Two hot-button issues, one vote: Milwaukee Co. Board overrides Abele's vetoes
MILWAUKEE -- Two hot-button issues with lots of money attached to them went before the Milwaukee County Board on Wednesday, November 18th. But in a twist, they were addressed with one single vote.
The full board came to order on Wednesday to tackle County Executive Chris Abele's veto over adding $4 million into the County Sheriff's budget -- and implementing a fish passage at the Estabrook Dam. But after voting to suspend the rules, a majority voted to combine the issues into one vote.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander
"But we should not be allowing a majority of this body to simply say we're going to force everybody to vote on two items together; that we would vote differently on," said Supervisor Deanna Alexander.
The reason for tying the two together -- while the $4 million for the Sheriff's Office was "override proof," the other issue was not. For many it was a matter of principle.
Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan
"If we don't stand up for the legislative branch, who will?" asked Supervisor John Weishan.
Many of the supervisors were angered by the county executive using what they call a Vanna White method to pick out letters through a piece of legislation to come up with something totally different -- striking out all the rest. In one example, the remaining words read in part, "demolishing the dam."
"We've voted against these Vanna White vetoes as long as I've been on the board," said Weishan.
The override passed with one "no" vote and one abstention. But several supervisors clarified their vote.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic
"A vote to restore $4 million of $9 million or more that was cut in public safety funding is not an endorsement for who is at the head of that department," said Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic.
Dimitrijevic was referring to Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke. Clarke issued the following statement in the wake of the board's override:
"The County Board did what they could to make a dent in the almost $10 million structural deficit that Abele built into his budget. The $4 million they restored will help close some of that deficit. The supervisors saw through the politics being played with public safety by County Executive Abele.
"This was not about increasing the budget, it was about repairing the nearly $10 million deficit. It still leaves work to do. The sheriff will continue to work with members of the County Board to enhance public safety in Milwaukee County."
FOX6 News reached out to the office of County Executive Chris Abele for comment, but have not heard back yet.