Alderman Willie C. Wade, former District 7 alderman on Milwaukee’s North Side, served from 2003 to early 2016, was reelected three times and claims the distinction of being the only alderman in city history who defeated four one-time aldermen in an election. On December 1st, 2015, Wade announced that he would not seek re-election and would retire at the end of his term. According to his official biography, Wade has lived in the 7th District for more than 40 years and spent more than 27 years working in the community as a mentor, coach and teacher. He attended Milwaukee’s Hamilton and Riverside (for its human services career specialty program) high schools. He attended Armstrong State College in Savannah, Georgia and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He has a long history as a government worker and union member. Prior to his election, Wade spent 19 years as an employee of Milwaukee Public Schools, including 15 years working with special education students. He was a member of Service Employees International Union for 10 years and is a longtime member of Milwaukee Teachers Union. He currently serves on 14 committees or boards including those for the Survive Alive House, Local Initiative Support Corporation, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and the Environmental Justice Task Force for the Advisory Committee for the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Wade’s official bio also notes that he created a college scholarship fund in 2003 for inner city youth which has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships, and started a “Reading Wednesday” program in 2005 where he goes out to city schools, reads to younger students, and teaches a civics class for older students to promote literacy Now in his fourth term as alderman, Wade is Vice Chair of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee and is a member of the Community & Economic Development and Public Works Committees. Wade claims credit for attracting more than $68 million worth of development in the 7th Aldermanic District during his time in office. Wade was among those aldermen who criticized the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for its coverage of how the Milwaukee Police Department reports crime. Wade has developed a hotline to report vandalism to vacant buildings in the 7th District. Concerned about drugs and gangs, Alderman Wade commented on January 2012 homicides in Milwaukee. In 2010 Alderman Wade noted serious health issues in homes including mold and flood damages and called upon neighbors to check in on elderly neighbors. Wade made news in 2010 for a riff with MPS officials at a basketball game when he refused to remove his hat. In a 2009 dispute over public art, Alderman Wade claimed he wouldn’t pay 50 cents for the Mona Lisa. Back to the full file.
Pleasant Street Lift Bridge Plaque
The recently unveiled Pleasant Street Lift Bridge plaque. Listed parties include Tom Barrett, Willie Hines, Ashanti Hamilton, Joe Davis, Nik Kovac, Robert Bauman, Jim Bohl, Milele Coggs, Willie Wade, Robert Donovan, Robert Puente, Michael Murphy, Joseph Dudzik, Jose Perez, Terry Witkowski, Tony Zielinski, Grant Langley, Martin Matson, Spencer Coggs, Ghassan Korban, and Jeffrey Polenske.
