Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former Ald. Bob Donovan advanced to the April election to lead the state’s largest city after finishing in the top two spots of the seven-person field.
Johnson said in a victory speech he wants to make Milwaukee the best city in the world.
To do that, he said he wants to tackle the rise in violent crime, reckless driving, low wages, declining population, the continuing pandemic and climate change.
Johnson, who also serves as Milwaukee Common Council president, said he wants to work with state lawmakers to get more state police help in Milwaukee and increase the state aid sent to the city. He also vowed to push for the state to allow Milwaukee to levy a sales tax increase to pay for more police along with other uses.
“I’m under no illusion that the answer is simply more cops on every corner,” he said. “There are no simple solutions, there are none.”
He said other pieces of the puzzle include giving youth alternatives to violence, as well as providing drivers ed to combat reckless driving and funding violence prevention efforts.
Johnson added he wants to increase the city’s population by increasing the number of family-supporting jobs in manufacturing, technology, finance and urban areas, which he said would also build a stronger middle class.
According to unofficial results, Johnson was at nearly 42 percent of the vote in the seven-person field, while Donovan was at 22.3 percent.
Dem state Sen. Lena Taylor was at 12.8 percent, while Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic was at 12.2 percent and Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas was at 9.6 percent.
Donovan at his election night party asked party goers to “jump on the Donovan bandwagon” and join him in his effort to give Milwaukee safer streets, better schools and good jobs.
The former southwest side alderman told supporters he was outspent nearly 10-to-1 by the acting mayor. Donovan added it’s clear to him which candidate has the support of special interests.
“He certainly has the support of the big money’s special interest,” he said. “But my question to you and my question to every citizen across Milwaukee: Who’s going to elect the next mayor, money or the people?”
Donovan also said his record of getting things done and working outside the box as alderman will resonate with voters on election day. But after the primary results, “we can all allow ourselves a night of celebration.”
“Well, I will say this: Tomorrow morning we roll up our sleeves and get back to work and let’s get Milwaukee headed in the right direction.”
See more on the election at the Milwaukee mayoral page.
