Barrett Announces Governor's Run

WTMJ-TV and JSOnline.com

updated 6:17 a.m. ET Nov. 17, 2009

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett ends weeks of speculation about his political future, he announced Sunday that he is running for governor as a Democrat in 2010.

MILWAUKEE - Mayor Barrett made the worst kept secret in Wisconsin politics official Sunday in front of his home in Milwaukee.

The mayor announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin Governor.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

The mayor says the reason the decision took so long was two-fold. First, he wanted to discuss it with his family. Second, he wanted to recover more from an attack over the summer outside State Fair. That attack left him seriously hurt.

RAW VIDEO: Click Here to watch the Mayor's complete announcement.

Barrett says his number one priority will be jobs. He says the economy is the state's most pressing issue now and he says he has a proven track record as Mayor of Milwaukee.

Barrett is 55. He ran a failed bid for Governor in 2002, when he lost in the primary to Governor Jim Doyle. Asked what he plans to do differently in this campaign, Barrett said, "Win."

Doyle announced earlier this year that he did not intend to seek another term as governor. The Governor released a statement in which he says, "Tom Barrett has demonstrated he is a strong leader for Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin. He is well known and well liked throughout the state. With a strong record of job creation in Milwaukee, he will be an outstanding governor focused on helping Wisconsin rebuild from the recession."

The Democrats had been without a major candidate since Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton abruptly withdrew from the race.

On the GOP side, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann are vying for the party's nomination.

Discuss Story On Newsvine
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh
Email
Instant Message
Print