Fred Kessler

Gov. Evers Order Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Former State Rep. Fred Kessler

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Honors Former State Rep. Fred Kessler

Supervisor Wasserman Statement on the Passing of Fred Kessler

Bernie Sanders to Host Private Brunch in Milwaukee

Event canceled after publication.

12 Judges Endorse Molly Gena for Municipal Judge

Twelve current and former Milwaukee area judges endorse Molly Gena for Municipal Judge.

Johnson Names Former Deputy City Attorney To Fire & Police Commission

Miriam Horwitz would be commission's ninth member, fulfilling mayor's campaign pledge.

Kessler Resigns From Fire-Police Board

Retired judge's resignation delays mayor's push to create full, 9-member Fire & Police Commission.

Mandela Barnes Earns Over 100 Endorsements from Wisconsin Elected Officials in Race for U.S. Senate

Barnes Has Built an Unparalleled Statewide Coalition to Defeat Ron Johnson

Board Takes Over Redistricting, Rejects Independent Effort

Board rejected third and final map from its Independent Redistricting Committee.

Independent Committee Submits Final Map for Supervisor Districts

But independence of the Independent Redistricting Committee is now in question, as county board could face lawsuits.

So Much For An Independent Redistricting Process

County committee rejects its own independent redistricting committee's recommendations.

Hispanic Districts Key to Board Redistricting

Current Hispanic districts potentially run afoul of 1965 Voting Rights Act.

New Map For Supervisor Districts Submitted

But independent committee made no effort to protect incumbents. How will board vote?

Supervisors Create Independent Redistricting Committee

An historic first. But six retired judges must act fast to create new legislative maps.

Committee Loves New FPC Nominees

Ramey, Kessler and Fallone draw unanimous support from council members.

Barrett Replacing FPC Chair, Vice Chair

Three new appointments by mayor would reshape the Fire & Police Commission.

Hintz Announces Office Staff Changes

Can Wisconsin Create Fair District Maps?

Former Republican State Sen. Dan Kapanke admits gerrymander, calls for fair maps.

Chris Larson Earns More Endorsements than Other Candidates Combined

John Norquist’s 70th Birthday Party

A host of Milwaukeeans and former city officials attend gala party in Chicago.

Brett Blomme for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Announces List of Early Endorsements

“I am so honored to have earned the support of these great leaders.”

Contribution to Nik Kovac of $100

A New Generation of Political Leaders

GenXers and Millennials are replacing Baby Boomers in political office.

Contribution to Bob Peterson of $50

Contribution to Shyla Deacon of $100

Streetcar Opens to Public

"This is your assignment: ride the streetcar," says Mayor Barrett.

All the Election Data You Want

It was one for the history books, with many surprising results and newcomers.

23 Election Winners and Losers

Beyond the vote totals, who were the other winners and losers in yesterday’s election?

Women’s March WI Endorses Nikiya Dodd for 5th District Alderman

"I am so humbled to have earned the endorsement of Women's March WI."

Milwaukee Area Unions Endorse Nikiya Dodd for 5th District Alderman

"As a State Senator and a County Supervisor I proudly stood with workers and their unions."

4th Street Rededicated Vel R. Phillips Ave.

A who's who ceremony of politicians and candidates turns out to honor legacy of Vel Phillips.

Walker Avoids Harley Issue at Parades

Governor declines to criticize Trump in his July 4 appearances.

Democrats Rejected Redistricting Reform

Legislative leaders rejected reforms proposed in 2009-2010 session.

No Choice in 36% of Legislative Races

Gerrymandering and decline in number of candidates leaves 2.5 million residents with no choice.

New Federal Program Could Help City

Opportunity Zones law allows tax incentives for distressed areas.

GOP Legislative Districts Heavily White

Republican assembly districts are up to 96% white, senate districts as high as 95% white.

Is State Elections Process “At Risk”?

Elections Commission, legislators, predict problems if staff not restored.

Whitford Plaintiffs in Historic Map-rigging Case Rally in Advance of U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument

The state is appealing that ruling in order to protect legislative gains made by the majority party in Wisconsin despite elections in which they won fewer votes.

Contribution to Tom Barrett of $100

Bill Lets Some Criminal Records Be Expunged

Rep. Goyke’s bill gets bipartisan support, allows retroactive expungement of youthful convictions.

How Much Do DOJ Civil Suits Cost?

Bill requires state AG to disclose cost of many suits against federal government.

