Milwaukee voters to elect new Common Council member

Milwaukee voters are getting ready for a special election on April 1. They will choose a new representative for the Common Council from the East Side and Riverwest neighborhoods. The candidates are Alex Bower and Daniel Bauman. Many residents are eager to learn more about them. Brad Bilgo, a longtime East Side resident, attended a candidate forum at St. Marks Episcopal Church. He is focused on finding the right candidate. “I’m going to do a little more homework,” he said. Erin Grace, another voter, expressed her desire for a candidate who collaborates but also listens to the community. This election is necessary due to the passing of Alderman Jonathan Brostoff last November. Grace admired Brostoff’s leadership and wants similar qualities in the new alderman. She hopes to see action taken against reckless driving in her neighborhood, especially around the university. Bilgo wants the new leader to prioritize crime reduction. He feels safer neighborhoods are essential and would like to see improvements in local safety. “I love the East Side,” he said. Both candidates shared their goals. Daniel Bauman wants to ensure safer streets, building on Brostoff’s work. His vision includes slowing down traffic in residential areas. Alex Bower aims to address various issues by introducing a quality-of-life survey and tackling everyday problems like potholes and the cost of living. With election day approaching, voters are motivated to make informed choices for their community's future.