One thing that Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski does very well is to cue in on issues that generate the interest of the media. Seeking out opportunities to be at odds with his colleagues or the Executive branch and be vocal about it seems to be something that Zielinski is working on mastering and any media attention Zielinski can draw now that he has announced his intention to seek the democatic nomination for Leitenant Governor is likely to help him in his run. Zielinski is a smart enough pol to know that the media usually takes the easy route and just covers what the Executive branch has to say and Zielinski’s not above getting nasty if it means an opportunity to get his face in the news.

Usually the person who is running for Lieutenant Governor and Governor have at least a cordial relationship and they don’t work at cross purposes to each other. But if Mayor Tom Barrett, who hasn’t yet ruled out a run for Governor, wins the democratic nomination it could be awkward for Zielinski if he wins the democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

But will it backfire?

A few weeks ago, Mayor Barrett asked the State to support his plan to turn over the running of Milwaukee Schools to the City. As is to be expected, the Milwaukee School Board members opposed Barrett’s plan. In Barrett’s weekly email update Barrett writes:

There are critics of school governance reform who have correctly pointed out that the citizens of Milwaukee hold me responsible for addressing many issues – job creation, crime reduction, and health issues such as teen pregnancy. However, those who follow by suggesting I should therefore not be concerned about the academic achievement of Milwaukee Public Schools fail to recognize that these problems are inextricably linked and must be addressed collectively.

We cannot expect the educational attainment of our workforce to increase and diversify as long as we continue to have more than 70% of our 10th graders not proficient in reading and fewer than 40% of MPS graduates enrolling in post secondary programs within a year of graduation.

Zielinski doesn’t agree with Barrett’s plan for reform and he’s being vocal about it. In his fight for the status quo, Zielinski is using a populist strategy. Zielinski describes a meetings he attended as a “community meeting opposing the Mayoral effort to take our right to vote away for school board”.

Whether his strategy of “the Mayor’s bad and I’m good” will work is yet to be seen.

You have to wonder though, with this apparent animosity from Zielinski, whether they could be effective if they end up running together for state office. Even if he’s not successful and both stay in City government, will they be able to effectively work together for their mutual constituents.