In a reversal, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announces he will not seek re-election

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele is not seeking re-election, he announced Wednesday.

That's a reversal from May, when Abele told the Journal Sentinel he was running again.

He said he first ran because he wanted to make a difference and thinks government is a noble endeavor. 

"Nine years later, that hasn't changed," Abele told the Journal Sentinel. "What has changed is now I've got three young daughters and for anybody who has kids, you know that kids take a lot of time and they deserve a lot of time, and I've been conscious of the fact that I want to be able to spend more with them."

His new marriage to Jennifer Gonda also invited him to re-evaluate his priorities, he said.

It's healthy to periodically have a new person at the helm of a large organization like the county, he said. Abele added that he believes things at the county are in a good place.

Abele said he had been seriously mulling the decision in the last couple months as he thought about the next chapter in his life. And it was one he wanted to make early enough to allow other candidates to consider a run in April, he said.

"It's important for whoever has this job to be able to be 100% focused on every single day how do I move the county forward and spend all their time and give all their energy to that," he said. "And that was the pace I ran at for nine years, and I just think it's important that now is the time to pass the torch to somebody who maybe doesn't have three kids and is ready to run hard."

He said he'll be there to help the next person and will be staying involved in Milwaukee, including on racial equity and pushing for a solution for funding local government.

"This is home, so people, like it or not, you're stuck with me," he said.

Abele also said he'll be involved in other political races.

Since creating Leadership MKE last year, Abele has spent more than $1.3 million in support of numerous candidates in local races for mayor, school board and sheriff. Earlier this year, he created Leadership WI and gave nearly $50,000 to help Satya Rhodes-Conway in her successful bid for Madison mayor. 

Abele's group has a mixed record. Most notably, Leadership MKE spent heavily trying unsuccessfully to unseat Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. and in support of Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt's failed election bid.

As for endorsing any candidates in the race for county executive, Abele said he wants to see who runs. He said it matters to him to have someone in the role who cares about public service and doesn't just see it as a stepping stone in a political career.

Abele, the son of a Boston billionaire, got married this month.

He was first elected in 2011 in a special election to fill the final year in Scott Walker's term after Walker was elected governor. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016.

Abele spent more than $4 million in 2016 in his victory over state Sen. Chris Larson, a fellow Democrat who challenged him from the left. After finishing a close second in the primary, Abele came back and defeated Larson by 12 percentage points that year.

So far, Abele is the only person to have filed papers with the Milwaukee County Election Commission to run for the seat. The primary is Feb. 18 and the general election is April 7.

Candidates can start circulating nomination papers Dec. 1. Papers are due back to the Election Commission office Jan. 7.

It is shaping up to be a crowded race.

Larson said Wednesday that he is giving a run "strong consideration."

Democratic Rep. David Crowley, who represents a district in northwest Milwaukee, also told the Journal Sentinel he is considering running.

Milwaukee Ald. Cavalier Johnson said he was approached about running after Abele's news broke and he is keeping the option open.

"I'm humbled by the support that has been shown so far but my goal at this time is to see to the adoption of a very difficult city budget," Johnson said. "I'll monitor the situation, consult with family and neighbors, and have a decision soon."

Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy, who also chairs the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, also said he is seriously considering a run. 

"I am certainly interested and I think I bring a unique skill set," he said, citing leadership experience as mayor of one of the county's municipalities and running the Wisconsin chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman also said he was exploring the opportunity and talking with his family about a potential run. It’s a big decision, said Wasserman, who sits on the finance committee, where he sees the county contending with its financial challenges.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson, who is also considering a run, said in a statement that she had been approached about running and is "flattered by the confidence in my leadership." She said she and Abele worked on many issues together and she is proud of what they accomplished.

Dan Bice and Molly Beck of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr. 

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.