>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WISCONSIN VOTERS CAST THEIR
BALLOTS FOR LOCAL RACES IN THE
SPRING ELECTION, WHERE
HYPERPARTISAN IS BLEEDING INTO
NONPARTISAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND MILWAUKEE ELECTS ITS FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
MILWAUKEE'S NEWLY-ELECTED MAYOR,
CAVALIER JOHNSON, JOINS US.
ANGELA LANG SAYS NOW THE WORK
BEGINS.
MORDECAI LEE FORECASTS FOR THE
FALL.
A CLOSER LOOK AT PARTISAN
POLITICS IN SCHOOL BOARDS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 8.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AFTER HIS LANDSLIDE VICTORY
IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION, THE NEW
MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE SAYS PRIORITY
ONE IS TO CONNECT WITH STATE
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.
35-YEAR-OLD CAVALIER JOHNSON WON
WITH 72% OF THE VOTE OVER HIS
CHALLENGER, BOB DONOVAN, WHO
TOOK 28%.
JOHNSON IS THE FIRST ELECTED
BLACK MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE AND THE
FIRST MILLENNIAL TO RUN THE
CITY.
MAYOR JOHNSON JOINS US NOW FROM
MILWAUKEE AND, MAYOR, THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FREDERICA.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND THANKS
FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU
TO BE ELECTED MILWAUKEE'S FIRST
BLACK MAYOR.
>> SO MANY THINGS.
I OFTEN REFLECT ABOUT MY
ELECTION NIGHT CELEBRATION, AND
ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I SPOKE
TO THAT NIGHT WAS A
NINE-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN
BOY.
AND NOW A KID LIKE HIM, WHO IS
GROWING UP IN THE SAME SORT OF
DEPRESSED, CHALLENGED
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I GREW UP IN
IN MILWAUKEE, NOW HE CAN SEE HIS
OWN REFLECTION IN THE HIGHEST
OFFICE IN THE CITY.
I THINK THAT'S VERY POWERFUL AND
SENDS A MESSAGE TO PEOPLE ACROSS
MILWAUKEE THAT NO MATTER WHERE
YOU COME FROM, NO MATTER HOW
MUCH YOUR PARENTS MAKE, NO
MATTER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN,
THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU IN
MILWAUKEE, TOO.
>> INDEED.
JUST AFTER WINNING THE ELECTION,
YOU SAID YO YOUR FIRST ORDER OF
BUSINESS WAS TO CALL ROBIN VOS
AND DEVIN LEMAHIEU.
HAVE YOU REACHED THEM YET?
>> YEAH.
THE FIRST THING I DID WHEN I
CAME INTO OFFICE AS MAYOR-ELECT
WAS TO CALL ROBIN VOS.
VERY FIRST CALL THAT I MADE.
AND HE DID CALL ME BACK LATER IN
THE DAY.
WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.
WE DO HAVE A CALL INTO SENATOR
LEMAHIEU AS WELL.
I'VE ENGAGED WITH A NUMBER OF
OTHER REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS AS WELL.
SO I WAS SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING
THE KIND OF CAPITAL AND
REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON.
WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNLESS WE
HAVE A TRUE WORKING RELATIONSHIP
WITH MADISON AND I WANT TO BUILD
THAT.
>> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THAT
RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN BROKEN?
>> YEAH.
I DO BELIEVE THE RELATIONSHIP
HAD BEEN BROKEN.
FOR THE PAST OVER A DECADE, THAT
BROKEN RELATIONSHIP HAS PUT
MILWAUKEE IN A VERY PRECARIOUS
SITUATION FINANCIALLY AND OTHER
ASPECTS AS WELL.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE REBUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.
MILWAUKEE IS A VALUE ADDED TO
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I'M WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY
WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERS TO BRING
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION RIGHT HERE TO OUR
STATE, RIGHT HERE TO MILWAUKEE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING TO
WISCONSIN EVEN THOUGH OUR STATE
IS THE PURPLEST OF STATES, THEY
WOULDN'T BE COMING HERE IF
MILWAUKEE WEREN'T HERE.
THE CITY IS VALUE ADDED.
IT'S HIGH TIME WE WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO HAVE THEM REALIZE
THAT AS WELL.
>> SO WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU
WANT FROM THE REPUBLICAN-LED
LEGISLATURE?
