1. What financial challenges has Milwaukee County faced and what can we expect in the future? How would you address those challenges?

   Michael Harper: Some of the recent financial challenges have been partially addressed by Act 12, however the challenges that loom will require we consider new business models and establishing new partnerships for development. I have previously proposed Public Private Partnership as an approach for both the Airport and Safety Building- each of which compliment growth in the county.
   
   Liz Sumner: Milwaukee County has historically faced significant financial challenges, including a previously projected $109.5 million shortfall between 2024 and 2028, if the sales tax wasn’t implemented. The implementation of the county sales tax marks a pivotal shift towards transparent, effective financial management, aiming to safeguard and enhance essential services like transit and parks. My commitment as your leader is to ensure these funds are managed with a community-first approach, addressing our past financial struggles and securing the county's long-term prosperity and stability.

2. What are the key qualifications/past experience that make you the best choice for the job?

   Michael Harper: My professional experience in Capital Markets and Financial Services have equipped me for the position. Five years of service on the Milwaukee County Employees Retirement System provided a dual opportunity to serve as a volunteer/servant to County Employees and Retirees and to learn more about the interrelationship and inner-workings of the Pension Board and Comptroller's Office.
   
   Liz Sumner: My diverse experience, combining public service and business acumen, sets me apart as the ideal candidate for Milwaukee County Comptroller. Serving as an elected Supervisor on the Milwaukee County Board and as a Trustee on the Fox Point Village Board, I've demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility. My role as Chair of the County Finance Committee has honed my ability to navigate complex budget issues and advocate for equitable policies. Beyond public service, my 16 years as a business owner have imbued me with a practical understanding of financial management and strategic planning. My MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, specializing in finance and strategy, further underpins my theoretical knowledge with practical experience. This unique blend of public sector insight and private sector efficiency equips me to manage Milwaukee County's finances with the diligence and foresight needed to secure our financial future.

3. Why do you want to be County Comptroller?

   Michael Harper: I am running for Milwaukee County Comptroller and I want to provide service to Milwaukee County Residents that promote growth and prosperity. If we are going to pay a “Sales Tax” we will need more sales and significant growth. This is a collaboration with County Executive and the other 18 Municipalities which make up our Great Community.
   
   Liz Sumner: My desire to serve as Milwaukee County Comptroller is driven by a commitment to public service and a passion for ensuring our county's financial stability. I believe that strong financial management is the foundation of effective government, enabling us to provide essential services, invest in our community, and enhance the quality of life for all residents. As Comptroller, I aim to apply my skills and experience to safeguard the county's fiscal health, promote transparency and accountability, and contribute to a brighter future for Milwaukee County.

Questionnaire for County Executive

1. What problems or challenges has the county faced? How have you addressed or would you address those issues?
   
   David Crowley:
   These past three years we have been able to accomplish great things for the people of Milwaukee County, we've been able to invest in addressing the opioid epidemic, improving our emergency operations and public health services, funding an eviction prevention program, building affordable housing, providing grants for over 1,500 small businesses, and community based violence prevention.
   
   We've also expanded bus routes, honed in on our strategy of advancing racial equity, improved compensation for our employees, welcomed new development into our community, and so much more. We even did all this while facing the COVID-19 pandemic, but our work is not done. Together with you, we can continue building a Milwaukee County which is a better place for all of us to find a job that pays a livable wage, where you can raise a family and enjoy the diversity our communities have to offer. My vision for my next term will be to continue to build upon all the progress that we have made and continue our efforts to bring people together and build the bridges that unite us, and work to serve all Milwaukee County residents regardless of their background or even their political party. The work that we have been doing to improve the quality of life for Milwaukee County residents resonates with voters across our community. We must continue to make Milwaukee County an attractive, safe and prosperous place to live and with your help, together we will do just that.
   
   Ieshuh Griffin: Did not respond.
   
   
2. What are your key qualifications for the job of County Executive?
   
   David Crowley:
   As the first Black person elected as Milwaukee County Executive, I have been able to bring fresh eyes to the challenges that our county has been facing, allowing us to elevate more representative voices into leadership, and help Milwaukee County be on the cutting edge.
   
   Throughout my first term , I have always worked to ensure all our residents had a partner in the county executive’s office working to ensure their voices and perspectives are front of mind. I plan on getting re-elected the same way I got elected in 2020, by working under one common vision - a stronger, more equitable community. I will continue to be a County Executive who serves all residents regardless of their background or political party.
   
   The work that we’ve been doing isn’t divisive or partisan, it’s quality of life work, work that resonates with voters across our community and political spectrum. I will continue to be aggressive in getting my message out to voters through multiple targeted methods to maximize campaign funds. We have been working diligently to put together the resources that are needed to win and with help from partners like you, I will be re-elected this spring.
   
