Milwaukee County Executive candidates Scott Walker and Lena Taylor engaged in their first political debate Thursday and will square off again on Friday, March 7.
The candidates cordially discussed their views on several issues Thursday, including the county's finances, crime, mental health care delivery, unfunded state mandates, transportation and workforce development.
Walker defended his record as county executive on fiscal responsibility. He said public safety was his top priority, and he noted how the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department has created a lawn enforcement stronghold on Lincoln Memorial Drive, which had problems in the past.
"If you can't feel safe … Nothing else matters," Walker said. "For me, public safety is priority No. 1."
Taylor, the challenger, implied that Walker was behaving like "an ostrich with its head in the sand" and was not doing enough to partner with other levels of government, including the City of Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin and the congressional delegation.
The debate was held at the Italian Community Center by the Public Policy Forum and the Milwaukee Press Club.
Walker and Taylor will debate attain on Friday, March 7, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., at the University Club of Milwaukee, 924 E. Wells St.
That debate will be presented by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and the Human Resource Management Association (HRMA) of Southeastern Wisconsin.
The forum will be moderated by Jeff Mayers, president of WisPolitics.com, a media partner of SBT.
The fee to attend the event is $25 for members of the MMAC and the HRMA and $35 for non-members.
Contact the MMAC to register online for the event or call Debra Jordan at (414) 287-4127.
To help shape the discussion, send suggested debate topics to djordan@mmac.org.
County executive candidates begin debates
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