>> I WANT FOR THEM TO RECOGNIZE
AGAIN THE VALUE ADDED TO THE
STATE THAT MILWAUKEE BRINGS.
I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT
MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES ARE ANCHORED BY
CITIES LIKE MILWAUKEE AND THOSE
CITIES NEED ADDITIONAL REVENUES,
NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.
MILWAUKEE IS DIFFERENT THAN
MARINETTE.
IT'S THE REASON WHY IT'S THE
ONLY FIRST-CLASS CITY IN THE
STATE.
OUR INFRA STRUCTURE, OUR
SERVICES, ARE STRESSED BEYOND
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN THE
CITY WITH VISITORS AND COMMUTERS
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THOSE
SERVICES THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS
EXPECT AND DESERVE.
<!3276
>> SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE
SUPPORT.
DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH MILWAUKEE
HAS BEEN MALIGNED BY THE
LEADERSHIP IN MADISON?
>> I THINK THERE HAD BEEN
RELATIONSHIPS AT PLAY WITH THE
FORMER LEADERSHIP HERE AND THE
LEGISLATURE AND IT'S TIME FOR
THOSE TENSIONS TO THAW.
LOOK, A STRONG, PROSPEROUS
GROWING MILWAUKEE IS GOOD FOR
WISCONSIN.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS NEED TO
REALIZE THAT TOO.
>> I READ YOU WANT TO CHANGE GUN
LAWS TO HELP STEM VIOLENCE IN
MILWAUKEE.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE GUN
LAWS?
>> AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WE DON'T
CONTROL GUN LAW.
WE JUST REACT TO IT.
IN ONE OF THE MORE RECENT YEARS,
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT COLLECTED
MORE GUNS A OFF THE STREET THANN
NEW YORK.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OUT
OF OUR CONTROL.
WE JUST RESPOND TO IT.
WE STOP FOLKS WHO HAVE GUNS.
THERE ARE SO MANY GUNS OUT
THERE.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO
SHOULDN'T HAVE GUNS IN THE FIRST
PLACE TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THEM
AS EASILY AS THEY DO.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REBUILD THIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH MADISON SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE LAWS IN PLACE
THAT WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE THOSE
GUNS DON'T GET ACCESS TO THEM.
SO I'M ASKING FOR COMMON SENSE
GUN REFORM.
THIS IS COMING FROM NOT SOMEBODY
WHO HAS BEEN JUST A VICTIM OF
GUN VIOLENCE MYSELF OR IN MY
FAMILY, BUT SOMEBODY WHO ALSO
RESPECTS THE SECOND AMENDMENT
AND SOMEBODY WHO ENJOYS GOING TO
RANGES AND SHOOTING GUNS, TOO.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO
SOME COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS HERE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS, BUT ALSO
PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AT
THE SAME TIME.
>> A KEY FOCUS OF THE CAMPAIGN
WAS ON VIOLENT CRIME IN YOUR
CITY.
ARE MORE POLICE PART OF YOUR FIX
NOTWITHSTANDING CONCERNS ABOUT
OVER-POLICING OF NEIGHBORS?
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF
POLICE.
THAT'S WHY OVER THE COURSE OF
THE PAST YEAR I THOUGHT TO
ACCEPT A FEDERAL GRANT THAT HAD
BECOME CONTROVERSIAL.
I WORKED BEHIND-THE-SCENES IN
ORDER TO GET IT PASSED.
TODAY THERE'S A DIVERSE CLASS OF
POLICE OFFICERS,
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, LATINOS,
ASIANS, MEN AND WOMEN, MOSTLY
CITY REST DEN RESIDENTS ON OUR S
PROTECTING AND SERVING.
FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE HAD
DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO RECRUIT AND
BRING ON 200 POLICE OFFICERS TO
REPLACE THE ROUGHLY SIMILAR
NUMBER THAT ARE RETIRING BECAUSE
THEY'VE REACHED 25 YEARS.
I WANT TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE
NUMBER OF POLICE IN MILWAUKEE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE IN A
POSITION WHERE PAYING FOR POLICE
IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR
MILWAUKEE, NOT WITH THE CURRENT
REVENUE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.
WE NEED PARTNERSHIP AT THE STATE
TO PAY FOR THE POLICE THAT WE
HAVE.
IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL POLICE
OFFICERS, AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO
PAY FOR THOSE AS WELL.
