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Philanthropist and Milwaukee County executive candidate Chris Abele, speaking to reporters Thursday, steered clear of listing any county services or programs that he would cut if his proposed efficiency moves failed to fill an expected budget gap.

Abele also sidestepped questions about reasons he didn't finish his bachelor's degree. Abele attended Lawrence University in Appleton for about three years, according to his campaign. He discussed other accomplishments when asked why he didn't complete his coursework.

Abele repeated his intention of rooting out waste and re-crafting outmoded county programs. He declined to say which programs he'd place on a short list for cuts or those he felt should be protected, saying tipping his hat on that now would be foolish.

"It's hard to tell until you are close" to the operation, he said. "I know enough to know I don't know all of it."

Instead, Abele told a Milwaukee Press Club audience that he'd make tough decisions if he needs to. He was part of a staff restructuring as a board member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra when the number of jobs was slashed by half, he said.

Abele, 44, serves on numerous nonprofit boards and runs a family charity.

He faces state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) in the April 5 election to fill the remaining year left in Gov. Scott Walker's county term. Stone has also avoided threatening specific cuts, but puts less faith in efficiency moves and a greater reliance on future savings from an employee health care overhaul.

Abele said he won't raise taxes and said it was pointless to even discuss it when required state approval for most county tax bumps was highly unlikely. Stone also has rejected any county tax increases as a means of solving a budget gap.

At Thursday's event, which did not include Stone, Abele renewed his call for selling unneeded county assets. He declined to list any, though he suggested the county may have some excess property that could be sold.

He said selling parks or portions of parks wasn't something "anybody thinks . . . is a good thing." But he didn't rule out the possibility.

"I'll have a better answer for you when I have a better look at the Parks Department," he said.

He said he'll encourage efforts to boost public-private partnerships, such as more restaurants or coffee shops in parks. Abele also spoke admiringly of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's efforts to sell city park maintenance services to surrounding communities.

"We all understand the budget issues we face are incredibly severe," Abele said. "Nobody's going to be able to come into the county and say, 'I'm going to flip a light switch and everything's going to be great.' "

When asked why he didn't complete his degree, Abele said he felt he was qualified to serve as county executive and listed two small businesses he started and volunteer boards on which he's served.

Asked a second time why he didn't complete college, Abele said, "The reason I'm running is I profoundly care about the community I live in."

Asked if his answers suggested he didn't feel the college question was relevant, Abele said, "People can make up their own minds about what they want to do about the candidates."

Abele also said he took care of an old drunken driving citation "as soon as I got a court date" - seven years after his arrest in Glendale.

"As soon as I got a court date, I responded and I resolved it," Abele told reporters following his press club session.