>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> WISCONSIN VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS FOR LOCAL RACES IN THE SPRING ELECTION, WHERE HYPERPARTISAN IS BLEEDING INTO NONPARTISAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND MILWAUKEE ELECTS ITS FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," MILWAUKEE'S NEWLY-ELECTED MAYOR, CAVALIER JOHNSON, JOINS US.

ANGELA LANG SAYS NOW THE WORK BEGINS.

MORDECAI LEE FORECASTS FOR THE FALL.

A CLOSER LOOK AT PARTISAN POLITICS IN SCHOOL BOARDS.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 8.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> AFTER HIS LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION, THE NEW MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE SAYS PRIORITY ONE IS TO CONNECT WITH STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

35-YEAR-OLD CAVALIER JOHNSON WON WITH 72% OF THE VOTE OVER HIS CHALLENGER, BOB DONOVAN, WHO TOOK 28%.

JOHNSON IS THE FIRST ELECTED BLACK MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE AND THE FIRST MILLENNIAL TO RUN THE CITY.

MAYOR JOHNSON JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE AND, MAYOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FREDERICA.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE ELECTED MILWAUKEE'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.

>> SO MANY THINGS.

I OFTEN REFLECT ABOUT MY ELECTION NIGHT CELEBRATION, AND ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I SPOKE TO THAT NIGHT WAS A NINE-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOY.

AND NOW A KID LIKE HIM, WHO IS GROWING UP IN THE SAME SORT OF DEPRESSED, CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I GREW UP IN IN MILWAUKEE, NOW HE CAN SEE HIS OWN REFLECTION IN THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE CITY.

I THINK THAT'S VERY POWERFUL AND SENDS A MESSAGE TO PEOPLE ACROSS MILWAUKEE THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOUR PARENTS MAKE, NO MATTER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU IN MILWAUKEE, TOO.

>> INDEED.

JUST AFTER WINNING THE ELECTION, YOU SAID YO YOUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO CALL ROBIN VOS AND DEVIN LEMAHIEU.

HAVE YOU REACHED THEM YET?

>> YEAH.

THE FIRST THING I DID WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE AS MAYOR-ELECT WAS TO CALL ROBIN VOS.

VERY FIRST CALL THAT I MADE.

AND HE DID CALL ME BACK LATER IN THE DAY.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.

WE DO HAVE A CALL INTO SENATOR LEMAHIEU AS WELL.

I'VE ENGAGED WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AS WELL.

SO I WAS SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING THE KIND OF CAPITAL AND REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON.

WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNLESS WE HAVE A TRUE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MADISON AND I WANT TO BUILD THAT.

>> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THAT RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN BROKEN?

>> YEAH.

I DO BELIEVE THE RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN BROKEN.

FOR THE PAST OVER A DECADE, THAT BROKEN RELATIONSHIP HAS PUT MILWAUKEE IN A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION FINANCIALLY AND OTHER ASPECTS AS WELL.

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REBUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.

MILWAUKEE IS A VALUE ADDED TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

I'M WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERS TO BRING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION RIGHT HERE TO OUR STATE, RIGHT HERE TO MILWAUKEE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING TO WISCONSIN EVEN THOUGH OUR STATE IS THE PURPLEST OF STATES, THEY WOULDN'T BE COMING HERE IF MILWAUKEE WEREN'T HERE.

THE CITY IS VALUE ADDED.

IT'S HIGH TIME WE WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE THEM REALIZE THAT AS WELL.

>> SO WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU WANT FROM THE REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE?

>> I WANT FOR THEM TO RECOGNIZE AGAIN THE VALUE ADDED TO THE STATE THAT MILWAUKEE BRINGS.

I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE ANCHORED BY CITIES LIKE MILWAUKEE AND THOSE CITIES NEED ADDITIONAL REVENUES, NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.

MILWAUKEE IS DIFFERENT THAN MARINETTE.

IT'S THE REASON WHY IT'S THE ONLY FIRST-CLASS CITY IN THE STATE.

OUR INFRA STRUCTURE, OUR SERVICES, ARE STRESSED BEYOND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN THE CITY WITH VISITORS AND COMMUTERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THOSE SERVICES THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS EXPECT AND DESERVE.

<!3276 >> SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE SUPPORT.

DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH MILWAUKEE HAS BEEN MALIGNED BY THE LEADERSHIP IN MADISON?

