New Alderman Alex Brower sworn in, vows public-ownership agenda and community organizing

Alex Brower took the oath of office as alderman for Milwaukee’s Third District and used his first remarks to describe an ambitious policy agenda focused on public ownership, expanded social supports and grassroots organizing.

“I, Alex Brower, who have been elected alderman of the Third District, swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin, and will faithfully discharge the duties of this office,” Brower said as he was sworn in. In a speech that followed, Brower identified himself as a socialist and outlined priorities including public ownership of utilities, stronger public-sector pay and benefits, housing accountability for landlords, and expanded public education and health supports.

Brower repeatedly framed those items as part of a broader economic argument. “We need public ownership of public utilities,” he said, citing Chapter 197 of the Wisconsin statutes as providing a statutory path for municipal acquisition of utilities. He named We Energies as a specific company he said the city should consider bringing under municipal ownership and cited Cedarburg, Wisconsin, as an example of a municipality with its own utility and municipal internet service.

Brower also discussed labor and social-policy goals. He described organizing and “mass movement” tactics as the vehicle for larger change and said the council should mobilize within its wards. He advocated for “holding landlords accountable” and said the council should use “every tool at our disposal” to protect tenants, while acknowledging statutory limits on the city’s authority. Brower urged support for quality public education and said he favors democratically governed schools and limiting chartering by the city government.

The newly sworn alderman acknowledged campaign staff and volunteers in the chamber and introduced his legislative assistant by name. Brower referenced Milwaukee’s tradition of publicly minded social-democratic leaders and quoted early 20th-century local socialists to place his views in historical context.

What Brower said he would pursue

- Public utilities: Cited Chapter 197 of the Wisconsin statutes (Municipal Acquisition of Utilities) as a legal path to municipalize utilities serving the city and named We Energies as a potential target for municipal acquisition. - Housing accountability: Said he would press for stronger enforcement of rental standards and use available tools to hold landlords accountable. - City workforce: Called for improving wages and conditions for city employees to fill vacancies and retain staff. - Education: Said public education should be “held collectively and governed collectively” and urged support for an independently elected school board and limited city chartering of schools.

Context and reaction

Brower’s remarks were largely aspirational and presented as a statement of priorities; no formal council action on the agenda resulted directly from his speech. Some proposals—such as municipal acquisition of utilities—cite state law (Chapter 197) that sets procedural requirements and a statutory path but would require detailed legal, financial and administrative steps to implement.

Ending

Brower closed by thanking campaign staff, family and supporters and by urging his colleagues to engage on the issues he named. The speech signals the alderman’s policy priorities for his term and sets out areas where he is likely to press for ordinances, studies or committee action.