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Barrett, shown after the attack, had head and hand injuries. |
MADISON, Wis. - Milwaukee’s mayor, Tom Barrett, who was hailed as a hero this summer for confronting a metal-bar wielding man, is running for governor.
Barrett made the announcement official yesterday. He has said that he deferred his decision until he was sufficiently recovered from the attack, which left him with head and hand injuries.
His decision was a relief for the Democratic Party after Governor Jim Doyle, an incumbent, decided not to seek a third term. Barrett, 55, says he will build his campaign around the issues of jobs, education, and the economy.
Barrett was thrust into the national spotlight after being attacked in August while defending a woman outside the state fair. He needed 10 pins in his right hand and had the last two removed Friday.
“We are confronting serious economic problems,’’ Barrett said in making his announcement. “Our families, our neighbors, and our friends continue to lose ground, and our state’s collective anxiety is high.
“It is time to pull together to create jobs and get our state’s fiscal house in order.
“I take a common sense approach to problem-solving. I have led our community through difficult times, and I understand that Wisconsin families and workers want solutions, not rhetoric,’’ he said.
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