>> YOU SAID IT IS A NEW DAY FOR
MILWAUKEE.
HOW SO?
>> IT'S A NEW DAY IN MILWAUKEE
BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO
BUILD A NEW RELATIONSHIP,
WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR
PARTNERS IN THE STATE.
WE HAVE A GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MILWAUKEE
HAVE ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE SAFE ACROSS THE CITY,
NOT JUST IN THE PROSPERITY
NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOWNTOWN OR
THOSE THAT HUG UPON LAKE
MICHIGAN.
BUT I WANT SAFETY IN ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILWAUKEE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S
PROSPERITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS MILWAUKEE, TOO, THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I GREW UP IN.
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND BASED ON MY
LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN THE
LEAST OF THESE IN OUR COMMUNITY
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND LESS
FINANCIAL STRESS, THAT THEY
BECOME STABLE IN THEIR OWN
LIVES, THEY PASS THAT STABILITY
ONTO THEIR CHILDREN, SO THEIR
REACTION IN THE STREETS AND
SCHOOLS IS DIFFERENT.
WHEN WE GET A CRITICAL MASS OF
THAT, THAT'S HOW YOU TREAT
PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'M GLAD TO BE THE ONE LEADING
THE CHARGE.
>> CAVALIER JOHNSON, THANKS SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF MILWAUKEE'S LEADING
ORGANIZERS DID NOT ENDORSE
CAVALIER JOHNSON IN HIS RUN FOR
MAYOR.
WHY NOT?
WE ASKED ANGELA LANG, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF BLACK LEADERS
ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITY.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHY DIDN'T BLOC ENDORSE IN
THE MAYOR'S RACE?
>> YEAH.
THIS WAS NOT A DECISION THAT WE
MADE LIGHTLY, BUT GIVEN A LOT OF
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HEARD
ON DOORS, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW
BOTH CANDIDATES TALKED ABOUT
POLICING WAS A CHALLENGE FOR US
AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE
COULD GET OVER.
AND SO IN THE PRIMARY WE
RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING OUT
OF THE PRIMARY, BUT WE'RE VERY
CLEAR THAT WE WANTED TO LEAVE
THE DOOR OPEN TO ENGAGE IN A
DISCUSSION OF HOW WE FEEL SAFETY
SHOULD BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T
HEAR ANYTHING FROM EITHER
CAMPAIGN.
SO WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD.
THERE'S NOT MUCH WE COULD DO.
WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD NOW THAT
MAYOR JOHNSON IS ELECTED.
THROUGH HIS HISTORIC WIN, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE JUST
AS MUCH AS HE DID.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH HIM AND I BELIEVE MONDAY
MORNING WE WILL BE SENDING AN
EMAIL TO THE OFFICE TO REQUEST A
MEETING SO WE CAN START TO WORK
TOGETHER TO MAKE A MILWAUKEE
WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.
>> ONE YOUR REACTION TO THE
FIRST ELECTED BLACK MAYOR IN
YOUR CITY?
>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE SAID IT'S ABOUT TIME.
AND I SHARE THAT SENTIMENT.
IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND VERY
CURIOUS AND VERY ANXIOUS AND
EXCITED TO SEE HOW MAYOR JOHNSON
WORKS WITH PEOPLE LIKE THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY
BOARD AND OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE,
DAVID CROWLEY, WHO ARE ALSO
YOUNG BLACK FOLKS AS WELL.
LUCKY TO SEE ALL THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND EXCITED TO SEE
HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER TO BRING
THEIR DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND
EXPERIENCES TO ALL OF MILWAUKEE.
SO I'M EXCITED AND I THINK THAT
KIND OF SHATTERS THE CEILING A
LITTLE BIT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE
TO HAVE REPRESENTATION.
>> A LOT OF THE CAMPAIGN FOCUSED
ON VIOLENT CRIME IN MILWAUKEE.
WHEN YOU MEET WITH THE MAYOR,
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL HIM
ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE
AROUND THAT?
>> THE FIRST THING THAT WE ARE
HEARING FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND
OUR TEAM AND THOSE THAT HAVE
BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
POLICING AND CRIME AND VIOLENCE
IS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE
INVESTMENTS INTO THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE MORE AND
MORE RESOURCES TAKEN FROM THEIR
COMMUNITIES, GIVEN TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, A
LIVING WAGE JOB.
