Candidates had until June 18 to file for a Milwaukee City Council special election for District 13. A primary is scheduled for July 16, and the general election is August 13.

 

Seven candidates filed by the deadline, including a former state assembly member, Josh Zepnick. The six other candidates are Patty Doherty, James Krickeberg, Jacob Krieg, Walt Love, Scott Spiker, and Patricia Torres Najera.

 

Zepnick lost his bid for re-election in 2018 following sexual misconduct allegations. He was removed from his committee assignments in 2017 by state Assembly leaders after The Capital Times reported that he had kissed two women without their consent in 2011 and 2015. Zepnick apologized and said the incidents were related to his alcohol consumption. He said, “While I have no recollection of these alleged incidents, there is never an excuse for inappropriate behavior. I take the claims seriously and respect the feelings of the women involved. I apologize to both women for my actions and for any distress that I may have caused.”

 

The special election became necessary following Alderman Terry Witkowski’s resignation on May 30, 2019. He had served on the city council since 2003.

 

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the 30th-largest city in the U.S. by population.