Change We Can Believe In

I believe Common Council president Willie Hines will sail smoothly to another term. The same, however, cannot be said of County Board chairman, Lee Holloway.

Why?

Both men are black, both are Democrat. However, one is a crony, a crook, a slumlord, ethically challenged and weak, while the other is moral, competent, good and has a vision for the city.

Yeah, I said it. Even if Hines is, on occasion, a little ideologically misguided. Still he is the kind of politician who will never bring shame and embarrassment on his office. So here’s the question: Which style of leadership reflects best on Milwaukee? Which style of government do we want over the next few years?

In good time, I believe Alderman Hines will be the mayor of Milwaukee (I just need a few more years to work on him). We may not agree on many things but there is one thing that I know for certain. Willie Hines is a man of integrity. He is measured,  meticulous and good. After decades of having to choose between “tree shaking” activism and corrupt thug cronyism, it’s time for something new... something different, something boring yet effective.

Willie Hines’ style is boring. Yeah, I said it, you will never hear Alderman Hines say something stupid like “Take yo ass to church!” (He actually chastised me for using ass and church in the same sentence. Oh well, I’m provocative... and stupid...he’s not.) But you will find him in church on Sunday and in the community the rest of the week. And if you visit “da hood,” you will also see the legacy of revitalization that is taking place in his district.

So, now that McGee is a memory and Holloway will soon be a castaway, maybe the city can embrace “change we can believe in” with Milwaukee’s own version of the Chocolate Jesus.

Wow. That was wrong. See what I mean? Alderman Hines doesn’t fit the mold of a charismatic, tree shaking, civil-self-righteous, self-aggrandizing, sleazy politician...

Good!

Comments

[Patrick]

I agree with your views in Willie Hines, I was begging either he or Sheriff Clarke to challenge Barrett this time around. While I disagree with much of Alderman Hines' positions politically, he has always struck me as just a good decent person that believes he is doing the right thing for Milwaukee... And that could take him to the top.

I don't share your optimism when it comes to the thug slumloard Holloway. I know he has said that he will not run for another term on the County Board, but do you think he will be defeated as the board chairman? Even though he has physically attacked two other C.B. Supervisors, do you think the other members will have the guts to oppose him?

[corncerned]

Regional News Briefs
From the Journal Sentinel
Posted: July 18, 2008
MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Alderman accepts plea agreement
Milwaukee Ald. Ashanti Hamilton accepted a plea agreement Thursday to end a disorderly conduct case against him.

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In Municipal Court, Hamilton changed his plea from not guilty to no contest on a citation stemming from an alleged scuffle with political rival C. Orlando Owens in September 2007. In exchange, special prosecutor Roger Pyzyk agreed to drop the charge if no other incidents occur within the next six months.

Hamilton's attorney, Michael Chernin, said the alderman had witnesses supporting his version of events, but chose not to challenge the police investigation and increase city prosecution costs.