I BELIEVE IF WE'RE INVESTING IN
THOSE AREAS AND INVESTING INTO
THRIVING COMMUNITIES AND
BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND GREENSPACE
AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN THAT
IS WHAT WILL MAKE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES
TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> DO YOU EXPECT THAT YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO HAVE A CORD ON THOSE
ISSUES WITH THE MAYOR?
>> I HOPE SO.
YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THAT WE ALL
UNDERSTAND THAT CRIME IS A
CHALLENGE IN OUR CITY, BUT WE
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S A NEW DAY.
THERE'S NEW REPRESENTATION.
AND THERE'S NOW AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY,
TO ACTUALLY DREAM.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO
DREAMING WITH MAYOR JOHNSON WITH
HIS HISTORIC WIN OF HOW WE CAN
MAKE SURE EVERYONE KIND OF
UNDERSTANDS AND FEELS
REPRESENTED NOW, TOO.
>> NOW, MAYOR JOHNSON WANTS TO
RECONNECT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
LEADERSHIP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT
PRIORITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE
LEGISLATURE TREATS MILWAUKEE.
SO MANY TIMES THERE'S A LOT OF
ANTIMILWAUKEE SENTIMENT THAT
COMES OUT OF THE CAPITOL.
<!8192SO I WISH HIM WELL ON THAT
ENDEAVOR.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN.
IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I'M GLAD HE'S MAKING IT ONE OF
HIS TOP PRIORITIES.
>> PEOPLE ARE TALKING A LOT
ABOUT IT BEING A NEW DAY IN
MILWAUKEE, INCLUDING YOURSELF.
WHAT WOULD A NEW DAY LOOK LIKE
FOR YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION?
>> A NEW DAY FOR US FEELS THAT
OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING LISTENED
TO, THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
BEING INVESTED IN AND NOT
OVER-POLICED, THAT WE ARE
MEETING PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE
THROUGH CHALLENGES THROUGH A
PLACE OF LOVE AND COMMUNITY
RESTORATION INSTEAD OF THROWING
FOLKS INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM AND
PROVIDING THAT LIGHT AT THE END
OF THE TUNNEL FOR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT
BEHIND.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE RIGHT NOW IN
MILWAUKEE?
>> IT'S CHALLENGING.
I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT MILWAUKEE
IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT
INSPIRES ME AND BREAKS MY HEART.
AND YOU SEE WHERE THERE'S A LACK
OF INVESTMENT IN SOME OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
BUT YOU SEE THE RESILIENCE AND
THE BEAUTY OF THE PEOPLE HERE.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMANTS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE DESERVE
TO BE IN A THRIVING, HEALTHY AND
SAFE COMMUNITY.
>> SO LASTLY, WHAT'S YOUR
REACTION TO KETANGI BROWN
JACKSON AS SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE?
>> AN EMOTIONAL REACTION.
VERY, VERY EXCITED.
ALSO ANOTHER FIRST LONG OVERDUE.
I ACTUALLY JUST RELEASED AN
OP-ED THIS MORNING REFLECTING ON
IT WITH THE WISCONSIN EXAMINER
AND SPECIFICALLY HOW SHE WAS
TREATED AS A BLACK WOMAN AND TO
WATCH THAT HEARING AND SEE HOW
SHE WAS TREATED WAS TERRIBLE.
BUT TO FINALLY KNOW WE'VE MADE
HISTORY IS VERY EXCITING AND
LOTS OF GOOD FEELINGS AND
EMOTIONS AROUND HER OFFICIAL
CONFIRMATION NOW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANGELA LANG, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHAT DOES THE WISCONSIN
SPRING ELECTION PORTEND FOR THE
FALL ELECTION?
HOW TO MEASURE THAT WITH SUCH
LOW TURNOUT?
WE TALK NOW WITH UW-MILWAUKEE
POLITICAL SCIENTIST MORDECAI
LEE.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> THE A PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> WHAT DOES THIS PAST TUESDAY'S
SPRING ELECTION PORTEND FOR THE
FALL?
>> I'M NOT SURE IT PORTENDS VERY
MUCH STATEWIDE.
THIS WAS THE FIRST ELECTION
SINCE 2014 WHERE THERE WAS
NOTHING ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT.