   Ieshuh Griffin: Did not respond.
   
   
3. Why do you want to be County Executive?
   
   David Crowley:
   We have made great progress over my first term and we are not done yet. Growing up in an economically struggling family in Milwaukee, I know firsthand what it is like to be reliant on county services and what they really mean to people but in addition to that I have also been a county employee myself, prior to being an elected official, and I know what it is like to provide these vital services to county residents.
   
   I have a proven track record of getting things done in a bipartisan manner during my time as Milwaukee County Executive and prior to that while I was in the state legislature. We cannot get anything done without working together, the County Executive has to reach across party lines and deliver real results. We were successful in passing bi-partison legislation giving the county breathing room financially, but we are not out of the weeds and need to continue to do the hard work to come up with innovative and collaborative ways to ensure the county stays as strong as it is today. We are at an important crossroads and now more than ever, we need an experienced leader to ensure that we take advantage of our recent successes and move forward in a sustainable way.
   
   Ieshuh Griffin: Did not respond.

The information on this page has been taken from the Board Elections page of the Grafton School District website.

Shawn Taylor
Why are you seeking election to the Grafton Board of Education?
I am running for reelection because Grafton has an exceptional school district and I want to continue collaborating with my fellow board members and administration to keep our district moving forward.

Explain how your personal and professional experiences will make you an effective board member.
My 15 years as a resident and parent in the Grafton School District, coupled with my experience as an educator, has given me a deep understanding of the diverse needs and perspectives in our community. Additionally, I have successfully served on the board for nearly three years. During my time, I have attended and been prepared for every meeting with an open mind to work together to accomplish goals and tackle issues that arise in our district. I am proud of what I have contributed during my time on the board as our district continues to see improved student achievement, low teacher turnover, and reduced mill rates.

What are your personal philosophies that will help you best represent the Grafton electorate?
My core belief lies in the power of collaboration. I believe that by working together, the board, administration, teachers, and parents can create a thriving school environment where students flourish, staff feel valued, and resources are used wisely.

Personal information
Family: I have 3 children. Two have recently graduated from the Grafton School District and my third is at the high school.
Number of years residing in the district: 15
Education: MS in Teaching and Learning
Profession: Teacher

Gerry Staggenborg
Why are you seeking election to the Grafton Board of Education?

Explain how your personal and professional experiences will make you an effective board member.
After a lifetime (45 years) as both a classroom teacher and educational leader, both here in America and abroad in Europe, on every level from middle school to university graduate seminars, I realize I have a wealth of knowledge and experience to lend to my neighborhood schools.

Furthermore, in this transitional time of growing parental involvement in all phases of education, I see an opening for an educator with a deep foundation in two worlds, that of the instructional institution and that of the public world; I have four school age grandchildren (all children of diverse color) whose school experiences I care about deeply. My Ph. D. In Communications allows me special skills in interfacing between these two worlds and, I believe, will ingrain me more in the workings of my community.

What are your personal philosophies that will help you best represent the Grafton electorate?
I believe that an entire community has a stake in education on all levels. I believe that consequently every school board representative must be seen in the community as much as humanly possible. Each representative must not only act as a sounding board but also, having derived a consensus of public opinion, as a communicator of that consensus to all interested parties in sufficient enough time to allow for feedback before the board takes any significant action.

I also believe that a school board member must be sufficiently steeped in all aspects of education and administration that before they solicit public opinion, they can communicate the present educational context intelligently to all those interested.

Personal information
Family: Happily married grandfather of five, three Senegalese and two Korean children, all the offspring of adopted sons
Number of years residing in the district: 11
Education: Ph. D. in Communications
Profession: Educator

Jerry Rossi
Why are you seeking election to the Grafton Board of Education?
I’ve decided to run for re-election because I enjoy being part of a great organization and helping our district continuously improve.

Explain how your personal and professional experiences will make you an effective board member.
I believe I’ve been an effective board member since 2017 because I care about the work of running our district and take my role seriously. During my time on the board we’ve seen the district portion of our communities tax bill drop to 30 year lows while the academic performance of the district has achieved new heights.

What are your personal philosophies that will help you best represent the Grafton electorate?
I believe we should never limit our thinking and always strive to improve how we do things and how we as a district educate the students in our buildings. I enjoy working with the board as well as our administration and feel I add value to the group. I believe I can continue to help the district be good stewards of taxpayer dollars while focusing on continuously improving the educational outcomes for our students.