Big Agriculture Rewards Legislators

Industry wants high capacity wells, gives $220,000 to key committee members.

Contribution to Cavalier Johnson of $50

Senator David Craig Authors Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Legislation

This legislation shares many of the reforms sought at the federal level by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner in the DUE PROCESS ACT OF 2016.

Assembly Dems Point Way to Reform

Their Clean Elections Act seeks to fix broken campaign finance law.

Mandela Barnes Announces Key Community Endorsements

Key Community Leaders and More Progressive Organizations Endorse New Leadership They Can Count On

Darrol Gibson Announces Impressive Slate of Endorsements Including Congresswoman Gwen Moore

Darrol is the only candidate running for a seat in the Wisconsin State Legislature this fall to receive a primary endorsement from Congresswoman Moore.

Pourman’s Used To Be Sausage Factory

Yet it's been a tavern for more than a century. This is truly old Milwaukee.

State Representative Fred Kessler Endorses Marisabel Cabrera for State Assembly

Current member of Assembly and former judge adds to growing list of support

Corrections Officials Face Community on Lincoln Hills

Attendees demand accountability, action, in wake of Lincoln Hills scandal.

Contribution to David Crowley of $200

Ready to Work

I am looking forward to serving the interests of district residents on Milwaukee's Common Council.

Contribution to Johnny Thomas of $100

State Senator Chris Larson Blasts Abele for Flawed Bucks Deal

“To be clear, before he walked in the room, County taxpayers were on the hook for zero extra dollars."

Contribution to Ashanti Hamilton of $50

Can Larson Beat Abele?

Democratic insiders handicap the race, which may come down to turnout.

Representatives Brostoff, Bowen, Kessler, and Sinicki Take Stand Against Legislation Attacking Milwaukee Taxpayers, Local Control

Assembly Bill 885 mandates a government takeover of Milwaukee County’s debt collection efforts.

Contribution to Cavalier Johnson of $100

Contribution to Tom Barrett of $500

Can Auto Redistricting End Gerrymandering?

A software programmer devises a way to eliminate political bias.

Gwen Connolly continues to garner endorsements in race for Branch 44

She has previously announced the endorsement of hundreds of judges, attorneys, elected officials, and community leaders.

Assembly Democrats Urge Gov. Walker to Veto Assembly Bill 387 and Assembly Bill 388

Bills Will Have a Devastating Impact on Wisconsin’s Tradition of Clean, Open and Transparent Government

Contribution to Tom Barrett of $50

Stories Legislators Tell Each Other

Sometimes personal stories told by legislators trump statistics or sound-bite speeches.

The Most Gerrymandered State in America

Study shows Wisconsin most gerrymandered in 42 years. Case is filed in federal court.

Democrats push for changes on Bucks arena deal

Military Spending Not BadgerCare Real Threat to Wisconsin Budget

Over 25% of Walker’s budget proposal comes from the federal government.

Are Abrahamson’s Days as Chief Justice Numbered?

Constitutional amendment on April referendum would result in her being replaced as chief justice. Even if it fails, her salary will be reduced.

Rep. Frederick Kessler and Judge Joan Kessler endow University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scholarship fund

State Rep. Frederick Kessler and his wife, Judge Joan Kessler, are donating $300,000 to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Low-Turnout Election Had Big Results

For first time, voters could elect two female candidates to top state-wide offices.

Representative Katrina Shankland Endorses Jonathan Brostoff for Assembly

Brostoff has most endorsements from state legislators of any in the race

Bipartisan drone bill signed into law

Today, Governor Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 196, the Drone Privacy Protection Act, into law.

Bipartisan drone legislation passes Senate

Bill to protect citizens’ privacy headed to Governor

Republicans Push for “Supermajority” on Tax Hikes

Constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds majority could radically change state government.

We Don’t Want Your Stinking Drones

A (gasp) bipartisan bill to protect privacy from drones raises interesting issues.

Supervisor Khalif Rainey Expresses Outrage Over bill To Allow MPD To Conduct Its Own Investigations When Prisoners Die in Their Custody

Rainey said it was “outrageous” that under the bill other police departments would be investigated by the state Department of Justice or an agency outside the county in case of prisoner deaths.

Jonathan Brostoff announces candidacy for Wisconsin State Assembly

New Leadership for a New Milwaukee

The Other Mandela

The fundraiser for Rep. Mandela Barnes, just two days before his namesake Nelson Mandela died, had a big turnout.