THERE WAS NO SUPREME COURT, NO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
AND WHEN IT HAPPENED, WHEN THAT
HAPPENED IN 2014, ONLY ABOUT
HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VOTED.
SO IT'S HARD TO DRAW ANY
STATEWIDE CONCLUSIONS.
BUT IN TERMS OF SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN, I THINK THERE'S SOME
PRETTY STRONG NUMBERS SAYING
GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS AND GOOD
NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS BASED ON
GEOGRAPHY, WHICH IS SORT OF WHAT
WISCONSIN POLITICS IS TURNING
INTO.
>> COULD YOU UNPACK THAT A
LITTLE BIT, PLEASE?
>> WELL, THE RACE FOR MAYOR HERE
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE WAS
JUST A BLOWOUT FOR THE DE FACTO
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, CAVALIER
JOHNSON, AND HIS OPPONENT, BOB
DONOVAN, WAS AFFILIATED WITH THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THIS IS ALMOST LIKE WHAT'S
HAPPENED TO STATE SUPREME COURT
RACES.
THERE'S A DEMOCRAT AND A
REPUBLICAN.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THERE'S A D AND
AN R AFTER THEIR NAMES.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT SUCH A BLOWOUT,
MORE THAN TWO TO ONE, THAT'S
JUST REALLY A LANDSLIDE.
SO FOR DEMOCRATS IN MILWAUKEE
IT'S AN INDICATION THAT THE CITY
IS BECOMING MORE DEMOCRATIC.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT
TRIVIA AT TH TIDBIT IS THAT THED
WHITE SOUTH SIDE, BLUE COLLAR,
REAGAN DEMOCRATS, WHICH ANCHORED
HENRY MAYOR MAIER, THAT THIS WAS
THE LAST HURRAH FOR THE OLD
SOUTH SIDE.
THEY'VE RETIRED.
THEY MOVED TO THE SUBURBS.
THE OLD SIDE SIDE IS NO LONGER
THAT WHITE CONSERVATIVE
STRONGHOLD THAT OPPOSED OPEN
HOUSING WITH FATHER GROPPI.
HISPANICS ARE AS IMPORTANT AND
WHITES ARE FADING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBURBS --
>> GO AHEAD.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBURBS,
I THINK IT WAS GREAT NEWS FOR
REPUBLICANS.
THERE WAS A COURT OF APPEALS
RACE FOR SORT OF THE COLLAR
COUNTCOUNTIES THAT SURROUND MILE
COUNTY.
REPUBLICANS DID VERY WELL.
AGAIN, THERE WAS A RACE THAT WAS
THINLY DISGUISED AS A PARTISAN
RACE.
AND THE REPUBLICAN WON, BUT DE
FACTO DEMOCRAT LOST.
AFTER TRUMP SHOWED WEAKNESS IN
WAUKESHA COUNTY AND OZAUKEE
COUNTY, THAT SORT OF
DISAPPEARED.
EVERYBODY WENT BACK HOME.
AGAIN, IT WAS A DECISIVE WIN FOR
REPUBLICANS ALONG WITH THE
COUNTY EXEC DOWN IN KENOSHA
COUNTY.
SO THEY DID VERY WELL.
>> I'M GLAD YOU PICKED UP WITH
THAT BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY IS
WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU
ABOUT, THAT COURT OF APPEALS
RACE.
BUT NOW, AFTER THIS ELECTION IS
DONE, ALL EYES TURN TO PRIMARY
RACES FOR U.S. SENATE AND
GOVERNOR IN WISCONSIN.
I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE
ON THIS, WHAT YOU MAKE OF TOMMY
THOMPSON POTENTIALLY GETTING
INTO THE RACE AND RUNNING DOWN
TO MAR-A-LAGO TO MEET WITH
DONALD TRUMP.
>> THIS WILL SHAKE UP THE RACE.
HE LOVED BEING GOVERNOR AND HE
WAS SUCCESSFUL, GETTING ELECTED
TO FOUR, FOUR-YEAR TERMS,
ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T FINISH THE
LAST ONE.
BUT HE JUST LOVED BEING IN
CHARGE.
I THINK BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE
AS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE
UW SYSTEM, IT SHOWS THAT HE'S
STILL GOT ALL THE JUICES GOING
AND IT STILL REALLY LIKES TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS.
IN THAT RESPECT, NOT A
PERFORMATIVE REPUBLICAN, BUT A
PROBLEM-SOLVING REPUBLICAN.
