As a non-partisan organization, the Sierra Club maintains a clear set of political guidelines that guide national, state, and local-group political committees in making election endorsements. The reason for the endorsement process is simple. As the guidelines state, “The mission of the Sierra Club political program is to preserve the environment through grassroots political action.”
Among the goals of the program are the election of candidates who support the Club’s environmental protection and social justice and equity goals. Raising public awareness about environmental issues and encouraging participation in the political process by Club members are also important political program goals.
By carefully following the SCPT Political Guidelines, the Sierra Club-Great Waters Group made an endorsement in the special election for mayor of Milwaukee on April 5, following the recommendations of the political committee (RT Both, chair; Linda Frank; and Victoria Gillet).
GWG Endorses Cavalier Johnson
We’re pleased to announce that the Milwaukee-based Sierra Club-Great Waters Group voted unanimously at its monthly board meeting in March to endorse Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson in the April 5 spring election.
Great Waters Group leaders believe that Johnson is the better choice to lead Milwaukee in addressing climate change, creating green jobs, and working for environmental justice. “It’s an honor to be endorsed by the local members of the Great Waters Group of the Sierra Club, who are leading the way on advocating for a more sustainable environmental future,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that he would like Milwaukee “to be a leader in green jobs that support resiliency and sustainability for the betterment of our climate and natural resources.” He added that “the city is seeking grant funding to create a Green Jobs accelerator in water and energy that will put people to work on projects like the installation of solar panels.” And he wants to “elevate Milwaukee’s status as a climate haven attracting future investment” that results in durable solutions to climate change.
Johnson, who was elected alderman in 2016, is the former president of the Milwaukee Common Council. He became acting mayor of Milwaukee after Tom Barrett’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. Learn more about Johnson here.
The Great Waters Group is the four-county affiliate (Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties of the Sierra Club, America’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization.