Justin Bielinski

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Justin Bielinski

Nonpartisan

Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 16

Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

1

Predecessor

Tony Staskunas

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

April 2, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 2007

Graduate

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 2014

Personal

Birthplace

West Allis, Wis.

Profession

Community organizer

Contact

Personal website

Justin Bielinski is a member of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in Wisconsin, representing District 16. Bielinski assumed office on April 15, 2024. Bielinski's current term ends on April 21, 2026.

Bielinski ran for election to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors to represent District 16 in Wisconsin. Bielinski won in the general election on April 2, 2024.

Bielinski was also a 2016 nonpartisan candidate for District 8 of the Milwaukee City Council in Wisconsin. He was defeated by incumbent Robert G. Donovan in the general election on April 5, 2016. Although the election was nonpartisan, Bielinski identifies with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Bielinski earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2007 and 2014, respectively. He also received a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from UW-Milwaukee in 2013. He has professional experience as an educational assistant, a mental health professional, a youth care supervisor and a youth counselor.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (2024)

General election

General election for Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 16

Justin Bielinski won election in the general election for Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 16 on April 2, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Bielinski (Nonpartisan)	99.0	5,524
		Other/Write-in votes	1.0	58

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,582
= 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.
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Nonpartisan primary election

The primary election was canceled. Justin Bielinski advanced from the primary for Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 16.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bielinski in this election.

2020

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

General election

General election for Milwaukee Common Council District 8

JoCasta Zamarripa defeated Justin Bielinski in the general election for Milwaukee Common Council District 8 on April 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		JoCasta Zamarripa (Nonpartisan)	51.9	1,104
		Justin Bielinski (Nonpartisan)	47.6	1,012
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	11

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,127
= 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 8

JoCasta Zamarripa and Justin Bielinski defeated Angel Sanchez, Christian Saldivar Frias, and Ryan M. Antczak in the primary for Milwaukee Common Council District 8 on February 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		JoCasta Zamarripa (Nonpartisan)	33.2	555
✔		Justin Bielinski (Nonpartisan)	32.1	538
	Submit photo	Angel Sanchez (Nonpartisan)	13.6	227
	Submit photo	Christian Saldivar Frias (Nonpartisan)	11.2	187
	Submit photo	Ryan M. Antczak (Nonpartisan)	9.8	164
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	3

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,674
= 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.

2016

See also: Municipal elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2016)

The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, held elections for mayor and city council on April 5, 2016. A primary election took place on February 16, 2016. All 15 city council seats were up for election. Incumbent Robert G. Donovan defeated Justin Bielinski in the Milwaukee City Council District 8 general election.

Milwaukee City Council District 8, General Election, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Robert G. Donovan Incumbent	51.70%	2,260
Justin Bielinski	48.02%	2,099
Write-in votes	0.27%	12
Total Votes		4,371
Source: City of Milwaukee, "Spring Election Official Results," April 11, 2016

Milwaukee City Council District 8, Primary Election, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Robert G. Donovan Incumbent	62.81%	1,098
Justin Bielinski	27.57%	482
Josh Zepnick	9.10%	159
Write-in votes	0.51%	9
Total Votes		1,748
Source: City of Milwaukee, "2016 Spring Primary Final Results," February 19, 2016

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Justin Bielinski did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Justin Bielinski completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bielinski'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've been proud to call the 8th District my home since 2007. My wife Linnea and I own a home in the Burnham Park neighborhood with our dog Molly and our two cats, Neko and Toothy.

When I'm not out talking to voters in the 8th District, I like growing vegetables, listening to music, playing soccer, and hiking - pretty much anywhere there's a mountain.

I earned my Bachelor's and Graduate Degrees from UWM, where I studied History, Political Science, and Nonprofit Management.

I can't wait to start serving as your Alderman. It's time for new leadership at City Hall, and that's exactly what I plan to bring if I am fortunate enough to earn your vote!

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?

• Improving neighborhood safety
• Infrastructure repair and a renewed commitment to city services
• Expanding economic opportunity to everyone

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Besides those areas already listed, I am particularly passionate about public education, fair housing, and equal rights and opportunity for everyone.

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

Alderman is unique in that, perhaps more than any other elected office in Wisconsin with the possible exception of US Senator, it has two main functions - both legislative and constituent service. Not only do you draft and ratify the budget, ordinances, and licenses within the City, but you play a key customer service role in helping residents navigate City service requests, nuisance properties, and other neighborhood concerns.

What draws me most to municipal government is the opportunity to work on issues that affect people's everyday lives in a direct way. If garbage isn't picked up, streets aren't plowed, or police don't respond when there's a crime, people notice very quickly and are affected in a very personal way.

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

I look up to many individuals, but these days it's hard to look at any historical figure and not also see the complexities and problems/shortcomings they all had. That said, I've always been fascinated with Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt above all other political figures. If I had to pick one who's example I'd like to follow I guess Jimmy Carter would be my top choice. Such a smart, caring, soft-spoken man who wasn't afraid to tell unpopular truths. The fact that at his current advanced age he is still so committed to public service is an inspiration.

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

There isn't any one piece of media that sums up my political philosophy, but I remember the large impact that the movie Newsies had on me when I was a child. If people need to learn one thing about unchecked capitalism and human nature it's that greed will always win if it isn't checked by the people it harms. In the case of Newsies it was based on the true story of the exploitation of child labor by a newspaper magnate, and the ingenuity shown by those same newsboys who used their power in numbers to win higher pay for their labor.

As an adult, I'd say Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" is the most influential, because it tells history from the bottom up, something the textbooks of old never did.

