Hines Out…For Now.
To update an entry of mine from yesterday, Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines has said he’s definitely out as a candidate for Milwaukee Mayor in the next election. However, Hines didn’t rule out a run in the future, saying, “It would be a joy, probably, to serve in a greater capacity, and I would welcome that opportunity.” Sheriff (and possible Mayoral candidate) David Clarke had mentioned Willie Hines as being someone he’d like to see run against Mayor Tom Barrett in the upcoming election, so I can’t help but wonder if Hines begging off for this election will give Clarke a reason to run. Personally, I’m not opposed to Sheriff Clarke running against Mayor Barrett, because I’d like to see Clarke get crushed. Sheriff Clarke’s always been one of my least favorite DINOs, and I can only hope that one of these days folks in Milwaukee are going to wake up and recognize the fact that the ‘D’ next to his name doesn’t make him a Democrat.
Getting back to Hines’ decision not to run against Mayor Barrett, I’d have to say it’s a smart decision, simply because while he’d certainly draw a good deal of support from the community, I think he’d have an increasingly difficult time raising the money that would be necessary to mount a serious challenge to Mayor Barrett.