Yesterday, the New York Times gave attention to Milwaukee's 6th District aldermanic race, "From Behind Bars, Milwaukee Alderman May Be Re-elected."
Michael McGee's story was perfect for the Times. It has elements of racism, oppression, and injustice in a crime-ridden area of a segregated city -- a jailed alderman pleading not guilty to a litany of charges. That's enough to make any lib drool.
But the story didn't have the perfect ending. McGee didn't win re-election.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Jailed Milwaukee Ald. Michael McGee's legal fate awaits a pair of trials, but his political future was settled Tuesday when voters ousted him in favor of challenger Milele Coggs.
The defeat, which defied the expectations of many, comes about seven weeks before McGee faces the first of two trials, on state charges of conspiring to have a man beaten and various election violations.
A second trial, on federal charges of shaking down business owners in his district, will follow in June.
Despite the pending trials and a string of other controversies, McGee ran first in the Feb. 19 primary and won strong support Tuesday from some voters, including ones aiming to protest a system that has kept him behind bars for the past 10 months.
Coggs, the latest generation in a well-known political family, won one of the most unusual elections in city history. Instead of focusing on McGee, she repeatedly said she was running on her own experience.
"There has been a physical vacancy at City Hall and there are a lot of needs that need to be addressed," Coggs said at Coffee Makes You Black coffeehouse, where about 150 supporters gathered Tuesday.
"I've worked within the community my whole life and my family has been entrenched in the community," Coggs said. "So while some may be disappointed with my opponent's loss, they know they will still be well-served by me."
...In a statement issued before the results, McGee said he expects to be exonerated but did not say whether he expected a win.
"Wherever this road may lead, I want my constituents to know and believe that every decision I made was in the best interest of the 6th District," McGee said.
Just over a year ago, McGee won a resounding 64% of the vote in a crowded field in turning back a recall effort - an election that seemed to secure his place in office.
Now, he is out.
This election proves that there is hope for change in the central city.
The people of the 6th District finally rejected thug McGee.
That is good news.
2 comments:
This is GREAT news. To say I was shocked that a person could even run for office from a jail cell was an understatment. Had he won, I think I would have lost all faith in our gov't.
McGee's defeat does restore my faith in the people of the 6th District.
They voted for much needed change.
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