>> I THINK THERE HAD BEEN RELATIONSHIPS AT PLAY WITH THE FORMER LEADERSHIP HERE AND THE LEGISLATURE AND IT'S TIME FOR THOSE TENSIONS TO THAW.

LOOK, A STRONG, PROSPEROUS GROWING MILWAUKEE IS GOOD FOR WISCONSIN.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS NEED TO REALIZE THAT TOO.

>> I READ YOU WANT TO CHANGE GUN LAWS TO HELP STEM VIOLENCE IN MILWAUKEE.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE GUN LAWS?

>> AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WE DON'T CONTROL GUN LAW.

WE JUST REACT TO IT.

IN ONE OF THE MORE RECENT YEARS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT COLLECTED MORE GUNS A OFF THE STREET THANN NEW YORK.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

WE JUST RESPOND TO IT.

WE STOP FOLKS WHO HAVE GUNS.

THERE ARE SO MANY GUNS OUT THERE.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE GUNS IN THE FIRST PLACE TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THEM AS EASILY AS THEY DO.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REBUILD THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MADISON SO THAT WE CAN HAVE LAWS IN PLACE THAT WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE THOSE GUNS DON'T GET ACCESS TO THEM.

SO I'M ASKING FOR COMMON SENSE GUN REFORM.

THIS IS COMING FROM NOT SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN JUST A VICTIM OF GUN VIOLENCE MYSELF OR IN MY FAMILY, BUT SOMEBODY WHO ALSO RESPECTS THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND SOMEBODY WHO ENJOYS GOING TO RANGES AND SHOOTING GUNS, TOO.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO SOME COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS, BUT ALSO PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AT THE SAME TIME.

>> A KEY FOCUS OF THE CAMPAIGN WAS ON VIOLENT CRIME IN YOUR CITY.

ARE MORE POLICE PART OF YOUR FIX NOTWITHSTANDING CONCERNS ABOUT OVER-POLICING OF NEIGHBORS?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF POLICE.

THAT'S WHY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR I THOUGHT TO ACCEPT A FEDERAL GRANT THAT HAD BECOME CONTROVERSIAL.

I WORKED BEHIND-THE-SCENES IN ORDER TO GET IT PASSED.

TODAY THERE'S A DIVERSE CLASS OF POLICE OFFICERS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, LATINOS, ASIANS, MEN AND WOMEN, MOSTLY CITY REST DEN RESIDENTS ON OUR S PROTECTING AND SERVING.

FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE HAD DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO RECRUIT AND BRING ON 200 POLICE OFFICERS TO REPLACE THE ROUGHLY SIMILAR NUMBER THAT ARE RETIRING BECAUSE THEY'VE REACHED 25 YEARS.

I WANT TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF POLICE IN MILWAUKEE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE PAYING FOR POLICE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR MILWAUKEE, NOT WITH THE CURRENT REVENUE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

WE NEED PARTNERSHIP AT THE STATE TO PAY FOR THE POLICE THAT WE HAVE.

IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS, AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE AS WELL.

>> YOU SAID IT IS A NEW DAY FOR MILWAUKEE.

HOW SO?

>> IT'S A NEW DAY IN MILWAUKEE BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO BUILD A NEW RELATIONSHIP, WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE A GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MILWAUKEE HAVE ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SAFE ACROSS THE CITY, NOT JUST IN THE PROSPERITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOWNTOWN OR THOSE THAT HUG UPON LAKE MICHIGAN.

BUT I WANT SAFETY IN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILWAUKEE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PROSPERITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS MILWAUKEE, TOO, THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I GREW UP IN.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND BASED ON MY LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN THE LEAST OF THESE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND LESS FINANCIAL STRESS, THAT THEY BECOME STABLE IN THEIR OWN LIVES, THEY PASS THAT STABILITY ONTO THEIR CHILDREN, SO THEIR REACTION IN THE STREETS AND SCHOOLS IS DIFFERENT.

WHEN WE GET A CRITICAL MASS OF THAT, THAT'S HOW YOU TREAT PUBLIC SAFETY.

I'M GLAD TO BE THE ONE LEADING THE CHARGE.

>> CAVALIER JOHNSON, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ONE OF MILWAUKEE'S LEADING ORGANIZERS DID NOT ENDORSE CAVALIER JOHNSON IN HIS RUN FOR MAYOR.

