Supervisor Taylor's political future discussed as rumors surface

In April, Alderman Steve Taylor won his re-election bid to the Franklin Common Council, beginning another three years serving the people of Franklin's 4th District. In addition to his aldermanic duties, Taylor is also a County Supervisor for Milwaukee County's 9th District. Thanks to the State of Wisconsin's Act 14, which Republicans pushed through the state legislature aimed strictly at Democratic Milwaukee County and its Board of Supervisors, all of them are up for re-election next Spring. While months away from making a decision for some, rumors are abound in the Milwaukee County Courthouse that Taylor's contemplating an exit from the County Board.

Taylor, a self-professed lover of politics and a graduate in Political Science from UW-La Crosse, isn't one where anyone would expect rumors of NOT seeking re-election. In fact, it has some curious as to the political future of Franklin's Alderman/County Supervisor next year.

Several sources at the courthouse tell FT it's their belief Taylor's aiming for something else. When asked about whether Taylor would rather seek a more powerful office, it wasn't a debate.

"We were sure he'd be out of the Board within months, off to a higher office," one of the sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told FT. "Unless he has a clear path out I don't think he'd leave (the County Board)."

Looking to confirm or deny these rumors, FT reached out directly to Supervisor Taylor.

"They're categorically false," Taylor told FT in a phone call. "I fully intend on seeking re-election next Spring for the County Board."

When asked about why there are rumors abound regarding this, Taylor didn't know, but hopes to quash them as soon as possible. As for a potential challenge for State Representative Rodriguez, Taylor quickly dismissed those claims, questioning why any Republican would challenge Representative Rodriguez and also noted the current Wisconsin gerrymandering case being heard in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Taylor observed that if the court case comes back favorably for those fighting Republican state legislators on how the legislative district lines were drawn after the 2010 Census, it'd likely place him back in Franklin's primary Assembly District, District 82, currently held by an aging Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin).

While Skowronski is likely to seek re-election in 2018, if the Supreme Court forces Wisconsin to redraw the lines, it could very well be Taylor-made for him to step aside in 2020 and let his longtime friend and political ally take his place in the State Assembly.

Lastly, Taylor made an observation to FT with regards to the false rumors. He believes that it could very well be the workings of County Executive Chris Abele, or his allies, in putting out doubts and questions of Taylor's political future on the County Board. Taylor noted Abele has been recently spending tens of thousands of dollars in hiring staffers and firms to do research statewide - something Taylor argues is nothing short of suggesting a potential Democratic bid for governor next year. If so, the argument is that Abele would prefer a weaker County Board with newly elected individuals, some of whom he might personally support or direct donors to, to keep potential controversies and debates off the Board floor during the Democratic primary. Eliminating folks like Taylor and County Board Chairman Theo Lipscomb is a route to achieve this goal.