After kicking the tires of a potential campaign, Supreme Moore Omokunde (D-Milwaukee), the son of Congressman Gwen Moore (D-WI4), is running for the Wisconsin Assembly in the 17th District.
“We need to take the next step in criminal justice reform, end reckless driving, expand access to healthcare, and find solutions to the way our housing and economic development affects our daily life,” said Omokunde in his announcement.
Omokunde probably developed an interest in criminal justice reform after pleading no contest in 2006 to slashing the tires of vans that were to be used by the Republican Party to carry voters to the polls on Election Day in 2004. Omokunde, then known as Sowande A. Omokunde, was given four months in jail, the lightest sentence of any of the defendants.
Moore’s son is running to replace Rep. David Crowley (D-Milwaukee), recently elected Milwaukee County Executive.
The Racine Journal Times reported at the time of Omokunde’s sentencing:
The state Republican Party had rented more than 100 vehicles that were parked in a lot next to a Bush-Cheney campaign office to transport voters and poll monitors on Nov. 2, 2004. The vandalism caused some delays in the GOP’s Election Day work as party workers rounded up other vehicles. Democrat John Kerry won Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes in a close race.
{Judge Michael B.} Brennan told the four that “partisanship is not an excuse for breaking the law.”
Omokunde told the judge at the time of sentencing, “Your honor, I crossed the line.”
It has been rumored in political circles Moore is thinking of retiring and could be setting her son up to replace her in Congress. Moore served in the legislature from 1989 to 2005.