WHY NOT?

WE ASKED ANGELA LANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHY DIDN'T BLOC ENDORSE IN THE MAYOR'S RACE?

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS NOT A DECISION THAT WE MADE LIGHTLY, BUT GIVEN A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HEARD ON DOORS, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW BOTH CANDIDATES TALKED ABOUT POLICING WAS A CHALLENGE FOR US AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GET OVER.

AND SO IN THE PRIMARY WE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING OUT OF THE PRIMARY, BUT WE'RE VERY CLEAR THAT WE WANTED TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION OF HOW WE FEEL SAFETY SHOULD BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM EITHER CAMPAIGN.

SO WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD.

THERE'S NOT MUCH WE COULD DO.

WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD NOW THAT MAYOR JOHNSON IS ELECTED.

THROUGH HIS HISTORIC WIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE JUST AS MUCH AS HE DID.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM AND I BELIEVE MONDAY MORNING WE WILL BE SENDING AN EMAIL TO THE OFFICE TO REQUEST A MEETING SO WE CAN START TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A MILWAUKEE WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.

>> ONE YOUR REACTION TO THE FIRST ELECTED BLACK MAYOR IN YOUR CITY?

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT'S ABOUT TIME.

AND I SHARE THAT SENTIMENT.

IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND VERY CURIOUS AND VERY ANXIOUS AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW MAYOR JOHNSON WORKS WITH PEOPLE LIKE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD AND OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, DAVID CROWLEY, WHO ARE ALSO YOUNG BLACK FOLKS AS WELL.

LUCKY TO SEE ALL THEIR LEADERSHIP AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THEIR DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES TO ALL OF MILWAUKEE.

SO I'M EXCITED AND I THINK THAT KIND OF SHATTERS THE CEILING A LITTLE BIT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE REPRESENTATION.

>> A LOT OF THE CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON VIOLENT CRIME IN MILWAUKEE.

WHEN YOU MEET WITH THE MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL HIM ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AROUND THAT?

>> THE FIRST THING THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TEAM AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY POLICING AND CRIME AND VIOLENCE IS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE INVESTMENTS INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE MORE AND MORE RESOURCES TAKEN FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES, GIVEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, A LIVING WAGE JOB.

I BELIEVE IF WE'RE INVESTING IN THOSE AREAS AND INVESTING INTO THRIVING COMMUNITIES AND BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND GREENSPACE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> DO YOU EXPECT THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A CORD ON THOSE ISSUES WITH THE MAYOR?

>> I HOPE SO.

YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT CRIME IS A CHALLENGE IN OUR CITY, BUT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S A NEW DAY.

THERE'S NEW REPRESENTATION.

AND THERE'S NOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, TO ACTUALLY DREAM.

AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO DREAMING WITH MAYOR JOHNSON WITH HIS HISTORIC WIN OF HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYONE KIND OF UNDERSTANDS AND FEELS REPRESENTED NOW, TOO.

>> NOW, MAYOR JOHNSON WANTS TO RECONNECT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT PRIORITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE LEGISLATURE TREATS MILWAUKEE.

SO MANY TIMES THERE'S A LOT OF ANTIMILWAUKEE SENTIMENT THAT COMES OUT OF THE CAPITOL.

<!8192SO I WISH HIM WELL ON THAT ENDEAVOR.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I'M GLAD HE'S MAKING IT ONE OF HIS TOP PRIORITIES.

>> PEOPLE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT IT BEING A NEW DAY IN MILWAUKEE, INCLUDING YOURSELF.

WHAT WOULD A NEW DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> A NEW DAY FOR US FEELS THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING LISTENED TO, THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING INVESTED IN AND NOT OVER-POLICED, THAT WE ARE MEETING PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH CHALLENGES THROUGH A PLACE OF LOVE AND COMMUNITY RESTORATION INSTEAD OF THROWING FOLKS INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM AND PROVIDING THAT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE RIGHT NOW IN MILWAUKEE?

>> IT'S CHALLENGING.

I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT MILWAUKEE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT INSPIRES ME AND BREAKS MY HEART.

AND YOU SEE WHERE THERE'S A LACK OF INVESTMENT IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT YOU SEE THE RESILIENCE AND THE BEAUTY OF THE PEOPLE HERE.