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

I think honesty and transparency are the two most important characteristics of any elected official. If you do what you say you're going to, and you're open about your decision-making process, even people who sometimes disagree with you will find that they respect you more often than not.

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

My work ethic and my willingness to listen and think critically on solutions to complex problems are my greatest assets as a potential officeholder.

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

The core responsibilities for an Alderperson are to use taxpayer money efficiently, to be accessible to every resident, and to take constituent input seriously and intentionally seek it out.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The legacy I want to leave is to increase the engagement in the political process in my district, to help train a new generation of leaders, and to increase the economic prosperity of the Near South Side.

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

The first historical event I remember is probably the Challenger explosion. Like many kids my age, I was fascinated with outer space and space travel, and to know that it could be so incredibly dangerous definitely left an impression on me. That was back in the days when teachers used to show shuttle launches live in classrooms each time they occurred.

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

My first job was as a dishwasher and kitchen assistant at Camp Whitcomb-Mason. I had it for about two or three years in high school. I also was a maintenance tech and aquatic weed harvester at the same Camp.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I'd say the Lord of the Rings Trilogy or Watchmen. Fantasy is a great escape for me, and when done right it can help to face and analyze the great problems of society with the kind of distance that allows for better reflection than more realistic allegory, and especially nonfiction.

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

Probably Dr Manhattan from Watchmen, because while he had nearly infinite power, he still found joy in the mystery of human life, and how out so much randomness and chaos, there is only one being on earth exactly like each one of us.

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

I'm a sucker for a good ballad, so I'd probably say "I love you" by Billie Eilish.

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

Growing up with an alcoholic father was perhaps the greatest struggle I've had to overcome in my life so far. So much of a young boy's identity comes from his relationship with his father, and when that relationship is not healthy, it takes years of intentional effort and a strong support network outside of the home to become the kind of person you want to be. I think I've done that, and it's one of the things I'm most proud of.

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

I'm not sure if they are little-known, but the ability for members of the Common Council to influence public works projects - things like where a speed bump or sign gets installed, which streets are one-way, or which streets have both-sides parking as opposed to alternate-side. An alderman has a hand in all of it.

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

I think political offices are professions and so political experience is important. That said, I think for this particular office, it's more important to have a good understanding of the nuts and bolts of how local governments are funded and how they operate. I am proud of my experience in both the political arena, where I successfully ran a statewide campaign for partisan office in 2018, and the government arena, as my work at MPS and with local nonprofits has put me into direct contact with local government. In addition, my graduate studies taught me a great deal about urban politics and public administration as well.

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

The ability to communicate with a host of different stakeholders, to determine their needs and motivations, and to find ways to serve your residents in an inclusive, respectful, and transparent manner is very important. You can't take things personally, and must find ways to find common ground with people you might disagree with on a great many issues. In the end, an Alderman serves every resident, and cannot afford to play favorites with one segment of the community or another.

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.

2016

See also: Ballotpedia's municipal government candidate survey

Bielinski participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of municipal government candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what his top priority would be if elected, the candidate made the following statement:

“

To make safer, more inviting neighborhoods for all to live in.

”

When asked what he would most like to change about the city, the candidate made the following statement:

“

Poverty Is priority #1. Too many families live in generational poverty, which leads to a variety of other personal and societal ills.

”

When asked what he is most proud of about the city, the candidate made the following statement:

“

The people - Milwaukeeans are friendly and care strongly about their communities

”

Ranking the issues

The candidate was asked to rank the following issues by importance in the city, with 1 being the most important and 12 being the least important. This table displays this candidate's rankings from most to least important:

Issue importance ranking
Candidate's ranking	Issue
1	Crime reduction/prevention
2	K-12 education
3	Unemployment
4	City services (trash, utilities, etc.)
5	Recreational opportunities
6	Government transparency
7	Housing
8	Civil rights
9	Public pensions/retirement funds
10	Transportation
11	Environment
12	Homelessness

Positions on the issues

The candidate was asked to answer four questions from Ballotpedia regarding issues facing cities across America. The questions are in the left column and the candidate's responses are in the right column:

Question	Response
Is it important for the city’s budget to be balanced?	Very important
Which level of government do you feel should set a minimum wage?	Local
What do you think is the best way to improve a city’s public safety?	Increased economic opportunities
How do you think your city should emphasize economic development?	Focusing on small business development

Bielinski's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

Jobs

• Excerpt: "I will use all available tools, including Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIDs), Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and Targeted Investment Neighborhoods (TINs), to make sure our main streets are vibrant again, starting with National Avenue."

Schools

• Excerpt: "While I support parents’ right to choose what they feel is best for their children by enrolling in private and charter schools, the current state of charter school oversight by the common council is sorely lacking. I would seek to change that, so that all schools are fully accountable to the people and communities they serve."

Public safety

• Excerpt: "I support Chief Flynn and his community-based and data-driven approach to law enforcement. Unfortunately, my opponent has tried to undermine public safety by pitting rank-and-file officers against Chief Flynn, all in an attempt to further his own political agenda."

Housing

• Excerpt: "If elected, I would work to make it easier to sanction neglectful landlords and to evict problem tenants. I would also support continued efforts at combating the foreclosure crisis, continuing the work of the city and local nonprofits like Layton Boulevard West Neighbors."

Transportation

• Excerpt: "The Streetcar, as part of a blended system that includes MCTS buses is a good step in improving public transit. I will fight to make sure it’s future expansion comes through the 8th District down National Avenue, connecting our neighborhoods to both jobs and downtown entertainment."

See also

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