And welcome back.
It is the Chad Holmes Show on 98.9 WXCO.
I am Chad Holmes and this morning I'm actually being joined here in studio by our WXCO news reporter Isabella Nieto.
Isabella, welcome into the studio.
You are usually off working covering all those news stories.
Glad to have you here in the studio for our interview.
Thanks Chad, happy to be here.
and also across the table.
We're very happy to welcome one of the Democratic candidates for governor of the state of Wisconsin here in 2026.
The Milwaukee County Executive David Crawley and Mr. Crawley.
Thank you for coming in here into studio in downtown Wausau.
Absolutely glad to be here in Wausau.
Thank you for having me as
always.
As I mentioned to you when he came in, this is the second time I had a chance to
talk
to you.
I said the day before President Biden left the race we had you on.
I thought you were
outstanding that day.
Really were able to talk about the issues involving that race and I'm very curious to.
to hear some of the issues about your race now for governor.
And again, really glad to have you here this morning.
Let's start off again, the generic question that you always have to ask, why are you running for governor?
And I'll add to that.
Why are you running for governor now in 2026?
Well, first and foremost, I'm the only candidate that not only served in a legislature, but actually have experienced running government.
I've had to balance billion-dollar budgets and actually had to tackle many of the toughest issues head on.
And we've been able to build affordable housing for seniors, for working families, for people with disabilities.
We've been able to implement our no-wrong door model of care in making sure that no one falls through the cracks, and that has helped us to reduce our overdose deaths by 30 percent.
But we've also been able to reduce the amount of people going to our emergency rooms and in our jails.
And I think that this is a great opportunity for us to focus on a real vision, putting something on the table for Wisconsinites.
And I think Democrats, many of us have been, you know, frustrated not only with who's occupying the White House, but quite frankly, personally, I'm also frustrated with Democrats, the fact that we haven't put a real agenda, a real vision on the table that brings lost voices like young people and independence.
back into the fold and really focusing on how do we make sure that when a tide rise, all the boats rise in every community in Wisconsin.
You mentioned the work that you've been doing as Milwaukee County Executive and I imagine a lot of folks that you talk to here in Central Wisconsin, maybe the northern part of the state, not aware of the role that the County Executive in Milwaukee has.
I guess I'm gonna ask you a little bit about the job itself.
Some of the positions in government are more powerful than others.
opportunities to do a lot of good.
Could you talk a little bit about that position and and maybe as well try to connect it with
being a governor, how would it compare in terms of being an executive for the most populous county in the state
of
Wisconsin and to move to Madison and be a governor for the entire state?
Well, as county executive, I am the executive.
I'm like the governor of Milwaukee County.
I represent 19 different cities and villages.
They all have their unique personalities and all have their unique needs.
I represent a million people, which is close to a sixth of the entire state's population.
And so the things that we've been
able to tackle, they cut across geographical lines.
And quite frankly, they cut across partisanship.
And within Milwaukee County, I control about a close to a $2 billion budget.
We are responsible for.
not only the public safety needs when it comes down to the courthouse and the jail or our community reintegration center or juvenile justice.
We also provide programs of support for our seniors, for young people, with people with disabilities.
We provide all the mental health care, and we've been able to kind of transform and improve other models that we've been able to implement.
But we also have our county transit system in our parks, some of our most used amenities that people care about.
These are all the things, whether you're a Democrat or Republican, these aren't partisan.
issues, these are issues that matter to every Wisconsinite.
And I think that, you know, I'm in a similar position that a former governor that we had, Governor Scott Walker, was
in before
he became governor of Wisconsin.
No, we're definitely two different people.
I want to put that out there.
But I would say that being kind of executive is truly
the training grounds when you think about being able to take the next step, governing an entire state, and making sure that no community is left behind.
Because as the county executive, I've had to tackle issues like public safety, public health, but I've also had to be there in modes of crisis and really talk to the community members that I represent and letting them know that I'm going to be there for them and make sure that they're not left behind.