AND SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMANTS.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE DESERVE TO BE IN A THRIVING, HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY.

>> SO LASTLY, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO KETANGI BROWN JACKSON AS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE?

>> AN EMOTIONAL REACTION.

VERY, VERY EXCITED.

ALSO ANOTHER FIRST LONG OVERDUE.

I ACTUALLY JUST RELEASED AN OP-ED THIS MORNING REFLECTING ON IT WITH THE WISCONSIN EXAMINER AND SPECIFICALLY HOW SHE WAS TREATED AS A BLACK WOMAN AND TO WATCH THAT HEARING AND SEE HOW SHE WAS TREATED WAS TERRIBLE.

BUT TO FINALLY KNOW WE'VE MADE HISTORY IS VERY EXCITING AND LOTS OF GOOD FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS AROUND HER OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANGELA LANG, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DOES THE WISCONSIN SPRING ELECTION PORTEND FOR THE FALL ELECTION?

HOW TO MEASURE THAT WITH SUCH LOW TURNOUT?

WE TALK NOW WITH UW-MILWAUKEE POLITICAL SCIENTIST MORDECAI LEE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> THE A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DOES THIS PAST TUESDAY'S SPRING ELECTION PORTEND FOR THE FALL?

>> I'M NOT SURE IT PORTENDS VERY MUCH STATEWIDE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST ELECTION SINCE 2014 WHERE THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT.

THERE WAS NO SUPREME COURT, NO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

AND WHEN IT HAPPENED, WHEN THAT HAPPENED IN 2014, ONLY ABOUT HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VOTED.

SO IT'S HARD TO DRAW ANY STATEWIDE CONCLUSIONS.

BUT IN TERMS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN, I THINK THERE'S SOME PRETTY STRONG NUMBERS SAYING GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS AND GOOD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS BASED ON GEOGRAPHY, WHICH IS SORT OF WHAT WISCONSIN POLITICS IS TURNING INTO.

>> COULD YOU UNPACK THAT A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE?

>> WELL, THE RACE FOR MAYOR HERE IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE WAS JUST A BLOWOUT FOR THE DE FACTO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, CAVALIER JOHNSON, AND HIS OPPONENT, BOB DONOVAN, WAS AFFILIATED WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THIS IS ALMOST LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO STATE SUPREME COURT RACES.

THERE'S A DEMOCRAT AND A REPUBLICAN.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THERE'S A D AND AN R AFTER THEIR NAMES.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT SUCH A BLOWOUT, MORE THAN TWO TO ONE, THAT'S JUST REALLY A LANDSLIDE.

SO FOR DEMOCRATS IN MILWAUKEE IT'S AN INDICATION THAT THE CITY IS BECOMING MORE DEMOCRATIC.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT TRIVIA AT TH TIDBIT IS THAT THED WHITE SOUTH SIDE, BLUE COLLAR, REAGAN DEMOCRATS, WHICH ANCHORED HENRY MAYOR MAIER, THAT THIS WAS THE LAST HURRAH FOR THE OLD SOUTH SIDE.

THEY'VE RETIRED.

THEY MOVED TO THE SUBURBS.

THE OLD SIDE SIDE IS NO LONGER THAT WHITE CONSERVATIVE STRONGHOLD THAT OPPOSED OPEN HOUSING WITH FATHER GROPPI.

HISPANICS ARE AS IMPORTANT AND WHITES ARE FADING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBURBS -- >> GO AHEAD.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBURBS, I THINK IT WAS GREAT NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS.

THERE WAS A COURT OF APPEALS RACE FOR SORT OF THE COLLAR COUNTCOUNTIES THAT SURROUND MILE COUNTY.

REPUBLICANS DID VERY WELL.

AGAIN, THERE WAS A RACE THAT WAS THINLY DISGUISED AS A PARTISAN RACE.

AND THE REPUBLICAN WON, BUT DE FACTO DEMOCRAT LOST.

AFTER TRUMP SHOWED WEAKNESS IN WAUKESHA COUNTY AND OZAUKEE COUNTY, THAT SORT OF DISAPPEARED.

EVERYBODY WENT BACK HOME.

AGAIN, IT WAS A DECISIVE WIN FOR REPUBLICANS ALONG WITH THE COUNTY EXEC DOWN IN KENOSHA COUNTY.

SO THEY DID VERY WELL.

