Despite demands to delay Wisconsin's spring election due to coronavirus concerns, it's still set for April 7. So on Tuesday, Milwaukee County residents will vote for the next county executive. Two state lawmakers are vying for the position: Democratic state Rep. David Crowley and Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson.
>>Meet The Milwaukee County Executive Candidates
>>What Lies Ahead For The Future Milwaukee County Executive
To learn more about each candidate, we interviewed both of them. You can listen to Larson’s interview here, and Crowley’s is below.
What are the biggest challenges facing the county?
“Right now is really about how do we make sure that we can keep Milwaukee County solvent with this coronavirus? So, the coronavirus is going to be something that we're going to be dealing with, I think, for the next few months. And when we think about the recovery, at least a year, year-and-a-half. But it's also going to be about the financial situation that we're in as Milwaukee County, which isn't unique to Milwaukee County,” Crowley says.
The county budget has been a problem for the county to balance. How does the current public health crisis exacerbate that or what is the effect?
“It's gonna put a magnifying glass on the issues that not only affect Milwaukee County but many of the different municipal counties across this state," Crowley says. "Again, we don't have the resources to deal with something like a coronavirus right now. And if we want to make sure that we're able to come up with local plans, local solutions to many of the local problems, even outside of COVID-19, we need to make sure that they have those flexibilities.”
What is one last message you want to send to voters before they head to the polls?
“I just want folks to know that this is a historical moment for Milwaukee County as an African American running for this seat. It is not historical because I'm black — it’s historical because we have the chance to really change the narrative and the trajectory of Milwaukee County. For the past 10 years, Milwaukee County has been listed as one of the most segregated places to live in the country. And if we're going to tackle that and make sure that Milwaukee County can be a leader, Wisconsin can be a destination, Milwaukee County is going to have to tackle that head-on," he says.
What do you want to know about the 2020 elections and the DNC convention? Submit your questions below.
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