"I'm not ready to concede:" Race results show Chris Moews defeated in Sheriff's race
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- On primary election day in Wisconsin, Tuesday, August 12th, the big race in Milwaukee County was for sheriff. Chris Moews challenged incumbent Sheriff David Clarke in the Democratic primary. The candidates early Wednesday morning, August 13th declared the race “too close to call” — with Chris Moews saying around midnight, he was not ready to concede the race.
Moews, around midnight Wednesday — said there are 6,000 absentee ballots to count. He has not conceded.
Just after midnight on Wednesday — race results at FOX6Now.com showed 100% of precincts reporting — Clarke with 52% and Moews with 48%.
Later Wednesday morning, the race results at FOX6Now.com showed Clarke marked as the victor in the race — with 59,191 votes (52%). The results showed Moews with 54,549 votes (48%).
The race saw a lot of interest and big spending from outside groups.
MPD Lieutenant Chris Moews cast his ballot in Milwaukee on Tuesday morning. He spent the rest of the day making phone calls to voters.
Moews has spent 20 years on the Milwaukee police force -- and throughout this campaign he touted his law enforcement experience.
The race was a battle -- with big money and tough ads. There was a lot of interest from outside groups.
Ads attacked Sheriff David Clarke as a polarizing figure -- criticizing his stance on gun control. Moews has also taken heat -- with some accusing him of making backroom deals on immigration.
Moews held his election night gathering at The Hamilton on Milwaukee's East Side. He called this campaign a culmination of work over the last two years.
Four years ago, Moews lost to Sheriff David Clarke by just six percentage points. On Tuesday, August 12th, he was hoping for victory.
He said he wasn't surprised by the national attention this race has gotten.
"I can see why people might be taking a big interest in this race. But after this race is over, if it goes the way I want it to go, I can guarantee I won't be that polarizing figure. I'll just be getting down to work and doing the job that needs to be done here," Moews said.
The following is Chris Moews’ biography, as posted on his website: MoewsForSheriff.com:
Chris Moews (pronounced “Mays”) is a lieutenant with the Milwaukee Police Department. Currently he is the Executive Officer to the Captain at District 7. Prior to that he supervised a team of detectives in the North Investigations Division, investigating, solving and working to prevent violent crime. Under his leadership, his team had one of the highest crime-solving rates in the city.
Moews has been a police officer for 20 years, and has earned numerous awards and recognition. He is a sought-after instructor, and commands a major incident response team. Moews currently serves as a board member of the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators and previously served on the board of the Milwaukee Police Association.
Lt. Chris Moews is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee County. He and his wife, also a police officer, and their two children live in Milwaukee’s Jackson Park neighborhood. Moews graduated from Marquette University High School and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice from UW-Milwaukee. The Moews family attends St. Alphonsus in Greendale, where Chris previously taught confirmation classes.
The following is Moews’ message to voters as posted on his website:
“I’m a lieutenant with the Milwaukee Police Department and I am running to be the next sheriff of Milwaukee County.
We need to have a professional law enforcement official that focuses on public safety, not politics.
The incumbent unfortunately has failed as a law enforcement officer, a steward of public dollars and a community role model.
We need a sheriff who is focused on countywide law enforcement issues. In addition to the ongoing task of managing the jail the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office provides courtroom security, community safety in parks and other public places, and executes our highway patrol. There are also a number of responsibilities that used to fall to the sheriff but have been lost in recent years.
The sheriff must play a productive role in witness protection, coordination of a smart, effective drug-interdiction strategy, and promotion of public policy that enhances smart policing.
Most importantly, as an elected official, the sheriff should conduct himself with the utmost dignity, and help facilitate cooperation between our urban and suburban law enforcement partners. And the sheriff should respect deputies, treating them as partners, not adversaries.
The incumbent has engaged in theatrics and grandstanding, chasing headlines and putting his own needs over the needs of the citizens he swore to protect. He’s bullied his officers. And he’s pushed an extreme political agenda instead of prioritizing public safety, alienating most Milwaukee County residents.
We need new leadership in the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. We need a smarter approach to today’s challenges. We need a new sheriff in Milwaukee County, and as concerned citizens I hope you will join with me in making Milwaukee County safer.
I hope to earn your support on August 12, 2014. Thank you.”
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