An Op-Ed By Alex Brower, Candidate for Milwaukee Common Council (District 3)
The City of Milwaukee is set to vote on a new Common Council representative for District 3 in the coming weeks, and I am proud to represent a working class movement as the endorsed candidate of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Milwaukee chapter. My name is Alex Brower, and I am a nonprofit executive, union president, and community leader. As a Riverwest resident for over 10 years, I look forward to serving all of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods on the Common Council, and continuing to organize workers and communities for a better world.
In over a decade of organizing for Wisconsin’s working class, I have served on several local initiatives and boards. I am currently a member of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association where I have been serving as the President of the Milwaukee Substitute Teachers’ Association (MSTA), the council within the union representing substitute teachers. Professionally, I am the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, where I work with seniors and their families to advocate for health and economic security. I have worked in Riverwest and throughout the city to develop cooperatives, fight for better wages and benefits for workers, and mentor others to become movement leaders. All these experiences have taught me that we need a profound change in our city government if we are going to meet the needs of the people who live here.
MY PLATFORM
As a democratic socialist, I believe in a just society, democratic economy, and sustainable environment. The struggles of our moment require a transformative platform for the working class of Milwaukee. People here deserve a safe and healthy city, and this campaign seeks to achieve better conditions for the working class through systemic change instead of merely serving the same business interests often prioritized by local government.
With reckless driving rampant, an incoming far-right president bent on attacking marginalized communities, and crime continuing to impact neighborhoods across our city, Milwaukeeans want the city they call home to feel secure. We need to make this city safer for everyone by tackling the root causes of our unease. That means we must work to eliminate poverty, increase public and affordable housing, tackle systemic oppression, improve city infrastructure and public transit, welcome immigrant communities, and support those who are marginalized.
As a member of the Common Council, I will work towards replacing We Energies with a municipal or cooperative utility using Chapter 197 of the Wisconsin State Statutes, and I will stand up for public schools in a city where public education has been under attack for decades. I will take action to halt the City of Milwaukee’s chartering of private schools, and I will publicly and procedurally fight any attempt to eliminate the democratically elected Board of School Directors, including a city, state, or mayoral takeover. Milwaukeeans are united by MPS and I will oppose breaking up the district in any fashion. The profit motive does not belong in our public services, regardless of whether that service is education or electricity.
Furthermore, city workers deserve living wages, quality benefits, labor protections, and a great work environment. As a member of the Common Council, I will ensure that the workers who make our city function are never overlooked and always receive a fair deal from any legislation, budget, or policy.
WHY ME?
Our campaign is tired of being offered the same broken, ineffective solutions to our city’s problems. That’s why we are taking a new approach to change that empowers workers across the city instead of exploiting them. This change demands a people-focused, grassroots campaign that is willing to say “No,” to the powers that be, and so we rely on the work of ordinary, working-class volunteers to fight for something bigger than themselves. In short, we will only win if we all stand up together.
I’m Alex Brower, and I am running to represent District 3 on the Milwaukee Common Council in what is shaping up to be a highly contested race. Our campaign is ready for a city government that serves the people, rather than demanding your vote and giving you little in return. The power to make change is in your hands—are you ready to take this opportunity with us?
Primary voting for this race ends Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Election day voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you would like to learn more about our campaign or if you would like to volunteer with us, please visit https://AlexBrowerForCommonCouncil.org/.
In solidarity,
Alex Brower
