Local businesswoman Purnima Nath is one of four running for county executive and the only conservative on the Feb. 18 ballot. Current County Executive Chris Abelle is not running for reelection.
In a face-to-face interview with UWM Post reporter, Ezra Quint, Nath said she will focus on fiscal responsibility, public safety and economic development if she is elected.
“Too many people come to Milwaukee to attend UW-Milwaukee, MATC, Marquette or any of our schools only to leave as soon as they graduate to find a job elsewhere,” said Nath. “We need to bring more companies to Milwaukee so the people stay here after they graduate. That’s the only way we can bring ourselves out of this economic crisis.”
Nath Is the founder of the Milwaukee nonprofit SpindleIndia, an organization that introduces Indian culture to Milwaukee and organizes events like India Fest every year. She is also a management consultant for Trayix consulting where she helps businesses cut spending.
Nath’s experience in management consultant is what gives her an edge against her opponents in this hot county executive race.
“I have years of experience dealing with budgets and cutting spending, saving companies millions,” said Nath. “I would do the same for Milwaukee.”
Nath has received criticism from her opponents for her lack of experience in politics, but this is something she views as a good thing.
“It seems like they’re only running for this position so they can go on to a higher position in government later,” Nath said referring to Crowley, Larson and Lipscomb. “I’m not doing this for money, I have plenty of money. I’m doing this because I think Milwaukee needs someone who will actually save them money and help people.”
Nath said she will focus on cutting spending rather than increasing taxes.
“There is a lot of money wasting that happens in our government,” said Nath. “I’m going to recognize the wastage and put the money where it is needed.”
Nath believes that the tent cities in Milwaukee only contribute to the homelessness problem.
“When people are given tents to live in and given food, they lose the drive to get jobs and sustain themselves,” said Nath.
Another belief that separates Nath from the other candidates is her opinion that global warming is not real.
“The earth isn’t getting destroyed,” said Nath. “The only thing that will destroy us is the way we think. The constant fear mongering from politicians saying that youth should protest is not right. Youth should stay in school and not be protesting to stop climate change.”
Nath was born in a poor village in India and didn’t move to the United States until she was in her 20’s.
“Growing up, we were lucky if we had chicken twice a year,” said Nath. “We were very poor.”
Nath graduated with an MBA from Northwestern and a degree in engineering from a school in India. Northwestern is the best college in the Midwest, according to Nath.
State Rep. David Crowley, State Sen. Chris Larson and Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theo Lipscomb are all democrats running for the same position.
The Milwaukee primary election is Tuesday Feb. 18th. Along with county executive, Milwaukee will vote for Mayor, alderpersons, city attorney, city comptroller and city treasurer.
The county executive oversees the administrative functions of county government and carries out ordinances passed by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
Click this link for voting and polling information
A Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruling upheld the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s decision to remove former State Senator Jim Sullivan and Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy from the ballot after Lipscomb filed a complaint with the Milwaukee Elections Commission about Sullivan and Kennedy using serial circulators to get on the ballot.
Crowley used the same circulators to obtain enough signatures to get on the ballot, but his signatures were submitted to the Milwaukee Elections Commission before Sullivan’s and Kennedy’s signatures, which meant only the signatures obtained by the circulators for Crowley could be counted and voided several hundred signatures for Kennedy and Sullivan.
Lipscomb used the same circulators as Crowley, meaning Lipscomb is guilty of the exact same infraction he criticized Sullivan and Kennedy for. Again, Crowley submitted his signatures first, voiding another several hundred signatures for Lipscomb. However, Lipscomb still had enough valid signatures to secure a spot on the Feb. 18 ballot.
Thank you for informing about local government.