT. SENATO LARSON: IT WAS NOT ME WHO VOTER OUT OF LEADERSHIP OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS. MIKE: BEFORE YOU TO FINAL STATEMENTS, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID AND DONE IN THE PAST. AND I WANT TO END OUR DISCUSSION WITH THAT. I KNOW THIS IS NOT A POPULAR TOPIC WITH EITHER ONE OF YOU, BUT I WILL ASK ABOUT IT ANYHOW. LET ME BEGIN WITH SENATOR LARSON. YOUR 200 SHOPLIFTING CITATION, WHEN YOU ARE A COLLEGE DUE TO. DISORDER CONDUCT, BUT INVOLVED A PRETTY HEATED ARGUMENT WITH A TOW TRUCK DRIVER. 2008, YOU STARTE A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. YOU HAD TO FORFEIT BECAUSE YOU ARE N DISCLOSING WHO THE MEMBERS WERE. YOU ARE URGED TO DO THAT BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE DA. SHOULD WE WILL HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT YOUR JUDGMENT, AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? PLEASE KEEP YOUR REMARKS SHORT. CENTER LARSON: I OWNED MY MISTAKES. IT IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE PURSE FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE. PEOPLE DIG THROUGH YOUR PAST AND THEY FIN THINGS YOU ARE NOT SO PROUD OF. YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THOSE, RIGHT? POLITICIANS ARE NOT PERFECT. I AM FINALLY FIGHTING THESE THINGS. NOW ON THE SHOPLIFTING THING, I JUST EXPLAINED, I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOU EXPLAINED TO A JUDGE, I WENT THROUGH A PROGRAM. THE ONLY REASON HE CAME UP BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. SAME THING WITH THE DISORDERLY CONDUCT CHARGE. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONE ASK POINTED A JUDGE, IT WAS DROPPED. THE FACT WAS I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS DOING A CAR I JUST BOUGHT. I ACTUALLY CALL THE POLICE. WHEN I EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM, THEY DROPPED IT. IT WAS DROPPED IN COURT. ON THE PAC THAT WAS SOMETHING IS A NEW COUNTY SUPERVISOR PUSHING FOR THE REFERENDUM, I WAS DOING THIS AS A NEW REPRESENTATIVE. AND ONCE THEY POINTED OUT, REPORTED EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO. WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOWS ME TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF MY NEIGHBORS, WHO I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH, AND REALIZED THAT HAD ONE OF THOSE JUDGES RULED IN A DIFFERENT WAY OR HAD THE COURSE OF HISTORY TAKE A DIFFERENT TURN, I COULD BE IN THEIR SHOES. IT IS WELL LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS. BECAUSE I CAN BE IN THEIR SHOES SO I CAN SPEAK FOR THEM IN A STRONGER WAY WHEN I AM IN CHARGE. MIKE: I HAVE TO DO THIS VERY QUICKLY. WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE A BIT SHORTER FOR CLOSING ARMAMENTS. $2000 IN PARKING TICKETS. FROM 2007-2011. WHAT IS A THING ABOUT YOUR JUDGMENT? MR. BELE: IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, AND I SAID THIS MA TIMES, FOR DRUNK DRIVING, I WOULD GO BACK AND PUNCH MYSELF. NOT BECAUSE IT WAS A STUPID DECISION FOR ME, IT WAS STUPID FOR ANYBODY ELSE. IT IS SOMETHING TH I HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR. I TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY. AND A SENTENCE, FULL STOP. AS SENATOR LARSO SAID, IT IS ONE OF THE PERKS OF BEING IN PUBLIC OFFICE. THOSE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS. PEOPLE SHOULD ASK THEM. I HAVE MADE MISTAKES. ABSOLUTELY. I EXPECT TO BE HELD TOTALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT. MIKE: I WILL BRING YOU TO CLOSING STATEMENTS. SENATOR LARSON, GO FIRST. 30 SECONDS. SENATOR LARSON: THAT GIVE VERY MUCH TO THE VIEWERS. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT ELECTION. YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT DECISION TO MAKE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY. I WAS BORN HERE, RAISED HERE, LIVE HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE. AND MY FAMILY -- THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY PART. THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME, OUR NEIGHBORS. MILWAUKEE COUNTY IS HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK WE CAN MOVE FORWARD BY INCREASING ACCESS TO LIVING WAGE JOBS, ENSURING YOU HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUDGETING COMMUNITY LISTING SESSIONS. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND VOTE APRIL 5. MIKE: WHY ARE YOU THE GUY THAT SHOULD BE ELECTED? MR. ABELE: BECAUSE I AM INCREASINGLY FEELING I'M NOT A STANDARD POLITICIAN. I NOT THINK ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO MAKE A HEADLINE OR WHEN A FIGHT. BUT HOW I WILL MOVE THE PARTY -- THE COUNTY -- FORWARD. I DO N HAVE -- I'M NOT IN OFFICE BECAUSE I HAVE A NOTION OF A FUTURE CAREER POLITICS. AND BECAUSE I HAVE DONE WHAT I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO. AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN BETTER SHAPE DISTALLY. BETTER THAN WE EVER HAD. WE KNOW MORE THAN WE EVER DID. WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. I WANT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. I WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HONORED. MIKE: WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT. THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR WATCHING. AM MIKE GOUSHA. WE APPRECIATED. WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON TUESDAY FOR MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANDIDATES. ♪♪ ANNOUNCER: THIS IS BEEN A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF WIS TV AND MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW

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