Christopher Wiken Seeking To Replace Alderman Terry Witkowski In 2016 Over Street Car Vote

Witkowski is the first Milwaukee Alderman to be challenged in 2016 over the Street Car controversy by businessman Wiken, owner of the Packing House Restaurant.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 23, 2015

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, businessman Christopher Wiken, 45, owner of the Packing Housing Restaurant announced in the Stop the Milwaukee Street Car Facebook page that he is a viable candidate for alderman and is challenging incumbent Alderman Terry L. Witkowski from the 13 Aldermanic District in the 2016 election. Wiken says that Ald. Witkowski failed to listen and return calls from his constituency in the district who were opposed to the $124M Street Car Project. After numerous attempts to contact Ald. Witkowski, he never responded or returned calls concerning the Street Car issue, according to Wiken.
The Milwaukee Common Council voted 9-6 to approved the Street Car Project and Ald. Witkowski voted in favor.

Wiken stated, "The voters of the district deserve an elected official who represents their interests, understands the needs of their community, will listen to them and not be bullied by outside interests. Many of Milwaukee's elected representatives were "tone deaf" to the needs of the city and its voters."
Wiken added, Milwaukee's high crime rate, furloughing of police officers, brown-outs of firefighters, streets cratered with potholes and a public school system which fails to achieve a satisfactory graduation rate amongst issues are more important to the city than a "downtown trolley route."

Wiken at the age of 18 became a St. Francis Alderman.