Balistreri Wins Key Milwaukee Election

In a key election that could impact the balance of power on the Milwaukee School Board, Tom Balistreri defeated incumbent John Gardner on April 1.

Balistreri, who ran unsuccessfully for state superintendent of schools last year, is a highly respected longtime Milwaukee Public Schools administrator. He was supported in his run for the school board by the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association.

Gardner, who has been on the board for eight years, is a strong advocate of private school vouchers, has repeatedly criticized the teachers’ pension and health care benefits, and has close ties to the city's business community and Mayor John Norquist. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has described Gardner as “the most controversial and noisy member of the board’s five-member majority faction, which holds tenuous control of the board.”

Balistreri said he would work to recruit good teachers, increase morale among MPS staff members, and try to act as a “consensus builder.”

The other four Milwaukee School Board incumbents won re-election: Jeff Spence, Barbara Horton, Joe Dannecker and Ken Johnson. MTEA had recommended three challengers: Terry Falk, Jan Doleschal, and Leon Todd.

In another election on April 1, Court of Appeals Judge Pat Roggensack defeated Barron County Circuit Judge Ed Brunner for a seat on the State Supreme Court. WEAC members had recommended the election of Brunner.

Posted April 4, 2003