Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee council confirms election chief after staff members voice concerns
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The Milwaukee Common Council confirmed city election chief Paulina Gutiérrez on Tuesday after election staff had repeatedly voiced concerns about her appointment and one sent the mayor a letter a month ago saying she struggled to handle her job.
Gutiérrez, who joined the Milwaukee Election Commission in 2023 after holding jobs unrelated to election administration, is now slated to lead it through four elections in the next five months, including the contentious 2024 presidential election. She was confirmed unanimously without debate.
Through a public records request, Votebeat obtained two letters from staff members outlining concerns about Gutiérrez, which they sent after they learned of her coming appointment, in a surprise move that included the ousting of longtime director Claire Woodall.
Jonatan Zuñiga, a senior member of the commission staff, said in a May 3 letter to Mayor Cavalier Johnson that Gutiérrez “does not have the election administration, election law, WisVote voter registration system, or operations experience or knowledge needed to lead our department in a Presidential election.”
“Having worked closely with Paulina for the past year, I have witnessed firsthand how she continues to struggle with basic procedures within her area of management and with working effectively under stressful situations,” Zuñiga continued.
In his letter, Zuñiga said he wanted to draw attention to the “significant impact that this decision has already had on our 11-member team,” adding that two staffers stated their intentions to leave the election commission this summer.
“The prospect of losing two or more experienced staff members mere months before a presidential election is deeply concerning and presents an insurmountable challenge for our department,” he said.
The mayor’s office provided the letter Tuesday morning, moments before Gutiérrez’s confirmation vote and over a month after Votebeat requested communications about staff concerns.
Zuñiga released a statement Tuesday saying he wrote the letter the day he learned about the leadership change, which he called “a significant shock.” He added that after several meetings “to move forward, work together, and build trust,” Gutiérrez now had his full support.
“We are committed to ensuring the next four elections are secure, transparent, and accessible to all voters,” he said.
The other letter, sent by election commission training manager Jennifer Bennett on May 3, is less detailed but outlines that she has “specific concerns regarding Paulina’s ability to successfully lead our team.” Bennett didn’t respond to a request for comment.
In addition to the letters, election commission staff met with the mayor’s chief of staff and expressed their concerns about Gutiérrez in her presence.
The mayor’s office pushed back, saying the mayor “vehemently disagrees” with the concerns in Zuñiga’s original letter and describing Gutiérrez as “highly qualified and experienced in elections.”
“She has already improved processes and is well prepared for the special election, the primary election, and the general election coming up over the coming months,” Johnson spokesperson Jeff Fleming said on Tuesday.
“It is clear from the unanimous confirmation vote at the Milwaukee Common Council this morning that Gutiérrez is highly respected by leaders at the City of Milwaukee,” he continued. “The Mayor has great confidence in her ability and integrity as she leads elections here.”
Gutiérrez didn’t directly respond to questions about how she’ll respond to staff concerns, but thanked the city council for its vote of confidence and said she is focused on administering elections fairly.
In early May, Johnson appointed Gutiérrez to the job that Woodall had held since 2020. He hasn’t explained in detail why he didn’t choose to reappoint Woodall, who largely had the backing of election commission staff.
Woodall, who had previously worked in Milwaukee elections for 11 years, with a brief break in 2019 to serve as Cedarburg’s clerk, said she was ousted because she was quoted in a recent news article criticizing election staff over a ballot error. A spokesperson for the mayor said there was more to it but declined to be more specific.
In appointing Gutiérrez, Johnson said her “integrity and capabilities are ideally suited to this position. “I have confidence in her, and I will make certain the department has the resources it needs to fulfill its duties.”
Since appointing Gutiérrez, multiple election commission staff have told Votebeat and the mayor’s office that they’re concerned about her inexperience in elections and management style.
Bennett appeared concerned enough following news of the appointment that she called the mayor on his personal phone, which chief of staff Nick DeSiato said she shouldn’t do going forward, according to emails Votebeat received in response to a public records request.
