Maybe it was the venue, or maybe it was the audience, but whatever the cause, the Jan. 29 question-and-answer session with nine of Milwaukee's 10 mayoral candidates was not a garden-variety political function.
When Milwaukee's mayoral hopefuls convened at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, things began as they would at any other venue. At the outset, the regular trio of concerns education, jobs and crime dominated conversation. When the floor opened to students, however, discussion topics took a 180-degree turn to same-sex unions, light rail and conceal-and-carry laws.
The Feb. 17 primary will narrow the field to two candidates. Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke was the only candidate who did not attend.
Education in particular was a big issue.
"If you want to be able to support a family, you have to have an education," said Tom Barrett, one of the 10 remaining mayoral candidates.
Vince Bobot, another mayoral contestant, concurred, as did most of the candidates.
Frank Cumberbatch carried the focus of education over to the next topic of concern Milwaukee's economy and the dearth of quality jobs in the area.
"It's not as simple as just jobs," Cumberbatch said. Students "need lives. Where is the art scene? Where is the music scene? What I am proposing in addition to figuring out how the jobs come is figuring out how to bring in this life? We've got the raise the bar a little bit, then they'll stay."
John Pitta said a big challenge for Milwaukee to overcome is its well-propagated image of being a one-trick town.
"We've got this image of beer and cheese heads and 'Laverne and Shirley,' and that's not going to bring in businesses," Pitta said.
When the floor was opened to questions from the audience of about 200 composed substantially of UWM students an abrupt shift of topics took place.
A UWM student's question about improving infrastructure and parking around UWM turned into an opportunity for the mayoral contestants to showcase their thoughts on public transportation. Light rail, or a citywide commuter train system, was especially debated.
"Someone's going to have to take a leadership position and bring (light rail) here," Leon Todd said. "We are creating our own (traffic) bottlenecks and our own complications."
Sandy Folaron expressed similar sentiments.
"Mass transit is what it's all about," Folaron said. "We have to keep this issue on the table."
Bobot, however, iterated that he was not keen on the concept.
"We don't have the population density, nor do the people of Milwaukee want light rail," Bobot said. "I'm not going to create light rail when the people here don't want it."
Regardless of the light rail issue, however, the candidates harmonized in their opinions on mass transit in general.
"It's something we've missed the boat on," Barrett said.
The debate took a second unexpected turn when another student asked for the candidates' positions on same-sex unions. All who responded to her question were united in support of same-sex unions.
"I'm on the record in support for civil unions," Folaron said, citing that same-sex union members tended to be good workers and contributed to the "creative class" she feels is needed to enliven Milwaukee.
"This issue comes down to two things; respect and rights," Barrett said. "When I talk to individuals, that's what they're interested in. I am not offended by saying that marriage is between a man and a woman, but I think if a same sex couple has been in love for 20 or 30 years, there's nothing wrong with that. That's what this world should be about."
Todd concurred, saying: "I completely support relationships of all kinds. It should be your right to have that kind of relationship."
The potential mayors were not as unanimous in their stances on concealed weapons in Milwaukee.
"Initially, I think it will have a negative impact (on the crime rate), but soon I think it will be no problem, like it is in other areas," said Fifteenth District Alderman Tom Nardelli.
The other candidates responding to the question disagreed.
"I am completely opposed to concealed weapons," Cumberbatch said.
"I'm opposed" to concealed weapons, Bobot said. "Milwaukee is not the Wild Wild West."