Chris Abele
Friend – When I took office five years ago, one of my first big decisions was to appoint a Director for the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS provides a wide range of life-sustaining and life-saving services to children and adults through age 60, and its customers are among our community’s neediest and most vulnerable citizens.
I chose Hector Colon because of his strong background in human services, government administration, leadership skills – and most importantly – his passion and commitment to public service.
Since he was confirmed by the County Board of Supervisors in 2011 and 2012, DHHS has achieved some remarkable outcomes under Hector’s leadership:
* Ending a 30-year waitlist for people who need longterm care supports to live in the community
* Decreased chronic homelessness by 75 percent
* Ending a 12-year waiting list for low-income housing assistance
*Transitioning hundreds of people with mental illness and intellectual disabilities out of institutionalized settings and into community living arrangements
* Reforming our juvenile justice services that has led to better outcomes for our community’s at-risk youth.
We have to continue to move forward and build on our successes. On September 14th, 2016, despite an outpouring of support from community leaders like Mayor Tom Barrett and former Governor Jim Doyle, and advocacy groups including Disability Rights Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Urban League, and United Community Center, the County Board’s Health and Human Needs Committee voted 3-2 to reject Hector’s confirmation. I need your help today.
Please contact your County Supervisor before the full County Board votes on September 22nd and ask him or her to support the confirmation of Hector Colon. DHHS is poised for bigger and better things in the years ahead, and Hector is the leader we need to make those things happen.
Please call your County Supervisor at 414-278-4222, or online at http://www.findyourcountysupervisor.com/search.aspx
I sincerely appreciate your help.
All the best,
Chris Abele
Milwaukee County Executive