Bruce Winter

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Bruce Winter

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 2, 2024

Education

High school

Vincent High School

Other

Milwaukee Area Technical College, 1986

Personal

Birthplace

Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Religion

Lutheran

Profession

Truck driver

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Bruce Winter ran for election to the Milwaukee Common Council to represent District 5 in Wisconsin. He lost in the general election on April 2, 2024.

Biography

Bruce Winter was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Winter graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1986. His career experience includes working as a truck driver. Winter has also worked as a plow driver and highway worker for the Milwaukee County Highway Department.

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2024)

General election

General election for Milwaukee Common Council District 5

Incumbent Lamont Westmoreland defeated Bruce Winter in the general election for Milwaukee Common Council District 5 on April 2, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lamont Westmoreland (Nonpartisan)	71.4	3,755
		Bruce Winter (Nonpartisan)	28.1	1,475
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	27

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,257
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 5

Incumbent Lamont Westmoreland and Bruce Winter defeated Stacy Smiter in the primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 5 on February 20, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lamont Westmoreland (Nonpartisan)	83.7	2,672
✔		Bruce Winter (Nonpartisan)	9.1	289
	Submit photo	Stacy Smiter (Nonpartisan)	7.2	231

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 3,192
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Winter in this election.

2023

See also: City elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2023)

General election

Special general election for Milwaukee Common Council District 5

Lamont Westmoreland defeated Annette Jackson in the special general election for Milwaukee Common Council District 5 on April 4, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lamont Westmoreland (Nonpartisan)	66.2	5,936
	Submit photo	Annette Jackson (Nonpartisan)	33.2	2,973
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	59

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,968
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Special nonpartisan primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 5

The following candidates ran in the special primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 5 on February 21, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lamont Westmoreland (Nonpartisan)	29.0	1,581
✔	Submit photo	Annette Jackson (Nonpartisan)	18.1	989
	Submit photo	Ray Banks (Nonpartisan)	15.5	847
		Jeff Spence (Nonpartisan)	11.9	652
	Submit photo	P. Thomas Thadison III (Nonpartisan)	10.5	573
		Bruce Winter (Nonpartisan)	7.3	397
	Submit photo	Joe Fisch (Nonpartisan)	7.1	385
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	35

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,459
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Walt Love (Nonpartisan)

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (2022)

General election

General election for Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 18

The following candidates ran in the general election for Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 18 on April 5, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Deanna Alexander (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	34.8	645
		Russell Goodwin (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	24.4	452
	Submit photo	George Lor (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	10.9	203
	Submit photo	Byron Marshall (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	6.4	119
	Submit photo	Teneen Rucker (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	2.3	43
	Submit photo	Carl Munson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	1.3	24
		Bruce Winter (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	1.2	23
	Submit photo	Brenda Pullen‐O'Donnell (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	18.7	346

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4	Total votes: 1,855
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: City elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2020)

General election

General election for Milwaukee Common Council District 5

Incumbent Nikiya Harris Dodd defeated Nick McVey in the general election for Milwaukee Common Council District 5 on April 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nikiya Harris Dodd (Nonpartisan)	74.6	5,760
		Nick McVey (Nonpartisan)	24.6	1,897
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	61

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,718
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 5

Incumbent Nikiya Harris Dodd and Nick McVey defeated Bruce Winter in the primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 5 on February 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nikiya Harris Dodd (Nonpartisan)	70.5	3,740
✔		Nick McVey (Nonpartisan)	14.9	791
		Bruce Winter (Nonpartisan)	14.1	748
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	29

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,308
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Bruce Winter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2023

