Gubernatorial candidate Mark Green, R-Green Bay, announced his plan to improve Milwaukee's educational system Monday, a piece of his larger plan, ""Move Milwaukee Forward."" Critics cite Milwaukee as an important area for a Republican to garner votes to win the Nov. 7 election.
The plan targets Milwaukee's high unemployment and crime rate through faith-based and community organizations.
According to Jay Heck, director of Common Cause Wisconsin, in order for a Republican to win the gubernatorial election, they must cut down the big margins Democrats traditionally accumulate in the cities of Madison and Milwaukee.
""Milwaukee contains some of the most economically troubled parts of the state,"" Heck said. ""There are a lot of jobs being lost in the area, so a candidate for governor has to address the largest city in the state in order to truly be a state-wide candidate.""
Heck stressed former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson traditionally did well in Milwaukee, and if a Republican can carry Milwaukee, it is likely that Green will win the gubernatorial election.
However, Doyle's campaign said the plan will ""devastate"" Milwaukee citizens. Green has already put forward two plans that would devastate Milwaukee. His budget plan would mean fewer police and firefighters, and his education plan would mean fewer teachers in the classroom,"" said Anne Lupardus, spokesperson for Doyle.
Charles Franklin, a UW-Madison political science professor, said winning the city of Milwaukee is realistically out of reach for Green, but decreasing the margin by which Democrats win the city would be helpful.
Franklin said the gay marriage ban amendment on Madison's ballot initiative could split black votes in Milwaukee because polling data shows blacks are in favor of the amendment.
""Dividing the black vote on the [gay marriage ban] was hoped by the Republicans to carry over to dividing the vote for governor,"" Franklin said.
According to Franklin, Green should focus on the problems of Milwaukee as an important political strategy, but he must show genuine intent in order to move votes.
""[Green] needs to know how to take a small advantage and turn it into a more wide-reaching and credible plan, which working class and African-American voters can be attracted to,"" Franklin said.