>> I'M GLAD YOU PICKED UP WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT, THAT COURT OF APPEALS RACE.

BUT NOW, AFTER THIS ELECTION IS DONE, ALL EYES TURN TO PRIMARY RACES FOR U.S. SENATE AND GOVERNOR IN WISCONSIN.

I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS, WHAT YOU MAKE OF TOMMY THOMPSON POTENTIALLY GETTING INTO THE RACE AND RUNNING DOWN TO MAR-A-LAGO TO MEET WITH DONALD TRUMP.

>> THIS WILL SHAKE UP THE RACE.

HE LOVED BEING GOVERNOR AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL, GETTING ELECTED TO FOUR, FOUR-YEAR TERMS, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T FINISH THE LAST ONE.

BUT HE JUST LOVED BEING IN CHARGE.

I THINK BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE AS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE UW SYSTEM, IT SHOWS THAT HE'S STILL GOT ALL THE JUICES GOING AND IT STILL REALLY LIKES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

IN THAT RESPECT, NOT A PERFORMATIVE REPUBLICAN, BUT A PROBLEM-SOLVING REPUBLICAN.

AND SO I THINK HE'S DYING TO RUN.

BEING 80 YEARS OLD IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE GIVEN THE AGE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE AGE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

SO I THINK HE'S LIKELY TO RUN.

THE QUESTION IS IF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CHANGED OUT FROM UNDER HIS FEET IN THE PERIOD SINCE HE LEFT TO GO TO GEORGE W. BUSH'S CABINET.

SO GOING TO SEE TRUMP -- >> AS FOR THE U.S. SENATE PRIMARY, WHAT BREAKS THROUGH FOR MANY OF THOSE CANDIDATES?

>> I THINK WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MILWAUKEE TV MARKET, WHICH IS PROBABLY SOMETHING SOME OF YOUR VIEWERS DON'T GET AS MUCH ACCESS TO, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING ADS AGAINST RON JOHNSON SINCE LAST YEAR.

AND RON JOHNSON HAS BEEN UP ON THE AIR IN MILWAUKEE TV STATIONS SINCE HE DECLARED AT THE TURP OF TURN OFTHE YEAR AND NOW VERY CONSISTENTLY.

SO WE'RE SEEING IS HEAVY TV ADVERTISING IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA.

THEY'RE FIGHTING IT TOOTH AND NAIL.

>> MORDECAI, MORE TO COME ON ALL OF THIS AS WE HEAD INTO AUGUST AND THEN NOVEMBER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US NOW.

WE WILL TALK WITH YOU SOON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN THE NAME OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, REPUBLICANS PUSHED WAY DOWN THE BALLOT IN THE SPRING ELECTION WORKING TO ELECT CONSERVATIVES WHO DISFAVOR THINGS LIKE MASKING FOR COVID AND DISCUSSION OF RACE AND GENDER IN THE CLASSROOM.

REBECCA KLEEFISCH ENDORSED 48 SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS ARE FOIBLOFFICIALLY NONPARTISAN.

UW-OSHKOSH PROFESSOR MICHAEL FORD JOINS US NOW.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ARGUMENT FOR WHY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS SHOULD BE NONPARTISAN?

>> YEAH.

BY FAR, IT'S ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S BASED ON THE STRUCTURE OF PARTISANSHIP.

THAT'S HOW WE DETERMINE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, WHO IS THE SPEAKER.

ONE OF THE BIG STRENGTHS OF LOCAL NONPARTISAN RACES IS WE'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON HAVING THAT PARTISAN CONFLICT.

WHEN YOU DO INTRODUCE THAT CONFLICT, IT CREATES STRUCTURAL COALITIONS THAT AUTOMATICALLY DERAIL THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS BEFORE IT CAN BEGIN.

>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO OUR CULTURE WARS BLEEDING INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT?

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT'S TOTALLY DIVORCED FROM WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM.

I THINK WE SAW THIS WITH THE DEBATE OVER CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THE GOP PICKED UP ON THIS AS A WAY TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS AND REENGAGE SUBURBAN VOTERS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S DIVORCED FROM THE REALITY OF WHAT GOES ON IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> SO YOU SPOKE TO IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOW DOES PARTISAN CONFLICT KIND OF HURT THE WORK OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE CHILDREN IN CLASSROOMS?

>> YEAH.