Isabella, I'll let you
talk.
So you have this, you know, some of these big city experiences.
You mentioned your time in the state legislature and in Milwaukee.
Can you tell me a little bit about how you are planning to appeal to more rural voters that might be wary of somebody with only, you know, major city experience?
How would you, how are you working to appeal to rural voters?
Well, first, I'm a true Wisconsinite.
And so born in Milwaukee, but I've never just spent all my time in Milwaukee.
You know, my father was a retired mass electrician and my grandfather traveled all across the state because they love the recreational activities that Wisconsin provides.
So I've been all up and down Lake Michigan for some fishing, but also, you know, going to places all over the state as well to do some duck hunting.
But I would also say that, you know, when I was first elected,
to the state legislature in 2016.
I'm one of the very few legislators in Wisconsin's history that had to share an office.
And one of those individuals that I shared an office with was Don Vruink, who we both came in together, but he represented smaller municipalities, small-town rural Wisconsin through and through.
But by sharing that office, it gave me an opportunity to learn a little bit more.
about real life.
What's going on with our agricultural industry, what some of our family farms are going through, but also how we can improve the recreational outdoor activity that we have all across the state.
And so I want folks to know I'm going to be a governor for all of us.
And my job is to go across and not only just talk about the things that I think is important, but it's important to listen.
I think folks want a governor who not only understands...
what the struggle looks like, but that's going to listen and make sure that those who are directly impacted by the issues also have a voice to land to the solutions.
Again, we are talking to a David Crawley, the Milwaukee County executive and candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in the state of Wisconsin.
We have to take a timeout.
We're going to have an information update here at the bottom of the hour and then come back with more of our discussion.
Isabella Nieto and myself yesterday afternoon had a chance to talk here in studio to David Crowley.
That's coming up as we continue here on our first day back.
It is currently 28 degrees under overcast guys here in downtown Wausau.
The time is 829.
It is the Chad Homeshow on 98.9 WXCO.
Chad Homeshow, 98.9 WXCO.
First day back, it's great to be back.
Join us every weekday morning starting at 8.06 here on 98.9 WXCO.
And also our second hour will be live on YouTube and online as well.
And we're continuing our discussion with one of the Democrats running for governor.
as we get into 2026.
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, was in Wausau yesterday and had a chance to stop by and talk to myself and Isabella Nieto.
And here's the final few minutes of this
conversation.
issues that are you're hoping to kind of push for in, you know, the Democratic field is getting pretty wide for this race.
How are you hoping to stand out compared to the other candidates?
Well, I'm the only candidate in this race that not only served in the state legislature, but again, I've tackled billion-dollar budgets.
We've had to tackle the issues that matter most.
And, you know, when I was sworn in as county executive, that was May 4th, 2020.
So many of us want to forget what happened in 2020, but that was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And when you think about how we got us through not just the public health crisis, but fiscal recovery, when it comes down to public safety as well, I'm the only candidate that's had to tackle these issues.
You know, I'm the only one who's also had to deal with crisis.
You know, this past August, we had devastating floods that impacted numerous communities across Wisconsin.
And I had to be out there in the forefront, helping to assist community members on the front lines, being there to tell them that we're going to get through this.
And I personally, I'm going to make sure that no one is left behind.
And no other candidate has been able to do that work other than me.
And I think that's going to help not only me stand out, but I also think that the work that we
have done within Milwaukee County, these aren't Democratic or Republican issues.
These are issues that matter to our entire state.
One other thing I would like to ask
is more of a overall tone or maybe vibe or feel about where we are as a country.
And I've talked a lot about this being 2026, being the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
And at this point in our country's history, having so much, I would call,
Hatred out there and having so much pain out there in a sense that people almost in a sense are using the ways of hurting other people to get political points in terms of how you want to be a leader for the state and And it's not easy in this era because there's a lot of folks out there that come after others and it can be so easy to get Into the into the mud
a
little
bit.
