April 3 is election day. There are two candidates -- Phil Chavez and Jennifer Havas -- vying for the Milwaukee Municipal Court bench left vacant by retiring Judge James Gramling Jr. The position is a four-year term and, according to city records, pays $127,882 per year.
We asked each candidate the following eight questions. Their answers are presented verbatim from e-mailed responses. Read, form an opinion, check out their Web sites and vote on Tuesday.
1. Where were you born and where are you working now?
Phil Chavez: I was born in Milwaukee. I am currently working as a Milwaukee County Reserve Municipal Judge, WDPI-certified substitute teacher, a high school football coach and I am a sole practitioner for the Law Offices of Phil Chavez, SC.
Jennifer Havas: I was born in Las Vegas and left after high school. Began my legal career in Milwaukee after graduating from law school in 1995. Have lived in Milwaukee ever since.
2. Where did you attend college/law school?
Chavez: I received my BA as a double major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994. I received my J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1998.
Havas: Arizona State University B.A. in English and B.A. in Journalism. Law school in St. Paul Minnesota at Hamline University.
3. Previous experience relevant to Municipal Court?
Chavez: I have been a municipal judge in some capacity since 2002. I was elected to two consecutive two-year terms in the Dane County jurisdictions of Mount Horeb, Primrose and Perry from 2002 to 2006. During that time I substituted for the Milwaukee Municipal Courts as a judge. I was most recently appointed by Milwaukee County Chief Judge Kitty Brennan to serve as a Milwaukee County Municipal Reserve Judge in April of 2006 and have served in the Milwaukee Municipal Courts in this capacity for the past year to the present. I have sat as a judge on all three branches of the Milwaukee Municipal Court including arraignments, trials and juvenile court. I have five years of municipal judge experience in the State of Wisconsin and four years of municipal judge experience in the City of Milwaukee.
Havas: Law practice has focused on municipal court for more than a decade. Represented thousands of Milwaukeeans in the court I am seeking election as well as all over the state. Have taught continuing legal education seminars on topics in Municipal Law and volunteered for educational programs for repeat offenders in municipal court.
4. What previous positions have you campaigned for?
Chavez: Mount Horeb/Primrose/Perry Multi-jurisdictional Municipal Judge, 2002 and 2004.
Havas: Never ran for elected office.
5. Major endorsements
Chavez:
Judges and Elected Officials
Appellate Court Judge Ted Wedemeyer
Municipal Court Judge Jon Hajny
Municipal Court Judge Peter Hemmer
Municipal Court Reserve Judge Roger Paulsen
Municipal Court Reserve Judge Patrick Moczynski
Municipal Court Judge Jodey Morey
Municipal Court Judge David Nispel
Municipal Court Judge Bruce Goodnough
Municipal Court Judge Joseph Purpero
Municipal Judge Philip Freeburg
Municipal Judge Dan Koval
Municipal Judge Daniel Floeter
Honorable Dan LaRocque
Circuit Court Judge Kevin Martens
Circuit Court Judge Ralph Ramirez
Senator Lena Taylor
State Representative Pedro Colon
State Representative Christine Sinicki
State Representative Josh Zepnick
State Representative Jon Richards
Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West
Milwaukee County Supervisor Toni Clark
Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic
Milwaukee County Clerk Mark Ryan
Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines, Jr.
Milwaukee Alderman Jim Bohl
Milwaukee Alderman Robert Puente
Milwaukee Alderman James Witkowiak
Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski
Milwaukee Alderman Willie Wade
Milwaukee Alderman Ashanti Hamilton
Milwaukee Alderman Joe Davis
Milwaukee Alderman Joe Dudzik
Organizations and Unions
The Milwaukee County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Milwaukee Police Association
Milwaukee Fire Department Chiefs Association
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association, Local 215
Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5001
United Steelworkers Local 2006
AFSCME, District Council 48
Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association
Wisconsin State Employees Union Local 1737
Citizens
Barry Alvarez
Bret Bielema
Martin Greenberg
Maria Monreal-Cameron
Bobbie Weber
Havas:
Judges and Elected Officials
Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler
State Senator Spencer Coggs
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judges
Judge David Borowski
Judge Paul Van Grunsven
Judge Glenn Yamahiro
Judge Tom Donegan
Judge Marshall Murray
Judge Tim Witkowiak
Judge Fred Rosa,
Judge John Siefert
Judge Jeff Conen,
Judge Jane Carroll
Judge Mary Khuenmench
Judge William Brash III
Judge Daniel Noonan
Judge Dennis Cimpl
Judge M. Joseph Donald
Judge Charles Kahn, Jr.
Judge Bonnie Gordon
Judge Jeff Wagner
Judge Russell Stamper
Local Municipal Court judges
Judge Richard Baker, Wauwatosa
Judge Thomas Wilkoski, Greenfield
Judge Paul Murphy, West Allis
Judge Michael Hurt, Menomonee Falls
Judge Anthony Machi Greendale
Judge Richard Steinberg, Brookfield
Judge Gary Glojek Pewaukee
Progressive Majority
Milwaukee Deputy Sheriff's Association
AFSCME Local 48
6. Define success, please.
Chavez: Success is doing what you love most, regardless of money or notoriety.
Havas: Success is a journey -- with numerous peaks and valleys. It's having the guts to choose a path a stick to it. Success is not about just setting goals but the travels one gets on the way to reaching them. Success is being able to laugh at yourself, make others laugh and to have a clear idea of who you are that is never defined by your work or profession. Success is using your own unique gifts to make a difference in the lives of others and to make the most of the cards you are dealt.
7. Age and favorite TV show?
Chavez: Age 35. Tie for show: "Rescue Me" and "The Shield."
Havas: 39 years old. Favorite television Show: "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
8. Favorite downtown Milwaukee bar/restaurant?
Chavez: There are so many great places. However, here are a few of my favorites: Gus' Mexican Cantina, Bad Genie, La Perla, Riverwalk Bistro, and Hemingway's.
Havas: The Calderone Club. Always great.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