Personal information
Family: I have 3 children who all attend Grafton schools
Number of years residing in the district: 15
Education: BA in Business - Finance
Profession: Vice President - Territory Sales, American Century Investments

Early Voting Information for November 5 General Election*

You can register online before the November 5 general election until October 16. You can also register at the polls, whether you use in-person absentee processes or you go to the polls on election day. Information about what documents you need to register and what you need to vote are available here.

If you live in the City of Milwaukee, see the locations, dates and times for early in-person voting.

*On Friday, November 1, most clerks' offices are open until 5 pm for early in-person voting.

Anne O'Connor is running for Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 1. That district includes Bayside, Fox Point, River Hills, Whitefish Bay, and Shorewood in their entirety. It also includes PART of Glendale. You can get a map of the supervisory districts: Milwaukee County Supervisory Districts.

Anyone can circulate her nomination papers, but people who sign the papers must

• live in district 1,
• be eligible to vote (but do not need to be registered to vote),
• fill out the form completely and legibly.

After the circulators have at least one signature on the nomination form, they need to fill out the Certification of Circulator portion of the form.

When circulators have completed their forms, they should either drop them off at Cheryl Maranto's house (6563 N Crestwood Dr, Glendale 53209) or mail them to Cheryl.

Anne O'Connor has requested that forms be returned to Cheryl by December 10.

Download her nomination papers.

Know Your State Election Districts

See a chart of key issues together with the Harris/Walz position contrasted with the Trump/Vance position.

Early Voting Information for the North Shore and Ozaukee County Communities.

Drop Box and Early Voting Information for the City of Milwaukee.

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Your Vote: 

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Election Dates: 

Key Dates for Registering, Requesting Absentee Ballots, & Early In-Person Voting:

Grassroots North Shore enthusiastically endorses Jodi Habush Sinykin in her bid for Wisconsin State Senate District 8.

As an environmental attorney and policy expert, Jodi built coalitions focused on achieving long-term results. She was instrumental in the adoption and implementation of the Great Lakes Compact, a far-reaching law that ensure protection of the Great Lakes. Jodi initiated and shepherded the passage of the Wisconsin Puppy Mill bill, which ended the inhumane conditions of puppy mills around the state.

Jodi will fight to protect:

• Reproductive health care and women’s rights. In Madison, she will fight to repeal Wisconsin’s archaic 1849 abortion ban and expand health care access to all Wisconsinites.
  
  
• Democracy from the kinds of physical and ideological attacks witnessed after the 2020 election.
  
  
• Voting rights and equitable, efficient access to the ballot.
  
  
• Our precious environment and expand access to our state’s natural places while holding polluters and those seeking to take advantage of our resources accountable.
  
  
• Public safety in the district and across Wisconsin. She will work to direct needed funding and resources to appropriate agencies so they can keep our communities safe.
  
  
• Business owners’ needs, producing legislation that will create an economic environment in Wisconsin that keeps talent here, and provides fair deals to workers across the state.

Jodi reflects the values of Grassroots North Shore and will work to fulfill the needs of the people of Wisconsin.

Voting in every election is vital to our freedoms, our families, our futures and to good government in our communities. On MyVote.WI.gov, you can 

check your registration status; request absentee ballots — we suggest asking for the whole year's worth; review your ballot; find contact information for your municipal clerk; find your polling place.

This video from the Wisconsin Election Commission steps through filling out an absentee ballot and completing the certification envelope:

This video shows you how to complete the ballot and the certification envelope for returning it by mail or in person.

The video does not cover how to make sure your witness fills out part of the certification envelope correctly. So here is the complete information required of the witness:

1. Witness signature
2. Date
3. Street address
4. City 
5. State
6. Zip code

Make sure your witness does not abbreviate the name of the city or neglect to put a full address on the envelope.

Wisconsin Work Requirement for Welfare Benefits Advisory Question

Question 3, the state-wide advisory question, would ask voters if able-bodied childless adults should be required to look for work in order to receive welfare benefits. The question is not legally binding and would not enact a work requirement law for welfare benefits. Currently, state law requires able-bodied individuals without dependents to look for work in order to receive unemployment insurance. There is also a work requirement for Wisconsin's food stamp program, Wisconsin Foodshare, but the requirement has been waived since October 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Milwaukee County Advisory Abortion Question

Question 4 is a Milwaukee County non-binding referendum. It asks for a simple yes or no vote on the following question:

These proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution have passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and are on the April 4, 2023, ballot for ratification by the voters of Wisconsin.

These two races for MPS Board seats will not appear on the February 21 primary ballot but will appear on the April 4 ballot.

Urban Milwaukee has an in-depth article on the candidates running for these three Aldermanic seats.