Victorious Ald. Michael McGee

What are the odds of an elected official WINNING a primary election while jailed?

My guess is the odds would be slim to none, but it happened yesterday in Milwaukee's 6th District.

From his jail cell, Milwaukee Alderman Michael McGee managed to pull off a primary victory, thanks to some incredibly loyal constituents.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Campaigning from behind bars, a defiant Milwaukee Ald. Michael McGee led eight challengers to survive Tuesday's primary election.

The first-term incumbent will face attorney Milele Coggs on the April 1 ballot for his north side seat on the Common Council.

...The outspoken McGee has rallied support in his largely African-American 6th District while antagonizing the city's power structure. He survived a recall last year, avoiding a runoff by amassing more votes than his seven challengers combined.

Less than two months later, however, McGee was under arrest, facing charges of shaking down business owners for bribes, of conspiring to have a man beaten and of buying votes in the recall campaign. He is being held without bail, a move that helped solidify support among backers who see him as a martyr.

Typical of those voters was Dorothy Carter, 76, who said: "I think he's a nice person, and I think he's been railroaded. I don't think he can do as good of a job in prison. But I think if he'd been a white man, he'd already been out of jail."

By contrast, Winona Usher, 57, said she chose Coggs because, "She has a good plan for this district. You talk about change: This district really needs change. This district needs healing."

If he is convicted of a felony in either state or federal court, McGee would be ineligible to serve. But that won't be known until after the election; his state trial is set for May 19 and the date of the federal trial has not been set. If McGee wins and is later found guilty, a special election would be needed.

Among those defeated were former Ald. Fred Gordon; School Board member Charlene Hardin; and Adel "Jack" Kheirieh, a business owner who is a key witness against McGee. Former Ald. Rosa Cameron, a felon who could not serve if elected, lost a write-in campaign.

I hope that 6th District residents have the good sense to vote for Milele Coggs on April 1.

Although McGee managed to secure enough votes to win in the primary, he only received 32% of the vote. The overwhelming majority of voters in the district expressed their desire to oust McGee. In a head-to-head race with Coggs, it's very possible she could win against incumbent McGee.

Even if McGee does win in April, the outcome of his trials could mean that McGee would be ineligible to serve as alderman.

So, the saga continues.

Let's face it. McGee's supporters won't abandon him. He's a martyr to them. I honestly believe there's absolutely nothing McGee could do that would turn his core followers against him.

Still, hope for real and effective leadership in the district is possible. Residents can voice their desire for change by voting for a law-abiding, competent woman, Milele Coggs.

I hope they learned what a mistake it was to save McGee in last year's recall election.

I have an idea for a campaign theme song for Coggs: "Won't Get Fooled Again."

Bottom line: A vote for McGee is not a vote for change. The 6th District is in dire need of change.
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BACKGROUND:

Thug Alderman Michael McGee Jr.

"Resign, 'Gatekeeper' McGee"

More posts on Michael McGee Jr.