On April 7, Milwaukee held non-partisan elections for School Board and other office. Wendell J. Harris, an activist in the Socialist Party for many years, was elected to the Board, defeating an incumbent. Harris was also the Socialist Party candidate for Mayor of Milwaukee in 2000. He is a vice chair of the NAACP of Milwaukee. See this story. The vote was: Harris 3,467; Jeff Spence 2,053. Thanks to Stephen Hauser for the news.
Of course, everyone here knows that Milwaukee elected three Socialist mayors in the early 20th Century, the only major city to do so.
Good. All third parties need to encourage their membership to seek local offices (school boards, water districts, justice of the peace, town councils and the like). Success in such campaigns and in office helps to build “creditability” of their candidates before the general public.
Sounds like he may have been well known in his community, as well as being involved. That helps, in these local elections.
Correcting Brian J’s comment, a number of major cities elected Socialist mayors in the early 20th century. What was unique about Milwaukee was that they elected a Socialist mayor in the mid-20th century (Frank Zeidler served three terms from 1948 to 1960).