Jim Sullivan, head of Child Support Services in Milwaukee County, announces run for county executive

The head of Milwaukee County’s Child Support Services announced Wednesday he would run for the county executive seat to be vacated by incumbent Chris Abele.

Jim Sullivan, the director of the child support department since 2011, is the ninth person to file to join the race.

Sullivan finished third in the 2011 race for county executive, the election that put Abele in office. Abele decided in October he would not run again. Sullivan is likely to have the financial backing of the deep-pocketed Abele.

“When that happened, a number of people approached me and said, Jim this is the opportunity for you to return to a more public level of public service, to step up and to run as Chris’ successor,” Sullivan said Wednesday in his announcement speech at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

In his speech, Sullivan said he understands the job better than the other candidates because he has a range of experience — from municipal experience on the Wauwatosa Common Council to serving in the state Legislature for four years.

“I’m the only one that’s actually run a county department with a staff of 136 and a budget of $20 million,” he said.

He said he learned at the county level that people want quality services that are also affordable and sustainable.

“They need them to be delivered in an efficient fashion. Because if we lose track of that degree of economic, fiscal responsibility, then we lose track of our mission,” he said. “Because if the county is not financially sound, all the important things that we do cannot be accomplished.”

Sullivan, an attorney, joins a crowded race that includes: state Sen. Chris Larson, state Rep. David Crowley, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy, Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr., nonprofit founder Purnima Nath, Milwaukee County Transit System bus driver Yaghnam F. Yaghnam, former Franklin Ald. Doug Schmidt and clerical specialist Peggy M.M. Wittmant of the Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court.

The primary is in February and the general election is in April.

Note: This story has been corrected to include Purnima Nath's profession.

Contact Sophie Carson at (414) 223-5512 or scarson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SCarson_News.