Barrett Pledges to Focus on Youth in Victory Speech

Mayor Tom Barrett celebrated the winning of his fourth election at La Perla Mexican restaurant where he gave a speech on proving more opportunities for youth in Milwaukee and his plans for his next term. This is Barrett’s fourth term serving as Milwaukee mayor after winning against Ald. Bob Donovan.

As the night commenced, Barrett started the event off with a speech after receiving congratulations from those who attended. Next to Barrett at the podium was his wife, all smiles, and a crowd of supporters proudly holding “Re-elect Mayor Tom Barrett” signs.

“Tonight is a night of celebration, a night that recognizes that our vision of hope and optimism will prevail,” said Barrett.

Health care, jobs, public safety, and updating water pipes and mains were some of the key points Barrett discussed in his speech.

Barrett plans to provide jobs to the people of Milwaukee by starting to work on the Century City section, where 40 to 80 acres can be used to build on.

Along with the issues facing Milwaukee, Barrett put the greatest focus on youth in Milwaukee. Throughout his speech, Barrett spoke of the significance young people have in the city.

Barrett’s speech consisted of his past and future plans for Milwaukee, with emphasis on issues that he plans to address in his upcoming years as mayor.

Barrett celebrated his election after a day full of voting across Wisconsin. Milwaukee mayor was just one of the elections among many others for politicians across the state.

Public relations coordinators, political advisors, and supporters gathered at La Perla to celebrate Barrett and his campaign while the results from the election started flooding in.

Supporters and guests at the event enjoyed free food catered by the restaurant, and got to share their thoughts on the race and election.

Outside of the restaurant, news stations set up their vans with satellites stretching higher than the building, all in preparation for event coverage. Reporters and cameramen had set up inside of the restaurant to get the perfect shot of Barrett.

Barrett was first elected as Milwaukee mayor in 2004 and ran for his fourth term as mayor on April 5. Barrett competed against Donovan and won with 70% of the votes while Donovan won the remaining 30%.

Barrett received 110,780 votes and Donovan received 46,994 votes, according to the city of Milwaukee Election Commission.

The results from the election had come in, and Barrett was the clear winner.

One of the highlights on youth Barrett gave in his speech was giving jobs and opportunities to youth.

His summer youth employment program, Earn and Learn, began as a way to give jobs to young people in order to keep them off the streets. With Barrett entering his fourth term, his program has put over 25,000 young people to work.

“We have an obligation to make sure there are jobs for kids in the most economically distressed neighborhoods of this city, because if we don’t, we shouldn’t be surprised if there are problems,” said Barrett.

Amongst the sea of people was Marquette student Giulianna Sutkiewicz, a supporter who attended the event after having followed the election.

Sutkiewicz, a worker with mentoring programs for youth girls in Milwaukee, supports the work Barrett has done to help youth throughout Milwaukee.

“I’m a big supporter. I think that he has done a lot for youth in Milwaukee which is a big thing for me,” said Sutkiewicz.

Sutkiewicz expects Barrett to continue implementing policies from his previous term and continue to grow his projects.

Barrett was passed among the reporters to do interviews and give insight to how his campaign and previous work as mayor helped him get reelected.

In an interview with Media Milwaukee, Barrett said that his first move after being re-elected is to unite parts of the city.

“I’ve always felt it’s important to have a mayor who’s going to unite the city rather than try to divide it, and that’s always been my approach, said Barrett.

Working with the community and those who live in Milwaukee has been and will continue to be something Barrett has taken pride in.

“You can not write off a significant part of this city; and I will not do that, I will never do that.”