Election officials say running elections is a highly stressful job requiring technical knowledge and the ability to make multiple consequential decisions in very short periods of time. That job is especially under the microscope in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s biggest city and a Democratic stronghold, where the slightest mistake — or even a perceived error — can trigger speculation or suspicion of election malfeasance. Milwaukee has two special elections in July before the statewide August primary.
But Gutiérrez has reassured staff and the public that she’ll be up to the task.
In a memo to staff following her appointment, Gutiérrez said, “I am building a network of people with experience in elections to support our efforts in this upcoming critical election year. I am also connecting with other jurisdictions and election leaders to assist in my transition.”
Until early August she will also have Woodall, who took the temporary role of associate director to assist with the transition. The extended contract requires Woodall to work remotely but allows Gutiérrez to ask her questions about leading elections.
Gutiérrez breezes through Milwaukee confirmation process
Despite staff concerns over Gutiérrez’s appointment, she faced little pushback from city council members during the confirmation process. She received several letters of recommendation, including from former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske and Milwaukee Harbor District CEO Tia Torhorst.
The most critical questioning in her confirmation process came during a committee proceeding on June 3 from Alderman Scott Spiker, who asked her whether she may be “a little too green for such a momentous election.”
In response, Gutiérrez said she’s been in her role since early 2023 and during that time led the city’s central count, where election officials tally absentee ballots.
“I have a large network of … former and current election officials that are just a phone call away, which has been great,” she said. “And again, elections are not run by just one person but by a group of people. And so I’m very lucky the staff that I have, who are committed to running elections, are consummate professionals, so I am confident in their abilities. And in places where I need assistance, I know where to go and get those resources. So I’m feeling really good about the future.”
Spiker also asked how Gutiérrez would deal with internal discord over her appointment.
“Change is hard, and different people react to it differently,” Gutiérrez said.
“I just want to assure everyone here today and the City of Milwaukee that our loyalty is to fair and transparent elections,” she said.
Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Alexander at ashur@votebeat.org.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam talks greater involvement, Giannis future
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam says that he will have a greater involvement with the team and that includes the decision on if to re-sign Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Milwaukee Bucks know their placement in the 2026 NBA Draft, slotted No. 10 for their first lottery pick in a decade. Who are some of the possible selections at that spot when June 23 rolls around?
Check out what the first post-lottery wave of mock drafts has to say, most of them pointing to same prospect, that being Nate Ament of Tennessee, a 6-10 freshman small forward.
Nate Ament, forward, Tennessee
From Spencer Woo of ESPN: “While Ament’s stock has slipped from an early top-five projection, he had productive stretches this season within a tricky team context and has room to help himself in workouts. Although scouts are split on whether he has star potential or projects better as a long-term supporting player, there is still plenty of intrigue around Ament in the lottery. As a tall skill player with shotmaking upside, Ament fits a player archetype that teams often love to swing on. As Milwaukee considers a post-Antetokounmpo future, a malleable upside swing such as Ament could be a fit.”
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports: “The Bucks should take a swing to jump-start their new era, whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of it. Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and he severely struggled during the tournament. Bucks general manager Jon Horst has never been afraid to take risks though. If Ament pans out, it could look like a stroke of genius.”
Gary Parrish of CBS Sports: “Ament had an up-and-down freshman season for the Vols – but the upside isn’t hard to spot. Less than a year ago, the 2025 McDonald’s All-American was considered a possible top-five pick. So getting Ament here would be nice for a Bucks franchise that seems on the verge of rebuilding after presumably trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.”
The Ringer: “Barring some transactional magic, this could be Milwaukee’s best bite at the talent apple in the draft for a while. The Bucks don’t currently have control over a first-round pick until 2031. If Giannis Antetokounmpo decides it’s time to move on, this roster will be rudderless and talent-deprived. If Giannis decides not to move on, it’ll have a rudder but still won’t go anywhere. Less than ideal, but that makes this a ‘best player available’ scenario, or rather ‘best wager available.’ There are definitely more stable options in this range, but Ament’s higher possible outcomes justify this pick. Ament fell short of expectations this past season, and he slid from top-five consideration as a result, but the jumbo-sized, smooth-moving ball handler is still a worthy bet here. Handling the ball at 6-foot-10 is an intriguing enough skill to instill some belief that he could develop into a quality asset. And the Bucks can take the risk given their circumstances.
Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports: “Ament is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of outcomes on draft night. A late-blooming 6-foot-10 combo-forward who is fluid, has touch, and skill, he’s also inconsistent and needs to get stronger. While his freshman year was up and down, Ament’s overall arc has been linear, and there’s still glaring potential. That upside makes him a logical choice for a Milwaukee team that has a very uncertain future ahead of them.”
Brian Lewis of New York Post: “After the run on guards, taking an upside swing on a gifted developmental player here seems like a worthy gamble for a Bucks team that could be in full-on rebuild in a post-Giannis era.”
Two other names mentioned
From Eric Nehm of The Athletic: “This was an incredibly difficult pick to make without knowing what the Bucks are going to do with Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the 10-time All-Star forward remains in Milwaukee, it might make more sense to look at someone like Yaxel Lendeborg, who could make an impact right away and give the Bucks more size and skill. Instead, though, I went with Philon, who has a lot of offensive upside and could be protected on the defensive end by Ryan Rollins. Philon is an electrifying offensive player who shot 50 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3 while averaging 22 points, 3.5 rebounds and five assists per game last season.”
From Kurt Helin of NBC Sports: “The Bucks need all the backcourt help they can get, and Burries may not be flashy, but he does a lot of things well — he can play on and off the ball, can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers but also attack closeouts, and he gets downhill off screens and has a midrange pull-up game.”
Brad Paisley (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE – Brad Paisley is scheduled to perform at the BMO Pavilion in Milwaukee on Sept. 4.
Ticket information
What we know:
The ticket pre-sale for Brad’s fan club members, Paisley Nation, begins on Tuesday, May 12 at 10 am. All tickets available at BradPaisley.com.
The tour will also offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Packages vary but include premium seats, a guided backstage tour, VIP-exclusive gift item, early entry & more. VIP package contents vary depending on the selected offer. For more information, visit VIPnation.com.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by Live Nation.
Billionaire Wes Edens, co-founder of Fortress Investment Group and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA club, is shown at Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 9, 2015. The Wall Street Journal on Sunday identified Edens as the victim of a billion-dollar extortion plot allegedly hatched by an ex-lover. File Photo by Andrew Gombert/EPA
May 10 (UPI) — Wes Edens, the billionaire co-founder of Fortress Investment Group and an owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, was the target of a billion-dollar extortion scheme allegedly perpetrated by an ex-lover, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
A spokesman for Edens, 64, confirmed to the newspaper that the financier is the unnamed alleged victim in a federal indictment brought against Changli “Sophia” Luo of New York City.
Edens, one of world’s most successful global investment management firm leaders with Fortress, has developed and owned businesses in real estate, transportation, infrastructure, health care, financial services, media and entertainment.
He is also a high-profile sports team owner, including the Bucks and soccer club Aston Villa of the English Premier League. He is credited turning the Bucks from a perennial cellar dweller into a champion squad over a five-year span, culminating in the 2021 NBA championship.
But he also fell victim to a lurid alleged “sextortion” scheme, his spokesman confirmed to the WSJ, admitting the Edens is the unnamed “Victim 1” cited an indictment filed last year in Manhattan federal court against Luo.
The indictment reportedly accuses her of trying to extort Victim 1 of more than $1 billion by threatening to release videos and photos of them engaged in sex. Prosecutors alleged Luo also threatened to contact the victim’s family members and business partners in a threat to destroy his fortune if he did not pay up.
According to the indictment, Luo was arrested June 14 at JFK International Airport as she tried to board a flight to China, the New York Post reported.
“Mr. Edens will be making no comment on the case as the indictment speaks for itself with respect to the charges against the defendant,” his spokesman told the Journal. “Mr. Edens expects to testify under oath at the upcoming trial.”
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