More than 1,500 signatures turned into election commission to recall Alderman James Witkowiak.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 22, 2011
Milwaukee - On Monday, the Milwaukee Election Commission confirmed that more the 1,500 signatures to recall Alderman James Witkowiak had been turned in just before the 5:00 p.m. deadline.
The election commission has at least 31 days to make a decision, if there are enough of the required 25% or 1,040 signatures to proceed with a special primary election in May, if two or more candidates are running. The required percentage is from the total votes cast in a prior aldermanic election.
Witkowiak has ten days to review and challenge the signatures. The petitioners have five days to rebuttal and Witkowiak two days to respond to the rebuttal and within 14 days the commission must decide, if there is sufficient signatures to proceed with an election.
Once the commission confirms there are sufficient signatures, an election will be held in six weeks on a Tuesday.
The recall petition was filed by Mirna Santiago who lives in the 12th Aldermanic District and her daughter the recall treasurer Malinda Meller who lives outside of the district. She claims and alleges Alderman Witkowiak has used law enforcement resources in an attempt to close businesses and eliminate jobs...Witkowiak making false statements and using his staff Mike McGuire for political purposes and engaging to "eliminate jobs," according to the petition January 21 filing statement.
In January, JSOnline reported that Witkowiak's recall was sparked by the Mill Valley Recycling controversy. Mill Valley filed a claim of notice with the City of Milwaukee that it plans to sue and alleges Witkowiak along with city officials conspired to damage the scrap metal company. The company sought a city permit to store and crush junk cars, which would compete for city business now held by Miller Compressing, according to JSOnline. Witkowiak has denied those allegations.
Witkowiak had been reviewing complaints by police and residents about patrons disruptive and uncontrolled behavior while leaving nightclubs and taverns in the Walker's Point area. Walker's Point in located in the South side where the predominately Hispanic community resides, Milwaukee police from the 2nd District have been cracking down on nightclub strips in where patrons leaving clubs at closing time cause disruptive nuisance, traffic jams and fights. Almost every Sunday after 2:00 a.m. police block off traffic along S. 5th Street between W. National Ave. to W. Bruce St. to secure the area while patrons exit nightclubs. Just last weekend, at least five police squads blocked off S. 5th Street once again.
Last year in April, police reported that teens exiting Club Sugar a non-alcoholic venue were gathering at a gas station and blocking the business. Their out of control behavior was causing a nuisance and impeding traffic flow along S. 1st St. after closing time. Residents in the area had numerous complaints about teens engaging in disruptive behavior, according to police.
Witkowiak says, he plans to review the petitions and is confident that he will be reelected.
The recall election is expected to draw candidates looking to replace Alderman Witkowiak. One could very well be former Alderman Angel Sanchez who defeated Witkowiak once and became the first Hispanic alderman to serve one term. Sanchez was then defeated twice by Witkowiak who retook the seat.
In 2009, Alderman James Witkowiak took a stand and supported driving permits for immigrants without a Social Security number and in-state tuition of undocumented students who attend universities and colleges in Wisconsin.
Witkowiak's statement supporting driving permits and in-state tuition for undocumented students at video link: http://bit.ly/ftCOA0
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By H. Nelson Goodson
March 22, 2011
Milwaukee - On Monday, the Milwaukee Election Commission confirmed that more the 1,500 signatures to recall Alderman James Witkowiak had been turned in just before the 5:00 p.m. deadline.
The election commission has at least 31 days to make a decision, if there are enough of the required 25% or 1,040 signatures to proceed with a special primary election in May, if two or more candidates are running. The required percentage is from the total votes cast in a prior aldermanic election.
Witkowiak has ten days to review and challenge the signatures. The petitioners have five days to rebuttal and Witkowiak two days to respond to the rebuttal and within 14 days the commission must decide, if there is sufficient signatures to proceed with an election.
Once the commission confirms there are sufficient signatures, an election will be held in six weeks on a Tuesday.
The recall petition was filed by Mirna Santiago who lives in the 12th Aldermanic District and her daughter the recall treasurer Malinda Meller who lives outside of the district. She claims and alleges Alderman Witkowiak has used law enforcement resources in an attempt to close businesses and eliminate jobs...Witkowiak making false statements and using his staff Mike McGuire for political purposes and engaging to "eliminate jobs," according to the petition January 21 filing statement.
In January, JSOnline reported that Witkowiak's recall was sparked by the Mill Valley Recycling controversy. Mill Valley filed a claim of notice with the City of Milwaukee that it plans to sue and alleges Witkowiak along with city officials conspired to damage the scrap metal company. The company sought a city permit to store and crush junk cars, which would compete for city business now held by Miller Compressing, according to JSOnline. Witkowiak has denied those allegations.
Witkowiak had been reviewing complaints by police and residents about patrons disruptive and uncontrolled behavior while leaving nightclubs and taverns in the Walker's Point area. Walker's Point in located in the South side where the predominately Hispanic community resides, Milwaukee police from the 2nd District have been cracking down on nightclub strips in where patrons leaving clubs at closing time cause disruptive nuisance, traffic jams and fights. Almost every Sunday after 2:00 a.m. police block off traffic along S. 5th Street between W. National Ave. to W. Bruce St. to secure the area while patrons exit nightclubs. Just last weekend, at least five police squads blocked off S. 5th Street once again.
Last year in April, police reported that teens exiting Club Sugar a non-alcoholic venue were gathering at a gas station and blocking the business. Their out of control behavior was causing a nuisance and impeding traffic flow along S. 1st St. after closing time. Residents in the area had numerous complaints about teens engaging in disruptive behavior, according to police.
Witkowiak says, he plans to review the petitions and is confident that he will be reelected.
The recall election is expected to draw candidates looking to replace Alderman Witkowiak. One could very well be former Alderman Angel Sanchez who defeated Witkowiak once and became the first Hispanic alderman to serve one term. Sanchez was then defeated twice by Witkowiak who retook the seat.
In 2009, Alderman James Witkowiak took a stand and supported driving permits for immigrants without a Social Security number and in-state tuition of undocumented students who attend universities and colleges in Wisconsin.
Witkowiak's statement supporting driving permits and in-state tuition for undocumented students at video link: http://bit.ly/ftCOA0
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
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