By Mrinal Gokhale
Mayor Tom Barrett celebrates his fourth victory in the election at La Perla. Photo by Mrinal Gokhale.
On the night of the April 5 at 8:00 p.m., La Perla’s bar area was packed with community members, news media and local politicians. Attendees enjoyed a free buffet of chicken chimichangas, tortillas and discount margaritas, all while keeping their eyes on the television screen that displayed election results. In the front of the room was a podium with a sign reading “Tom Barret for Mayor.”
This night celebrated Tom Barrett’s re-election as the mayor of Milwaukee. Barrett, who ran against Alderman Bob Donovan, won 70 percent of the votes and will serve his fourth term as mayor.
Barrett and his wife arrived at about 9:30 p.m., greeted some attendees and stepped up to the podium to express their gratitude. Behind the couple stood some of Barrett’s employees and campaign volunteers, each holding a sign that said “Tom Barrett for Mayor.“
Barrett began by thanking his voters and talking about some of his accomplishments ever since he was first elected in 2008. First, he said he intended to cut Milwaukee’s teenage pregnancy rate in half since he was elected, which has been accomplished. The audience clapped, and he then emphasized his next important point: increasing Milwaukee employment.
“In the end of 2015, more Milwaukee residents had jobs than at the end of any other year dating back to 2001,” he said.
He added that poverty is an issue in Milwaukee, and the next challenge is helping individuals find family sustaining jobs. He feels that no one working full time hours should still be in poverty, and believes wages are a problem in Milwaukee.
“We need to work with private sectors so people can have jobs to support their families. We cannot write off a significant part of the city, and I won’t do that.”
Applause followed and then he said it’s important to improve the criminal justice system to reduce crime in Milwaukee, including among young people. This is where he feels it’s important to “work together,” and said that the city’s summer youth employment program, Earn and Learn, is one positive step.
“We will continue the summer youth employment program,” he began. “I am proud that our Earn and Learn program has put 25,000 young people to work. It’s my goal that every person in this region and city remember their first job.”
One attendee, Giulianna Sutkiewicz, is the executive director at the Marquette chapter of WYSE, also known as Women and Youth Supporting Eachother. Because she works in a field that allows middle school girls to receive mentorship from female college students, she hopes Barrett will improve life for Milwaukee youth.
“I mentor young girls in Milwaukee’s north side. The reduction in teen pregnancy is a huge development because it allows girls to graduate school, especially in low income, minority populated areas,” she said. At the end of his speech, Barrett and his wife stepped off the podium together and greeted some more attendees before leaving.