Lena Taylor considers run for Milwaukee Mayor

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, says one of her constituents recently handed her a "Taylor for mayor" card they made, and she's now giving it serious thought.

"[It gave me] a sense of honor that I can't put to words, so I have to consider what they're saying," Taylor said.

Mayor Tom Barrett has not officially announced he will run. Neither has Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, who is considering a run. The only candidate to formally announce so far is Alderman Tony Zielinski.

"I've always had very positive experiences with state Senator Lena Taylor, and I welcome her to this race," candidate and Alderman Tony Zielinski said.

Taylor is a state Senator from the Milwaukee area. She lost the county executive election to Scott walker in 2008. More recently, she defeated Lieutenant Gov Mandela Barns for her senate seat.

Mayor Tom Barrett was asked about Taylor this weekend.

"I think it's not surprising that there's going to be a lot of people interested in this job because I think that we really have some good momentum in some parts of the city," Barrett said.

UWM Professor Mordecai Lee says the city's election system could create a large field.

"If you're running in the primary, all you have to do is get the second most number of votes," Lee said.

The two candidates with the most votes in the February primary square off one on one in the general election.

"How does the math look?" Lee asked. "Lets say you're a state senator, you're African-American, you figure you've got a good chance of getting African-American votes."

But Lee says historical precedent is against all challengers if Barrett decides to run again.

An incumbent Milwaukee mayor hasn't lost an election since the 1940s.

"For the city of Milwaukee Mayor, there's this tradition that you have long serving mayors," Lee said.

Taylor says she doesn't care that tom Barrett has more money - and she doesn't care about historical president.

"No one thought that Scott Walker would lose to Tony Evers," Taylor said. "I will say this. There is no question that the city has changed, and the mayor is out of touch."

The primary for the mayoral race will be in February. The general election will be in April. 2020.