Newsmakers: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
In a May 17 Newsmakers interview, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he will not run for Democratic U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s seat in 2012. Barrett put former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, who lost to Republican Sen. Ron Johnson last year, at the top of his list of Democrats who should run. But Barrett said he had not spoken with Feingold about running, however. Barrett said he plans to seek re-election as mayor — a job he loves — next year. He also refused to say whether he would run for governor again for a third time, if those opposed to Republican Gov. Scott Walker gather the 540,208 signatures needed to force a recall election early next year. "I’m not retired," the Milwaukee mayor said. Barrett, who lost to Walker last November, said the governor continues to push changes that divide Wisconsin and hurt the Milwaukee-area. Walker’s state budget would cut shared-revenue aid to Milwaukee by $10 million next year, cut aid to Milwaukee Public Schools and cut aid for the city’s streets.
