Milwaukee County Supervisor 12th District 2018 debate between Peggy West and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez

The Southside County Supervisor race in the 12th District will be determined between West who has endorsements by unions and many public elected officials including multiple County supervisors or Ortiz-Velez who has the endorsements of Latino community known leaders, movers and shakers, business owners and activists.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 20, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - The Southside Organizing Center (SOC) held a Milwaukee County Supervisor 12th District debate between Supervisor Peggy West (incumbent) who is seeking re-election and challenger Sylvia Ortiz-Velez on Monday in Milwaukee's Southside. The Spring Election is on April 3rd and early voting began Monday.

West has been endorsed by Milwaukee Common Council members, José Pérez, Tony Zielinski, Wisconsin State Senator Tim Carpenter (D), Wisconsin State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D), Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, Milwaukee County Judge Pedro Cólon, Milwaukee Municipal Judge Phil Chavez and the list of public elected officials goes on. West is seeking re-election for a fifth term. She did confirm that she has a 100% attendance record for full County Supervisor Board meetings. But West has missed ten committee meetings for the Milwaukee County Domes hearings concerning their future and says that she doesn't always agree 100% with Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele policies, but has the door open for working with him on issues.

In 2012, West voted with 13 other supervisors to limit the Miwaukee County Sheriff's Department cooperation for holding undocumented inmates with minor violations, except felons upon detainer hold requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In 2017, West along with the County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution for equal protection of the law for all County residents including making it a "safe" place for undocumented immigrants residing in the County.

Ortiz-Velez has been a paying registered member in the Democrat Party of Wisconsin and is the current Vice-president of the Hispanic Caucus in the Democrat Party. Ortiz-Velez has been able to get the support and endorsements of community known leaders, movers and shakers, and activists as Luz Sosa, Hector Cólon, Teresa Mercado, Gregorio Montoto, Nancy Hernández, Victor Huyke, Martin Jimenez, Rebecca Bahr-Arrichiello, Attorney Carlos Pastrona, Tony Garnica, Ernesto Nava, Raul Huerta, Ernesto Ramirez (Chato), Ricardo Diaz, Carmen Cabrera, Anita Abraham, Rogelio Cabral, Eleazar Lopez, Cy White, Scott Wales, Roy Camronero, Blanca Blanka Estrada, Frankie Sabath, Yussef Morales, Felix Questell, Johnny Osorio, Kristina Reyes and Mariana Reyes (Reyes Family), Juan Estrada (Estrada Family), Oscar Brenes, Owner of El Patron, Dionisia Gonzalez. Former Alderman James Witkowiak, Rogelio Cabral, Eleazar Lopez, Angel Salmeron Duenas and the list goes on.

Ortiz-Velez shows a strong community base support to get elected compared to West's political base of endorsement's by public officials. 

She wants to bring community stake holders like non-profit organizations, public elected officials and others to work alongside each other to resolve issues affecting the County. Ortiz-Velez, if elected she will open an office in the Southside to better serve the community. She also says that she won't cut any vital services for the most venerable residents in the County, including senior citizens and the homeless.

Ortiz-Velez has a degree in political science and has been a Real Estate Broker for 15 years.

Both West and Ortiz-Velez are immigrant friendly candidates and believe undocumented immigrants should have access to Wisconsin Driver Licenses as a safety measure.