State senator joins in Nativity scene [David Clarke for Milwaukee mayor]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | Jan. 9, 2004 | Cary Spivak & Dan Bice

[JohnnyZ]

Help from the bullpen

Now that he has a whole lot of time on his hands, ousted Milwaukee Brewers President Ulice Payne Jr. has found something new to promote:

The mayoral candidacy of Sheriff David Clarke Jr.

Payne, who has been keeping a low public profile since his soap-opera dismissal as boss of the Brew Crew, will emcee a Clarke fund-raiser next week.

The campaign hopes this gala at the Italian Community Center, featuring ex-congressman J.C. Watts, will be a biggie, as some 10,000 invitations were sent out. The minimum donation is $25, though fat cats who cough up a grand will be admitted to a private reception and have their photo shot with the pols.

Clarke campaign aides are giddy over having signed Payne, undoubtedly one of the best-known and most-respected names in Milwaukee.

Payne, of course, was the president of the Brewers until November, when his tenure of less than 14 months came to an abrupt end after he publicly criticized the team's owners for cutting player payroll. The brawl ended with the Brewers buying out Payne's five-year contract.

In the court of public opinion, Payne scored a knockout over the Brewers owners.

Jeremy Cole, Clarke's campaign manager, said that last summer Payne was one of the first community leaders to jump on board with the sheriff. Back then, however, Payne had little time to spare because he was too busy trying to turn around the fortunes of a perpetual loser.

Now, Payne - who also has close ties with liberal Gov. Jim Doyle - is helping conservative Clarke draft an economic development policy while helping with fund raising.

"He certainly has more time now," Cole said.

[JohnnyZ]

J.C. Watts and ex-Brewers big shot backing Clarke!

FYI, David Clarke is the black Milwaukee County sheriff running for Milwaukee city mayor. He's a DINO heavily courted by Wisconsin and national Republicans, including GWB. His primary opposition is liberal Democrat ex-Congresman Tom Barrett.

Oh, and I skipped the other two items about the state senator and stuff. Who cares, right?

[JohnnyZ]

I seem to remember you're a JC Watts fan?

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[Impy]

Well let's see


"In one of the more bizarre Christmas mailings by a local pol, Reynolds last month sent out a postcard of Jesus in the manger, but he substituted pictures of himself, his wife and their five children for key figures at the Nativity scene."


Okay...




So has there been any polling on the Mayoral race?

[JohnnyZ]

Barrett 29
Clarke 24
Undecided
Acting mayor Marvin Pratt 11

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/dec03/190902.asp?format=print

[Impy]

Looks like the winner probably won't crack a third of the vote.

[JohnnyZ]

I think they have a runoff. But I could be making that up.

[steveegg]

Mayoral elections in Wisconsin are a non-partisan primary/general election setup (the primary would have been skipped if there had been no more than 2 candidates). The top 2 vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of whether one of them gets a majority. Seeing there's 9 candidates in Milwaukee, I highly doubt anyone is going to get more than 35% of the vote the first time around.

[Impy]

Thanks. When is the general?

[steveegg]

The general election is Tuesday, April 6.