Milwaukee Election Leader Replaced by Mayor in Surprise Move

In a surprising turn of events, Milwaukee's election leader, Claire Woodall, has been ousted by the city's mayor, Cavalier Johnson. This change comes just six months before Wisconsin's largest city takes the spotlight as a presidential swing state. Mayor Johnson announced on Monday that Woodall would be replaced by her deputy, Paulina Gutierrez.

The decision to remove Woodall has nothing to do with her performance in running elections, according to the mayor's spokesperson, Jeff Fleming. Instead, it stems from "other issues internal to the election commission office and to city government that raised concern." However, the spokesperson declined to provide further details about these issues.

Woodall, who has been leading the Milwaukee Election Commission since 2020, did not respond to messages seeking comment. Meanwhile, Gutierrez, who has only been a staff member at the city election commission for a little over a year, also did not return messages.

Woodall has been vocal about the challenges faced by election officials in recent years. After the 2020 election, she reported being harassed and threatened via email, phone calls, and even letters to her home. These threats were serious enough that she has been assigned an FBI agent to handle them.

The change in leadership comes just days after Woodall's former deputy, Kimberly Zapata, was sentenced for misconduct in office and fraud. Zapata claimed she was acting as a whistleblower, exposing vulnerabilities in the state's election system. Nonetheless, the mayor and others involved in elections assure that this change will not impact the running of future elections in Milwaukee.

Mayor Johnson expressed confidence in Gutierrez, stating that her integrity and capabilities make her suitable for the position. Johnson emphasized the importance of her leadership at a time when public scrutiny of the department's work will be exceptionally high. He also pledged to provide the resources necessary for the department to fulfill its duties.

Neil Albrecht, who previously led the office for 15 years, has offered his assistance as a volunteer. Johnson's decision to replace Woodall coincides with his reelection and the requirement to renominate all Cabinet-level positions for city council approval.

The move has surprised some, including Ann Jacobs, a Democratic member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission from Milwaukee. Jacobs acknowledged that changes like these are challenging but emphasized that elections are not dependent on one person. She expressed confidence in the professionalism of the office and expects the election to be run smoothly and properly.

With the spotlight on Milwaukee as a key city in Wisconsin's closely contested elections, the leadership change in the election commission is sure to draw attention. As the city prepares for the upcoming presidential election, the focus will now be on Gutierrez and her ability to effectively lead the office during this crucial time.