February has begun! And you know what that means: a non-partisan election is a mere two weeks away. There are primary elections in most of our North Shore and Ozaukee County communities (except Brown Deer). And we can't afford for you to miss it. So be a voter: go to myvote.wi.gov to request your absentee ballot today! Also, visit our 2022 elections page. You will find information about early in-person voting, which begins today, and drop box locations for your community. Drop boxes can be used for this primary but their fate for future elections is uncertain. The WI Supreme Court will rule on the issue before the next election on April 5.

Key Voting Tips

There are primaries for the Cedarburg School District and the Mequon-Thiensville School District. You'll find links and information on our school boards page. In both cases, the candidate with the lowest vote total in the primary will not appear on the April 5 ballot.

For the Cedarburg SD, we don't have a firm recommendation. We can tell you, though, that the current president of the board, Rick Leach, is a gun enthusiast and Laura Strobel is the wife of a Republican Assembly Representative.

Having handily defeated the recall election in the Mequon-Thiensville SD, Grassroots North Shore has a lot more information about those running in that election. Scarlett Johnson and Jill Chromy are both on our "do not vote for" list. So vote for the other three — Paul Buzzell, Maria Douglas, and Jason Levash. Skip making a fourth choice.

On the North Shore, the key primary is in the race for County Supervisor for District 1. The district has been redrawn as a result of the 2020 census. Shorewood and Whitefish Bay used to be in District 3 (Sheldon Wasserman is the incumbent) but are now in District 1. The other communities in that district are Glendale, River Hills, Fox Point and Bayside. If you live in these six communities, this primary will affect you. See the new map on our Milwaukee County Supervisors page.

There are three candidates on the ballot for the county supervisor primary, which will eliminate one. This race pits our preferred candidate — Liz Sumner, the incumbent — against two newcomers. We urge you to vote for her and simply skip a second choice.

Little is known about one of the candidates — Karen Gentile. She's a member of the Republican party, we hear; apparently is not campaigning; and does not want to be contacted (we've tried repeatedly to no avail). She does have a personal Facebook page, though, which will give you some idea of what she's about.

The third candidate in the race — Peter Tase — is much more worrisome. He has no website or Facebook page, but he has recently published an essay supporting the former guy's "Big Lie." A video of a campaign event showcasing his noxious views has apparently been removed from vimeo. However, Daniel Bice published an extensive piece on his views: it's definitely worth a full read.

Local Notable News

COVID 19 remains a huge headache. Now a subvariant of omicron has already been detected in Wisconsin. Its claim to your worries is that it may spread even more easily than omicron.

According to the Wisconsin Examiner, "Assembly Speaker Robin Vos struggles to maintain control" of the legislative body and messaging. The article pokes at his latest press conference and the "review" of the 2020 election he hired Michael Gableman to conduct — an expensive boondoggle, "which numerous observers including newspaper editorial boards, nonpartisan watchdogs and legal experts have labeled a fiasco."

National Notable News

The New York Times has purchased Wordle! Earth-shattering news indeed. And oh yeah, tRump has now admitted, in writing, that he wanted former Vice President Pence to OVERTURN (his exact word) the 2020 presidential election. Today he wants to walk that felonious claim back. And in shocking, but not surprising, revelations, it turns out that he was deeply involved in the plot to seize voting machines, instructing his minions to request three cabinet departments to take action: Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense. All turned him down. So is it time to indict him for seditious conspiracy?

EVENTS

Wed Feb 2, 2022

Josh Kaul Virtual Fundraiser, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Zoom
You’re invited to a virtual birthday fundraiser in support of Josh Kaul’s campaign for re-election as Attorney General of Wisconsin. Donation levels: Highway: $1000, State Road: $500, County Road: $250, Local Road: $100. Suggested donation: $50. RSVP.

Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Club 400, 322 Williams St., Waukesha
Living Liberally Waukesha meets on the first Wednesday of the month, in the upstairs bar at Club 400. All attendees should be vaccinated and wear masks when not eating or drinking. More information.

Thu Feb 3, 2022

WISDOM: Transformational Justice Campaign, 6:30pm - 8pm
Online
Taking On Mass Incarceration in Wisconsin. Register here.

MKE Mayoral Forum, 6:00 – 8:00pm
El-Bethel Church, 5401 W. Good Hope Rd., Milwaukee
A group of clergy is organizing a candidate forum for the Milwaukee mayoral election on February 3. Call (414) 797-4017 for more information.

Sat Feb 5, 2022

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Capitol Drive & Teutonia Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sun Feb 6, 2022

Grassroots North Shore's Annual Mtg, 7pm - 8:30pm
Virtual
Across Wisconsin and the nation, school boards are under attack. Who isfunding these attacks, and what are their goals?Who’s behind these attacks, and why? Are the abusive rhetoric andchallenges to school board incumbents a grassroots phenomenon, or doshadowy backers provide the funds and pull the strings?Wisconsin-based education journalist Barbara Miner and MPS BoardPresident, Robert Peterson, will help us peek behind the curtain of misinformation and provide some answers.We also will be joined by residents of communities that have recentlysuccessfully fielded these attacks on school board members andprograms. What worked for them? How and why were they able to rallytheir communities? RSVP HERE.

Tue Feb 8, 2022

New Democratic Assembly Leaders, 12pm — 1pm
Virtual
Join WisPolitics.com for a free virtual luncheon with the new Assembly Democratic leaders, Minority Leader Greta Neubauer of Racine and Assistant Minority Leader Kalan Haywood of Milwaukee. Registration.

Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will be virtual during the winter months. More information. Zoom link.

350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee usually meets every month on the second Tuesday. More information.

Wed Feb 9, 2022

MKE Mayoral Forum, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee and online

The Pabst Theater Group and other local organizations will present a forum for all of the mayoral candidates in Milwaukee. Attendees must have proof of being fully vaccinated for Covid. The event is free but space will be limited. The forum will also be broadcast on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Facebook page. More information and registration for in-person event. No information about how to attend the event virtually.

Thu Feb 10, 2022

WISDOM: Transformational Justice Campaign, 6:30pm - 8pm
Online
Taking On Mass Incarceration in Wisconsin. Register here.

Sat Feb 12, 2022

UN Association of MKE, 10am - 12pm
Online
For more information check.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Kinnickinnic Avenue & Lincoln Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Feb 14, 2022

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.