Angela Walker is running for Sheriff of Milwaukee County.
For now though, she is a social justice advocate, a school bus driver, a mother, and a resident of 53206 – Milwaukee’s highest crime-rate zip-code. She comes to her campaign knowing that its success is a long-shot, but to talk with her, you get the sense that she is ready to take the office right this moment. Her goals and interests for the Sheriff’s office are clear, well-stated, and make good sense. Angela isn’t approaching crime in Milwaukee from the “react to symptoms” mode of the incumbent’s policing. Angela, with her background in union and advocacy work is looking at the bigger picture. We met at Riverwest’s Fuel Cafe to talk about her campaign and what she plans to do if she wins the election…
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TF: How did you come to run for sheriff? What qualifies you for this role? What are the requirements to run for sheriff?
AW: I turned in my candidacy declaration a week before the deadline this past June. A few weeks before that deadline, other activist friends were encouraging me to run – they said “take some time and think about this”…I did think about it, though I never had any interest in running for office before…I polled my mom, my grandma, other people I trusted, who’d be straight with me…Mom said, “You can get your message out in a clear way; you’re appealing enough that you can get people to listen to you.”
You need 500 signatures to get on the ballot, and in less than a week, we got over 800!
TF: So, the requirements to run for sheriff…no particular degree or background?
AW: Nope – 500 signatures and you’re on the ballot. There is no degree or background requirement – YOU could run for sheriff. A lot of people have expressed concern that I don’t have a law enforcement background, but that’s not a requirement. That alone tells you something about the role of sheriff – it’s more about administration than being a street-cop. Clarke’s no cowboy, he’s not out there arresting people and putting himself at risk.
I think my background will actually be a bonus in running the sheriff’s office. Not having law enforcement – that is an ADVANTAGE for my campaign. I’m not part of the “Blue Wall”. I think there are a lot of deputies that would like to hear what I have to say.
I may not have a background in law enforcement, but with my background in the transit union, in driving buses, I think I could be quite empathetic to the issues and concerns of the deputies. Honestly, in each of those roles, I have faced situations similar to some of those the deputies face.
I learned a few years ago, that if you get people motivated over issues that directly affect them, it will engage them more than just “vote for me”. This campaign isn’t about me; it’s about the issues. People need to hear about the issues – county-wide transit, poverty, a living wage, alternatives to incarceration – we gotta keep the egos out of it.
I think I can show the constituents of MKE county, and the deputies, that I understand their interests. For the deputies, I can show how my approach will make their workplace better, help them spend their policing-time more productively, and use the sheriff’s budget more efficiently.
TF: On social issues that contribute to crime…
AW: I have a very wholistic idea of how things should be done…everything in my platform may seem “pie in the sky” to some people, but they are real, feasible, and IN PROGRESS.
If you are not talking about how poverty is directly related to crime, you are not talking about ANYTHING. The sheriff’s office should be talking about this.
…underfunded schools, poor neighborhoods…these lead to toxic levels of stress in our children. This leads to kids getting labeled as “special needs” and then they’re being led into the “school-to-prison” system…this has to change. This is the worst state in the country to be a black child. You are not supposed to succeed.
If you are a sheriff who genuinely cares about the people you serve, why are you not talking about poverty? If you are a sheriff who believes in economic efficiency, why aren’t you trying to get more prisoners into work-release programs? It costs around $11/day for non-violent offenders to be in work-release, while over $100/day for incarceration. Why isn’t Clarke talking about these things?
I want to work on strengthening our communities, so that when prisoners come out of the House of Corrections, they are NOT coming back to communities in the same situations as when they entered HOC.
As a society, we have drawn the line for who gets to have their humanity at “criminal”, and that is WRONG. Why does our current sheriff make prisoners choose between clergy visits or family visits? He took the library out of the HOC. We need to give prisoners access to educational opportunities. If prisoners can work, and they’re non-violent, let them work. If they’re eligible for parole, and have met the requirements, LET THEM GO. Clarke doesn’t seem to believe in expanding anti-recidivism programs, even though they’re more cost-effective than incarceration.
the conversation continues at Part 2.
