Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern is running unopposed for the top job.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern is set to take over the role of the county’s top prosecutor next year, running unopposed in the election to replace retiring District Attorney John Chisholm.

After 26 years as a prosecutor, Lovern says he’s ready to tackle the county’s ongoing crime problems, especially the reckless driving that plagues Milwaukee streets.

“Cases that can be prosecuted will be prosecuted,” Lovern said in an interview.

He added that his office is increasingly filing criminal charges for recklessly endangering the safety of drivers whose actions put the public at serious risk.

Lovern acknowledged the importance of the role he will soon take on, but expressed optimism about the potential for improvement in Milwaukee.

“We are a community that has the ability to make a difference if we want to. If we can mobilize the collective will, our potential here is enormous,” he said.

One area where Milwaukee has already seen a change in policy is cash bail.

While neighboring Illinois eliminated cash bail, Wisconsin voters amended the state constitution in 2023 to allow judges to consider a person’s criminal history when setting bail.

Lovern said he supports high cash bail for the most serious offenses.

“The law now gives us more respect for those who have committed violent crimes,” he said.

Filed

However, he believes a different standard should be applied to nonviolent crimes, although judges make the final bail decisions.

Lovern also raised concerns about the staffing of the DA’s office.

Wisconsin prosecutors operate at the county level but are funded by the state.

As a result, Lovern’s budget depends on lawmakers in Madison, where Republicans currently control funding.

Lovern said his office is projected to lose 10 percent of its lawyers by next summer, or about 12.5 prosecutor positions.

“We are facing extremely high levels of crime and the loss of such a large part of our legal team is significant,” he said.

The Milwaukee DA’s office has long been criticized by Republicans, including former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who earlier this year published an op-ed titled “Just Say No to Kent Lovern.”

Despite this criticism, no Republican candidate was able to challenge him.

“There may not be that many people who want the job,” Lovern said. “I was ready to race and ready to campaign hard, but it didn’t work out that way. Expectations are high and I look forward to meeting them.”

The Milwaukee County Republican Party has not said why there is no candidate on the ballot for that race.