Bruce Winter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Winter's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in the same house, here in Milwaukee’s 5th District, my whole life. I went to Milwaukee public schools and MATC. I worked for Milwaukee County Highway Department, last year, plowing snow and doing highway maintenance, such as tarring and patch the road, repairing guard rails and cleaning up the roads. I currently own my own sub-hauling business, hauling Insurance cars to auction. I ran for 5th District Alderperson in 2020 and Milwaukee County Supervisor District 18 in 2022.I am willing to put residents first!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• EDUCATION I would be interested in finding ways to encourage young people to pursue an education and career in the trades (Electrical, Plumbing, Building, Auto Repair for a few examples.) I believe that these are great fields to get into as I attended MATC for Auto Mechanics. These are high paying jobs, but you must put in the time to earn higher pay. I think its well worth the effort. I also support the CDL program in conjunction with MPW. Earning a Commercial Drivers License opens a lot of opportunities locally as well as nationally. ​
• Reckless driving, unlicensed drivers, and unregistered vehicles have been and continue to be an ongoing problem. The city of Milwaukee’s Traffic Safety Unit needs to be more involved in our district. I would like to start an “Impact 4 Life” program in our district. It is aimed our young people, to show the consequences of what can happen while intoxicated driving, driving under the influence of drugs and texting while driving. I have been involved for a few years and have seen the impact this program has on the kids that have done this.
• Roads We can all agree that our roads are bad…I mean really bad. I have talked to numerous people about the condition of our roads and have witnessed firsthand how bad they are. I will push hard for road repairs or hopefully, repaving them.

Community Question Featured local question

Did the COVID-19 pandemic change your approach to local policy issues? If so, please give us an example. If not, why?

Government needs to recognize how their decisions affect local business with its policies. How is a business supposed to pay it's bills if local policies force it to close.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

Some city officials say some crime is going down, but car break-ins and car thefts seem to be going up in the downtown area. Public safety must be a priority.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

No it's not healthy. Too much crime, break-ins and shootings. And it's dirty. we need to clean up the trash on the streets, alleys, and parks.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

It is very important to have the residents involved. we, as elected officials, are their voice and they need to be heard. With new development and concern, it is input. To send out surveys to residents is to learn of their concerns and how to work those concerns out.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

I am not sure how the city does it now. I believe somethings do and should have a waiting period, before releasing information.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

Increase the number of officers, push programs that reduce crime and increase public safety.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

Find a balance between all parties concerned. There needs to be open communication on all sides to come to a compromise.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

Listen to the people in the community.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

Public safety is important. I myself, will not take my car downtown because of the break-in and theft. More needs to be done to stop this kind of stuff from happening, such as more police presence, crackdown on the offenders.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

We need to take care of our existing greenspaces and create more greenspaces. We also need to work on our storm water management, look into separating the storm sewer from the sanitary sewer.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

We need to bring resources to the 5th district. Our roads are a big priority. We also need to make sure that public transportation has access to where the jobs are.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

Add more officers and more funding.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

I wouldn't have shut everything down. Put too many people out of work and out of business permanently.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Stopping the reckless driving starting with the young people in our community. I would like to start an Impact 4 Life program in our high schools.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

It is an office that can effect residents and businesses immediately.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

my dad. he was in the air force and was a great man

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

no

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

honesty and informative

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty, friendly and easy to talk to.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

public safety and new development

What legacy would you like to leave?

Not sure.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Challenger Explosion. I was a senior in high school so that would have made me 17 at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

. I worked at Kmart as an auto mechanic doing oil changing and tires as one of my first jobs then I got a job working at Bultman Trucking also as a mechanic. I also worked at Al’s auto for 6 years. I owned Hollywood Knights Limousine Service. I went to work for Gessler Auto for 12 years and then to Price transport for one season. I have also worked for Milwaukee County Highway Department, plowing snow and highway maintenance. I own and operated my own car carrier as a sub hauler transporter.

What is your favorite book? Why?

i don't have a favorite book.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

William from A Knight's Tale played by the later Heath Ledger

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

you have to stand for something by aaron tippin

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

no comment

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Things can approved without public knowledge.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

someone who understands what total costs are and not vote on something just because they do/don't like it.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I can't tell it.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

none

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

2022

Bruce Winter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Bruce Winter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Milwaukee Common Council District 5

Website

Personal

Facebook