WELL, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IS BUILT ON THIS IDEA OF CONFLICT.

SO CONFLICT IS GOOD.

EVEN POLITICS IS OKAY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

BUT IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN IT'S DIVORCED FROM ACTUAL POLICY OR TASKS AND IT BECOMES STRICTLY ABOUT WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON.

AND WHERE THAT'S REALLY DAMAGING IS IT PREVENTS SCHOOL BOARDS FROM BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY SERVE AND ULTIMATELY THOSE POLICIES THEY CREATE AND THE WAY THEY MANAGE THE SUPERINTENDENT, THAT IMPACTS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM AND WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING REAL ISSUES.

>> TRUE ENOUGH.

AS TO THE ELECTION RESULTS IN SCHOOL BOARD RACES ACROSS THE STATE, THE EFFORT TO INSTALL REBECCA KLEEFISCH-ENDORSED CANDIDATES IN MILWAUKEE SUBURBS, BUT RESULTS WERE MIXED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE.

LOCAL ELECTIONS HAVE A LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS WITH SPENDING.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BALANCE OF THOSE RESULTS, CONSERVATIVES TENDED TO DO WELL IN CONSERVATIVE AREAS AND LIBERAL DID WELL IN LIBERAL AREAS.

THE TAKE-AWAY WAS SUBURBAN MILWAUKEE SHOWING THERE IS SOME ANGLE THERE FOR TRYING TO REATTRACT THOSE VOTERS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN MORE CONSERVATIVE BUT TURNED OFF BY DONALD TRUMP BACK TO THE GOP FOLD.

>> SO YOU SAY THE EVIDE EFFORT O REINFORCE THEIR BASE AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

DID THAT WORK?

>> I THINK IT DID.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE BROAD APPEALS TO PARENTAL FREEDOM, MESSAGES ABOUT MASKING AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY DIDN'T RESONATE, BUT THIS PLAYS TO THE GOP BASE.

>> IS THIS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN THIS KIND OF THING, GOING DOWN-BALLOT AS WE DESCRIBED IT?

>> THIS IS UNIQUELY INTENSE.

THERE ARE OTHER TIMES IN WISCONSIN, CERTAINLY AFTER ACT 10 A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL RACES AND WHEN COMMON CORE WAS A DEBATE 10, 15 YEARS AGO WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THIS.

CERTAINLY THE INTENSITY RIGHT NOW IS UNIQUE.

>> WAS IT JUST REPUBLICANS THIS TIME WHO TOOK THIS TACK OR DID DEMOCRATS ALSO POLITICIZE SCHOOL BOARD RACES?

>> DEMOCRATS ABSOLUTELY DID.

THE NUMBERS WERE NOT AS LARGE FOR THE DEMOCRATS, BUT CERTAINLY THEY DID PUSH THEIR AGENDA.

AND I THINK PART OF THIS IS FRUSTRATION WITH THEIR INABILITY TO MAKE GAINS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> SO WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW ABOUT THESE KINDS OF POLITICAL EFFORTS AROUND SCHOOL BOARDS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES IN WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THEIR KIDS' SCHOOLS, IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PROFESSOR MICHAEL FORD FROM OSHKOSH, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT WAS OFF.

THEN IT WAS ON.

NOW IT'S OFF AGAIN, FOR NOW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CON TRON SHALL SURVEY ON UW'S 13 UNIVERSITIES.

ONE QUESTION FOR EXAMPLE ASKED WHETHER THE STUDENT EVER EXPERIENCED A NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE LIKE GETTING A LOWER GRADE FOR DISAGREEING ALOUD WITH A PROFESSOR OVER A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

SOME PROVOSTS OBJECTED TO THE SURVEY AND IT WAS PULLED.

IT WAS REINSTATED.

THE INTERIM CHANCELLOR AT UW-WHITEWATER RESIGNED THIS WEEK OVER ITS USE.

THE SYSTEM PULLED BACK ONCE AGAIN AND DELAYED THE SURVEY.

THE CENTER AT UW-STOUT FUNDING THE SURVEY IS FUNDED BY THE CONSERVATIVE KOCH FOUNDATION AND MENARDS FAMILY.

THEY SAY THEY PUNISH STUDENTS WHO EXPRESS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS.

THE SURVEY NOW WILL GO OUT IN THE FALL.

PBS WISCONSIN IS PART OF UW-MADISON.

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I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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