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Chris Abele

Chris Abele

Chris Abele is Milwaukee County Executive, a position he won in an April 2011 special election to finish out the final year of the term of Scott Walker, who was elected governor in November 2010. The election was the first attempt at political office for Abele, a Milwaukee philanthropist and business owner. The office is nonpartisan, but Abele has indicated he is a Democrat.

Chris Abele Website

Scorecard

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Pants on Fire

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Latest Fact-Checks By Chris Abele

Clear

Chris Abele
stated on October 2, 2017 a tweet

90 percent of Americans "support universal background checks" for gun purchases.

True

October 3, 2017

Chris Abele
stated on May 18, 2017 an interview

Says David Clarke reduced the number of Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies "from about 700 and something to 300 and something."

Half-True

May 26, 2017

Chris Abele
stated on March 15, 2016 a television ad

An image in a Chris Abele TV ad depicts "wealthy citizens" who would benefit from a "lake" created by the controversial Estabrook Dam.

Pants on Fire!

By James B. Nelson • March 29, 2016

Chris Abele
stated on March 3, 2016 an interview

The Mitchell Park Domes "lose about $1 million-plus every year" and "the number of people going to the Domes has been going down."

False

By James B. Nelson • March 18, 2016

Chris Abele
stated on October 29, 2015 a TV interview

Since he took office as Milwaukee County executive, "we have never raised" bus fares and "this year there’ll be a million route-miles more than there were five years ago."

Mostly True

By Sarah Hauer • November 23, 2015

Chris Abele
stated on November 2, 2015 a TV ad

Says he balanced the Milwaukee County budget "without raising taxes five years in a row."

Half-True

November 10, 2015

Chris Abele
stated on June 24, 2014 a letter to Milwaukee County supervisors

A statewide poll showing 76 percent support and other surveys are a "strong indicator" of broad public support in Milwaukee County for a $10.10 minimum wage

Half-True

By Dave Umhoefer • July 7, 2014

Chris Abele
stated on October 1, 2013 a speech

"We’re one of the only communities in the country that didn’t lose population in the last census."

Pants on Fire!

By Dave Umhoefer • November 3, 2013

Chris Abele
stated on October 1, 2013 a speech

"We’re second only to Boston in college students per capita."

False

By Dave Umhoefer • October 27, 2013

Chris Abele
stated on October 1, 2013 a speech

Milwaukee County has "a parks capital budget that’s bigger than it’s been in the last 10 years."

False

By Dave Umhoefer • October 23, 2013

Chris Abele
stated on July 19, 2013 a letter

On residency requirements for public workers

Half Flip

By Dave Umhoefer • July 21, 2013

Chris Abele
stated on January 18, 2013 an interview

The Milwaukee County Board’s staff grew from four workers to 38 over four decades and now costs taxpayers "a lot more," while the total county workforce was more than cut in half in the same period.

Mostly True

By Dave Umhoefer • January 24, 2013

Chris Abele
stated on April 12, 2012 a statement to the Journal Sentinel

"While Act 10 allowed (Milwaukee County) to save some money, it was millions short of what we needed to fill the hole left by the $28 million cut in state aid."

Half-True

By Steve Schultze • May 28, 2012

Chris Abele
stated on December 15, 2011 a television interview

Says Milwaukee County buses are no less safe now than a year or two ago.

Mostly False

By Dave Umhoefer • January 5, 2012

Chris Abele
stated on September 29, 2011 a speech

The Milwaukee County sheriff’s department "plays only a limited role as a traditional law enforcement agency" and in 2009 reported far fewer crimes to the FBI than the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police did.

Half-True

October 17, 2011

Chris Abele
stated on August 26, 2011 an interview

On Milwaukee County government’s debt burden

Half Flip

By Dave Umhoefer • September 2, 2011

Chris Abele
stated on March 18, 2011 a television ad

Says Jeff Stone = Scott Walker.

Mostly True

By Dave Umhoefer • March 30, 2011

Chris Abele
stated on March 22, 2011 a campaign appearance

Says Milwaukee County Parks director Sue Black has not received a pay raise in five years.

Mostly True

By James B. Nelson • March 28, 2011

Chris Abele
stated on February 11, 2011 a campaign mailer

Says Milwaukee County elected officials drive around in luxury cars "on your dime."

Mostly False

By James B. Nelson • February 14, 2011

Chris Abele
stated on January 31, 2011 a campaign news release

Property tax exemptions can be granted to small businesses that move into Milwaukee County.

False

By Dave Umhoefer • February 9, 2011

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Latest Fact-Checks About Chris Abele

Wisconsin Jobs Now
stated on April 28, 2016 a Facebook posting.

Says Demond Means, "turnaround district" superintendent for Milwaukee Public Schools, said the district "needs to be gutted."

Pants on Fire!

By James B. Nelson • May 18, 2016

David Cullen
stated on January 1, 2014 a constituent newsletter

Action by the Milwaukee County Board will "provide the County Executive with the same level of security as the Governor and the Mayor of Milwaukee while saving taxpayers $300,000."

Pants on Fire!

By Dave Umhoefer • January 19, 2014

David A. Clarke Jr.
stated on February 19, 2012 a television interview

Says Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele "eliminated" sheriff’s office funding for providing security for presidential and presidential campaign visits.

Half-True

March 21, 2012

Jeff Stone
stated on April 1, 2011 a campaign flier

Says Chris Abele, opponent in Milwaukee County executive race, "failed to finish 3 separate colleges, dropping out all 3 times."

Mostly True

By Dave Umhoefer • April 1, 2011

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