Crunch Time for Milwaukee County Board

Under the misguided direction of the Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel, Bill Domina, the Milwaukee County Board appears likely to cancel today's scheduled vote to elect a new chairman.

Domina, who continued to research the legal issues Sunday, said he likely would counsel the County Board to defer action until the formal attorney general's opinion comes out.

Under the Milwaukee County Board's rules, only seven votes are needed to push off the issue until next month's regular board meeting, set for March 9. A majority - 10 votes - would be needed to lay over the matter until the formal state opinion is available, Domina said.

Domina said he appreciated the quick opinion by the attorney general's office but agreed with Bach that the preliminary opinion does not answer the crucial question over the legality of a midterm election with no showing of cause.

Gutless.

Cause? A legislative body that wants to elect a new leader shows 'cause' by holding the election. Cause is purposely vague in the statues. It doesn't spell out the only circumstances that constitute it.

Canceling today's vote will only prove that their efforts were merely for show. That their public moves were merely meant to placate those of us who are growing frustrated with their inaction. Any County Board member who votes to put off today's scheduled vote is casting a vote in favor of Lee Holloway, period.

The Attorney General issued a letter on Friday which basically chastised Domina. The Department of Justice said that Milwaukee County's chief lawyer was referring to the wrong statutes when determining how the board could proceed.

So, why would the board accept his advice today and delay a vote?

The answer would appear to be simple. That they never really had the intention to hold this vote in the first place.

My fear is that if the election is not held today, it will never be held.

I am personally going to call the main County Board switchboard at 414-278-4222 and politely ask to be directed to my Supervisor's office.

Then I am going to ask my Supervisor to do TWO SIMPLE THINGS.

1) Please do everything you can to ensure that a vote is held today.
2) Please do not vote for Lee Holloway as Chair.

The drama has gone on long enough. Holloway is sure to mount a legal challenge over his ouster whenever it happens, so why delay? His thuggery should no longer intimidate that board.