Bradley Prizes Go to Millionaires

Roger Ailes and Mitch Daniels were among four men awarded $250,000 each by the Milwaukee foundation for "unflinching" conservatism.

Who Will Run Against Walker?

The list of possible candidates isn't long, as discussions at the state Democratic convention made clear.

Bail Bond Bill Will Create Debtor’s Prisons

Why are Republicans pushing a bill opposed almost unanimously by criminal justice professionals?

Julia Taylor’s East Side Chateau

The GMC leader lives in a home long occupied and greatly modified -- with lots of plumbing! -- by Fred and Joan Kessler.

Tammy Baldwin Comes to Town

Baldwin offers an insider's look at the U.S.Senate. And Milwaukee Buck Samuel Dalembert buys a LOT of wine.

Every Politician in Town

Well, not quite, but the City's Birthday Party had a big turnout of politicians and insiders.

Evers Vs. Pridemore

The battle between State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers and challenger Don Pridemore.

Rep. Barca announces Democratic committee assignments for upcoming legislative session

Today Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) announced the Assembly Democratic members of the standing and joint committees for the 2013-2014 legislative session.

RTA Will Be a Last Minute Decision

The vote on the future of regional transit that was scheduled for a vote by the Wisconsin State Assembly on Tuesday didn't actually happen, but a lot of small actions leading up to it did.

State Elections Board Responds to Complaint Against Walker

John Weishan and Gerry Broderick filed an official complaint today with the Wisconsin State Elections Board against Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.

Riemer: “Ready to Run”

This terse note from Riemer almost sounds like a Bill Christofferson soundbite, which means it's a good one.

Plale Recall Drive Begins

Can a group of south side political activists pull themselves together enough to acquire 13,212 signatures to force a recall election against Sen. Jeff Plale? Rep. Jon Richards said he doubts it. “This thing is going nowhere,” says Rep. Josh Zepnick. “These people are so lazy! They’ve taken out a newspaper ad asking people to come by and sign a recall petition. Who is going to do that?” True enough. To win an election, you’ve got to knock on doors, post signs in windows and do all kinds of grass-rooted activities. There is scant evidence of this in the Plale recall attempt, and absolutely no evidence of it in the northern fringes of Plale’s district, including Brady Street and the East Side. That hasn’t stopped Plale from printing up thousands of football schedules that he is handing out at every turn. The South Milwaukeean made the journey to St. Rita’s Church last week to attend the Brady Street Association monthly meeting where he was asked about the recall. “They’ve got until September 7th to get the signatures to recall me,” Plale told the audience. When told there seemed to be no effort on the East Side to circulate petitions, Plale said, “well, these people wouldn’t know how to find Brady Street.” Plale was also in the Brady Street area for what the neighborhood hopes is an annual Artisinal Food Festival. The gig was held Sunday, July 25th, and Plale was there along with his schedules. The recall effort against him stemmed from his crucial vote to uphold Governor Doyle’s veto of a republican-sponsored measure to limit property tax increases. Plale says the upcoming plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, (TABOR) is similarly flawed, and a potential recipe for disaster. He cites Colorado, a state that has enacted similar provisions into its laws and is now in the midst of its worst fiscal crisis ever. Amendment on the Run The legislature republicans spent the last unedifying session promoting the agenda of Gays, Guns and Gambling. The Madison gang came up with loads of goofy legislation, none of which could sustain a veto by the governor. Leave it to this group to be able to reconvene and pass a constitutional amendment, no less, in just one week. This was the decision of Sen. Mary Panzer, the republican leader who had earlier been criticized for not rushing a Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights law through the Solomonic deliberations of the nation’s most august lawmakers. But, as soon as she faced a primary challenge from Rep.Glenn Grothman, an ambitious fellow republican who covets her senate seat, Panzer decided to schedule a vote for this week. Then, the legislature can go home and come back next year to vote again. Then, finally, the matter will be put to public vote in a referendum, if it is still alive. But, if the legislature does not act by August 5th, the whole procedure would have to be repeated in yet one […]

Selig Take A Hit

Washington Post Trashes Commissioner and Journal Communications. Plus: The Mea Culpa of Charles J. Sykes and Thompson’s Boycott of Miller Park.

Pratt’s “Reimbursement” Mystery Money

Acting Mayor Pockets $7,500 with no explanation

The Milwaukee School Board’s Incumbent Protection Plan

Consultant Fred Kessler drew up a redistricting plan that would carve out a Hispanic school board district, but almost no one on the board seems to support the idea.