Earnell Lucas sets priorities as next Milwaukee County sheriff with 1 more election to go

Don Behm | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Earnell Lucas already was being greeted as sheriff as he walked past the Milwaukee Public Market for a media interview and as he entered other businesses Wednesday, one day after a decisive victory over Richard Schmidt in Tuesday's Democratic primary for the Milwaukee County post.

Lucas reminded many of the well-wishers that there is one more hurdle, the Nov. 6 general election in which he faces no opposition on the ballot, before he can take office and wear the sheriff's badge in January.

In his campaign, Lucas is promising voters a break from the past administration of former Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. and a "fresh new start" for the Sheriff's Office.

One way he will do that is "to establish clear lines of accountability in the office" by telling the public whom he appoints as commanding officers responsible for administering the jail and maintaining safety in the courts and airport, as well as patrolling freeways and parks, Lucas said Wednesday in an interview.

Those are the agency's core missions, and he intends to hold those officials accountable for fulfilling those responsibilities. "I think that's critical," he said.

The courts and jail take up most of the department's resources while patrols at parks and freeways have been reduced in recent years, Lucas said. So he will advocate for more patrols in the department's budget when he meets with county administrative officials and County Board supervisors, he said.

The Sheriff's Office also will partner with the 19 municipalities in the county and the county court system to address both the mental health needs of many people coming into the jail and the ongoing opioid crisis of addiction and overdoses, he said. Combating human trafficking in each municipality also will be one of his office's priorities, Lucas said.

Schmidt, the acting sheriff, announced his retirement Wednesday in the wake of his primary loss to Lucas.

Schmidt, a 32-year veteran of the agency, said he plans to retire in January.

Lucas won a decisive victory Tuesday, receiving 57% of the vote to 34% for Schmidt, after labeling the acting sheriff as a holdover from the controversial and troubled administration of former sheriff Clarke.

Schmidt said he called Lucas late Tuesday to congratulate him on the primary victory and offered his assistance during the upcoming four-month transition to a new administration.

Milwaukee County Sheriff candidate Earnell Lucas talks about his campaign Earnell Lucas, candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff, talks about his campaign at the Milwaukee Public Market.

Schmidt did not disclose his retirement decision in that phone call, Lucas said Wednesday. Upon hearing the news, Lucas said he wanted to thank Schmidt for his many years of service and wish him and his family well.

Lucas likely will become the next sheriff since no Republican is on the ballot in the Nov. 6 general election. Deputy James Villwock, a Republican, is planning a write-in campaign to challenge the Democratic Party nominee for the office.

Lucas is a Major League Baseball security official and a 25-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department. He was endorsed by top Democratic Party leaders in the county, including U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, District Attorney John Chisholm and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Lucas also gained the endorsements and, more importantly, the get-out-the-vote capability of several independent organizations such as Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, or BLOC, the Wisconsin Working Families Party and Voces de la Frontera.

"Their work mobilizing grass-roots activists and voters was essential in my victory," Lucas said in a statement Wednesday. "I am proud to work alongside them to build a safe community for all as the people's sheriff."

County Executive Chris Abele endorsed Schmidt. Leadership MKE, an Abele-financed independent political expenditure committee, supported Schmidt's campaign with $300,000 worth of online advertising and broadcast commercials.

Between now and January, Schmidt said, he will continue pushing more than a dozen initiatives he put in place after becoming acting sheriff, from balancing the department's budget to targeting reckless drivers on freeways and reforming jail operations after several custody deaths during Clarke's tenure.

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In the days leading up to the election, Schmidt announced he was offering assistance to the Milwaukee Police Department "as we put deputies into the inner city to help stem violent crime."

Even so, Schmidt could not distance himself from the Clarke era and its legacy of several custody deaths in the jail and budget deficits.

Schmidt was second in command when Clarke resigned in August 2017. Schmidt became acting sheriff at that time and will stay in the job through the end of Clarke's term on Jan. 7, 2019.