Dear Neighbor,
It is my honor to announce my candidacy as the Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America’s endorsed candidate for District 3 of the Milwaukee Common Council in the upcoming special election. We would be proud to have your support for our socialist campaign in the February 18 Primary and April 1 General Election.
My name is Alex Brower, and I am a union president, community leader and executive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans. As a Riverwest resident of over 10 years, I look forward to serving both my neighborhood and all Milwaukee’s residents on the Common Council, as well as continuing to organize workers and communities for a better world. As a democratic socialist, I believe in a just society, democratic economy, and sustainable environment.
Our campaign is proud to share our transformative platform for the working class of Milwaukee:
Replace We Energies
As a member of the Common Council, I will work to replace We Energies with a municipal or cooperative utility using Chapter 197 of the Wisconsin State Statutes. We need public ownership of public utilities, and to remove the profit motive from basic necessities. Please visit PowertothepeopleMKE.org for more details.
Fight for Public Schools
Public schools in this city have been under attack for decades. As a member of the Common Council, I will take action to cease the City of Milwaukee’s chartering of schools, and I will publicly and procedurally fight any attempt to eliminate the democratically elected school board of the City of Milwaukee, including a city, state or mayoral takeover. While MPS needs accountability and reform, Milwaukeeans are united by our public schools and I will oppose breaking up the district in any fashion.
Build Housing for People, Not For Profit
There is a severe housing affordability crisis in Milwaukee, and it affects all the city’s working class residents. People cannot live fulfilling lives under the constant fear of losing their homes, through eviction or inability to pay. As a member of the Common Council, I will publicly advocate for the building of affordable, safe, and dignified public housing, hold the city Housing Authority accountable, and will always stand up to landlords and support tenants in any housing issue brought before the city. Additionally, I will fight to increase the city’s contribution to Eviction Free Milwaukee, which provides legal counsel to Milwaukee tenants facing eviction.
Create a Safer and Healthier City
With reckless driving rampant, crime appearing more present than before, and an incoming far-right President who is bent on attacking marginalized communities, Milwaukeeans want the city they call home to feel secure. We need to make this city safer for everyone by getting to the root causes of these problems. That means eliminating poverty, tackling systemic oppression, improving city infrastructure, increasing public and affordable housing, improving mass transit, welcoming immigrant communities, and supporting those who are marginalized.
Stand with City Workers
I’ve fought for workers as a union organizer for years. When I was the president of the substitute teacher’s union, I won healthcare benefits for substitute teachers by going on a 21-day hunger strike. The workers who make our city function deserve these same rights, and I will ensure that they are never overlooked and always receive a fair deal from any legislation, budget, or policy. As your alderperson, I will defend city workers’ rights to living wages, quality benefits, labor protections, and a great work environment.
This campaign looks forward to awakening the potential of the working class and bringing back Milwaukee’s proud tradition of municipal socialism. To join our campaign, please call (414) 604-6116, email voteforalexbrower@gmail.com, or visit our Get Involved page.
The power to make change is in our hands – will you take this opportunity with us?
In Solidarity,
Alex Brower