AND SO I THINK HE'S DYING TO
RUN.
BEING 80 YEARS OLD IS NO LONGER
AN ISSUE GIVEN THE AGE OF FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE AGE OF
PRESIDENT BIDEN.
SO I THINK HE'S LIKELY TO RUN.
THE QUESTION IS IF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CHANGED OUT
FROM UNDER HIS FEET IN THE
PERIOD SINCE HE LEFT TO GO TO
GEORGE W. BUSH'S CABINET.
SO GOING TO SEE TRUMP --
>> AS FOR THE U.S. SENATE
PRIMARY, WHAT BREAKS THROUGH FOR
MANY OF THOSE CANDIDATES?
>> I THINK WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THE MILWAUKEE TV MARKET, WHICH
IS PROBABLY SOMETHING SOME OF
YOUR VIEWERS DON'T GET AS MUCH
ACCESS TO, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN
HAVING ADS AGAINST RON JOHNSON
SINCE LAST YEAR.
AND RON JOHNSON HAS BEEN UP ON
THE AIR IN MILWAUKEE TV STATIONS
SINCE HE DECLARED AT THE TURP OF
TURN OFTHE YEAR AND NOW VERY
CONSISTENTLY.
SO WE'RE SEEING IS HEAVY TV
ADVERTISING IN THE MILWAUKEE
AREA.
THEY'RE FIGHTING IT TOOTH AND
NAIL.
>> MORDECAI, MORE TO COME ON ALL
OF THIS AS WE HEAD INTO
AUGUST AND THEN NOVEMBER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US NOW.
WE WILL TALK WITH YOU SOON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THE NAME OF PARENTAL
RIGHTS, REPUBLICANS PUSHED WAY
DOWN THE BALLOT IN THE SPRING
ELECTION WORKING TO ELECT
CONSERVATIVES WHO DISFAVOR
THINGS LIKE MASKING FOR COVID
AND DISCUSSION OF RACE AND
GENDER IN THE CLASSROOM.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH ENDORSED 48
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS ARE
FOIBLOFFICIALLY NONPARTISAN.
UW-OSHKOSH PROFESSOR MICHAEL
FORD JOINS US NOW.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ARGUMENT FOR
WHY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS
SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN?
>> YEAH.
BY FAR, IT'S ABOUT
EFFECTIVENESS.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S BASED
ON THE STRUCTURE OF
PARTISANSHIP.
THAT'S HOW WE DETERMINE
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, WHO IS
THE SPEAKER.
ONE OF THE BIG STRENGTHS OF
LOCAL NONPARTISAN RACES IS WE'RE
NOT DEPENDENT ON HAVING THAT
PARTISAN CONFLICT.
WHEN YOU DO INTRODUCE THAT
CONFLICT, IT CREATES STRUCTURAL
COALITIONS THAT AUTOMATICALLY
DERAIL THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS
BEFORE IT CAN BEGIN.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO OUR
CULTURE WARS BLEEDING INTO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT?
>> YEAH.
IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE
IT'S TOTALLY DIVORCED FROM
WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN THE
CLASSROOM.
I THINK WE SAW THIS WITH THE
DEBATE OVER CRITICAL RACE
THEORY.
THE GOP PICKED UP ON THIS AS A
WAY TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS
AND REENGAGE SUBURBAN VOTERS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S
DIVORCED FROM THE REALITY OF
WHAT GOES ON IN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
>> SO YOU SPOKE TO IT A LITTLE
BIT, BUT HOW DOES PARTISAN
CONFLICT KIND OF HURT THE WORK
OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE
CHILDREN IN CLASSROOMS?
>> YEAH.
WELL, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IS
BUILT ON THIS IDEA OF CONFLICT.
SO CONFLICT IS GOOD.
EVEN POLITICS IS OKAY AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL.
BUT IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN
IT'S DIVORCED FROM ACTUAL POLICY
OR TASKS AND IT BECOMES STRICTLY
ABOUT WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON.
AND WHERE THAT'S REALLY DAMAGING
IS IT PREVENTS SCHOOL BOARDS
FROM BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE
PUBLIC THAT THEY SERVE AND
ULTIMATELY THOSE POLICIES THEY
CREATE AND THE WAY THEY MANAGE
THE SUPERINTENDENT, THAT IMPACTS
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM
AND WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING REAL
ISSUES.