Yeah, could you talk a little bit about how you would try to lead the state?
I mean beyond the
the X's and the O's, I guess, if you're having a game plan in terms of trying to get things accomplished, but above it as a leader for this state for, especially for kids.
I worry that in this era, a lot of kids are growing up in an era where we aren't seeing the respect, I mean, even the use of language.
I see leaders that feel free to use language that I just would be uncomfortable with as well.
Talk about your hopes as a leader for this state, especially, I think, for the youth of this state.
Well, you know, for me, I think that you have to authentically be yourself.
And I think that, you know, for me, that means that optimism is a force multiplier, right?
I believe that you have to be open, you have to be honest, you have to be transparent as far as where you are, managing the expectations, but also letting people know what the vision and the mission is that we have moving forward.
And so, for me,
Not only is optimism a forced multiplier, but I think that you have to bring your own weather, right?
Like today is a cold day, but I'm warm inside because that's the type of weather that I bring.
But I also tell folks that even when you think about negotiating, I can also be a hurricane when I need to be.
But I do believe that the best way to catch a bee is with honey.
it's not with vinegar it's about how do we bring more people to the table because even though we're having these these these political divides right and it's a lot of anger is being loud a lot of boisterous it's a lot of division i think folks are tired of this division right now whether uh you're the most liberal the most conservative right now folks just want government to work
Work for those who are works for those who are the most vulnerable and making sure that you know It's the safety net is there for when that time is needed and so you know for me I'm always going to govern by bringing more people to the table and I always always Compare this to you know walking into your favorite restaurant When you walk into your favorite restaurant, you're having a conversation with that cashier or the waiter
You're not talking about their relationship with the cook on whether or not your food is gonna be hot and ready.
You're not, right?
You're just ordering your food and you just hope that it's good by the time you sit down at your table or by the time that you get home.
There's no reason why your government isn't providing that same level of service when it comes down to healthcare, when it comes down to education, when it comes down to housing.
We may all disagree on the methods and the way that we're gonna reach these goals.
But there's no reason why we disagree on these goals, because these aren't partisan goals.
These are goals that help to propel everybody, no matter what letters behind your name.
Isabella, do you have a final question for Mr. Carly?
Is there anything else that we haven't asked about yet that you would want, you know, our listenership to know about you, about your campaign, anything like that?
Well, you know, I guess I would say that, you know, I'm a lifelong Wisconsinite.
A husband, a father, born and raised in Milwaukee, and a five, three, two, or six zip code.
A neighborhood has known more for what it lacks than it actually has.
You know, I want folks to know that I understand the struggle.
I was evicted three times before I graduated high school.
My mother and my father, you know, they dealt with their own addictions and mental health issues.
But if it wasn't for neighbors, teachers and mentors that were in my life and that helped pick me up and given me the best advice when I needed it, I don't know where I would be.
And so I am running for governor to make sure that every person across
Every community in Wisconsin has the ability to write a story similar to mine's that they can build themselves up be able to give back to the community and take care of their families the best way possible and so I'm looking to be a governor for all of us and so if folks are interested in being a part of this movement They can visit Crowley for wi.com to learn more about me.
They can sign up to volunteer But I want folks all in every corner of the state to know I'm ready to get to work
I think that Wisconsin needs a workhorse, not a showhorse.
David Crawley, candidate for governor, Milwaukee County Executive.
We're coming up on the end of this hour.
Coming up in the next hour, you can tune in over on our YouTube channel, 98.9 WXCO YouTube channel, also wxco.fm and the Civic Media app and the Sports2Stream.
We're going to turn to the arts and we're going to talk Central Wisconsin Educational Theater Alliance and their artist in residence, Broadway actor, screen actor Eric Peterson, artistic director Lori Magley, a very interesting
the guests coming up.
So we'll be back over there at 906 Chad Home Show 98.9 WXCO.
