Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announces bid for re-election in 2016

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett told potential contributors Tuesday that he's running for a fourth term, officially entering a crowded race that features two city aldermen who are deeply critical of Barrett's policies.

Barrett, who was first elected as mayor in 2004 and has since run two failed bids for governor, told his supporters that the economic recession and Republicans in state government for stacking the deck against Milwaukee.

"We all love this city. Every neighborhood. Every block," Barrett wrote in the email. "Working together, we can continue our fight back and make Milwaukee the city we all know it deserves to be."

Barrett was not available for interviews about his decision, campaign spokesman Patrick Guarasci said.

Six candidates, including Aldermen Joe Davis and Bob Donovan, are running to unseat Barrett. The two Common Council members said Barrett has focused on downtown development while ignoring the needs of the city's struggling neighorhoods.

Tuesday was the first day candidates could collect signatures to get on the 2016 ballot. The must collect at least 1,500 valid signatures before the end of the month.

Barrett's third term has been one of contrasts: new skyscrapers and investment in the downtown core as the city set a record-high number of homicides in 2015.

"I believe we need more than just a downtown mayor," Donovan told FOX6 News. "We need a mayor for our neighborhoods."

Davis and Donovan agree on the three biggest issues facing the city: jobs, education and public safety.

Davis said Barrett had failed "dismally" to reduce the city's poverty rate. More than 29 percent of Milwaukee residents are impoverished, a number that has not improved during Barrett's terms in office, Davis said.

"He spent all this time running for governor twice in the state while the city was falling apart," Davis said. "The city of Milwaukee is still sitting by, investing in 15 percent of the city – which is downtown – while 85 percent of the city is really challenged."

Both men criticized Barrett over the city's spike in homicides -- 137 people have been killed this year alone. Donovan has called on Barrett to allocate money to hire additional police officers immediately, while Davis wants to approve new contracts with the police union before hiring more officers.

The two aldermen both criticize Barrett's controversial, slow-moving plan for a downtown streetcar, saying that it's proof the mayor has lost sight of the needs in the neighborhoods.

"Getting people to the jobs where the jobs are, that to me is what’s critical, not spending $125 million on a rich man’s folly downtown," Donovan said.

Donovan said he would work with Milwaukee County to expand bus routes. Davis said the next mayor should work with leaders in the suburbs and Madison to develop a regional mass transit plan.

Barrett was first elected mayor in 2004 and was re-elected with more than 70 percent of the vote in both 2008 and 2012. The Democrat lost to Republican Gov. Scott Walker in a historic recall race in 2012.

In his email, Barrett says he'll work to create more family-supporting jobs and continue the battle against gun violence and build partnerships between police and the neighborhoods -- adding: "We should be proud of the things we’ve done to move Milwaukee ahead, from turning neighborhoods hit hard by the economic downturn into centers for revitalization -- with $5 billion of economic investment -- to building up our neighborhoods and battling the scourge of gun violence."

Voters will head to the polls for the February primary, and the top two candidates will advance to the April general election.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of mayoral candidates.

CLICK HERE to read Mayor Tom Barrett's email to supporters.