>> TRUE ENOUGH.
AS TO THE ELECTION RESULTS IN
SCHOOL BOARD RACES ACROSS THE
STATE, THE EFFORT TO INSTALL
REBECCA KLEEFISCH-ENDORSED
CANDIDATES IN MILWAUKEE SUBURBS,
BUT RESULTS WERE MIXED IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE STATE.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE
EFFECTIVENESS?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY
EFFECTIVE.
LOCAL ELECTIONS HAVE A LAW OF
DIMINISHING RETURNS WITH
SPENDING.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BALANCE OF
THOSE RESULTS, CONSERVATIVES
TENDED TO DO WELL IN
CONSERVATIVE AREAS AND LIBERAL
DID WELL IN LIBERAL AREAS.
THE TAKE-AWAY WAS SUBURBAN
MILWAUKEE SHOWING THERE IS SOME
ANGLE THERE FOR TRYING TO
REATTRACT THOSE VOTERS WHO MAY
HAVE BEEN MORE CONSERVATIVE BUT
TURNED OFF BY DONALD TRUMP BACK
TO THE GOP FOLD.
>> SO YOU SAY THE EVIDE EFFORT O
REINFORCE THEIR BASE AHEAD OF
THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
DID THAT WORK?
>> I THINK IT DID.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
BROAD APPEALS TO PARENTAL
FREEDOM, MESSAGES ABOUT MASKING
AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY DIDN'T
RESONATE, BUT THIS PLAYS TO THE
GOP BASE.
>> IS THIS THE FIRST TIME WE
HAVE SEEN THIS KIND OF THING,
GOING DOWN-BALLOT AS WE
DESCRIBED IT?
>> THIS IS UNIQUELY INTENSE.
THERE ARE OTHER TIMES IN
WISCONSIN, CERTAINLY AFTER ACT
10 A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC
INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL RACES AND
WHEN COMMON CORE WAS A DEBATE
10, 15 YEARS AGO WE SAW A LITTLE
BIT OF THIS.
CERTAINLY THE INTENSITY RIGHT
NOW IS UNIQUE.
>> WAS IT JUST REPUBLICANS THIS
TIME WHO TOOK THIS TACK OR DID
DEMOCRATS ALSO POLITICIZE SCHOOL
BOARD RACES?
>> DEMOCRATS ABSOLUTELY DID.
THE NUMBERS WERE NOT AS LARGE
FOR THE DEMOCRATS, BUT CERTAINLY
THEY DID PUSH THEIR AGENDA.
AND I THINK PART OF THIS IS
FRUSTRATION WITH THEIR INABILITY
TO MAKE GAINS AT THE STATE
LEVEL.
>> SO WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW
ABOUT THESE KINDS OF POLITICAL
EFFORTS AROUND SCHOOL BOARDS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S SO
IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO EDUCATE
THEMSELVES IN WHAT'S ACTUALLY
GOING ON IN THEIR KIDS' SCHOOLS,
IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PROFESSOR MICHAEL FORD FROM
OSHKOSH, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> IT WAS OFF.
THEN IT WAS ON.
NOW IT'S OFF AGAIN, FOR NOW.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CON TRON
SHALL SURVEY ON UW'S 13
UNIVERSITIES.
ONE QUESTION FOR EXAMPLE ASKED
WHETHER THE STUDENT EVER
EXPERIENCED A NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCE LIKE GETTING A LOWER
GRADE FOR DISAGREEING ALOUD WITH
A PROFESSOR OVER A CONTROVERSIAL
TOPIC.
SOME PROVOSTS OBJECTED TO THE
SURVEY AND IT WAS PULLED.
IT WAS REINSTATED.
THE INTERIM CHANCELLOR AT
UW-WHITEWATER RESIGNED THIS WEEK
OVER ITS USE.
THE SYSTEM PULLED BACK ONCE
AGAIN AND DELAYED THE SURVEY.
THE CENTER AT UW-STOUT FUNDING
THE SURVEY IS FUNDED BY THE
CONSERVATIVE KOCH FOUNDATION AND
MENARDS FAMILY.
THEY SAY THEY PUNISH STUDENTS
WHO EXPRESS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS.
THE SURVEY NOW WILL GO OUT IN
THE FALL.
PBS WISCONSIN IS PART OF
UW-MADISON.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/hereandnow AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.