City of Milwaukee voters will see on their ballots a contested race for city attorney. Evan Goyke challenges incumbent Tearman Spencer. The election is on April 2. Goyke is a representative in the Wisconsin Assembly. He graduated from Marquette University Law School in 2009. Spencer was elected as city attorney in 2020. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2003. WJI asked each of the candidates to answer a series of questions. The questions asked are patterned after some of those on the job application the governor uses when he is considering judicial appointments Goyke's answers are printed as submitted, without editing or insertion of “(sic)” for errors. Spencer did not respond to WJI's request. Evan Goyke Why do you want to become Milwaukee City Attorney? I’ve seen firsthand how the City Attorney’s office can help improve the quality of life for Milwaukee residents. That is only possible if the office is functioning properly. I bring a skill set and vision to the office that can restore the culture and trust inside and outside of the office, return to a standard of excellence, and proactively address real world issues in our city. Name one of the best or worst U.S. or Wisconsin Supreme Court opinions in the last 25 years and explain why you feel that way. While I wish I were writing about a different case, I think I have to select, as the worst U.S. Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. 310 (2010). Citizens United devastated the American political system. It’s impossible to quantify the extent of the damage. In Wisconsin, the money that has been allowed to enter our political races has resulted, in part, in a near decade of one party control. I’ve experienced this firsthand during my tenure in the State Legislature and know our state’s inability to experience meaningful progress in areas deeply important to me have their roots in the flawed political process Citizens United has empowered. Describe two of the most significant cases in which you were professionally involved. State v. Moore, 2015 WI 54 I was co-counsel for Mr. Moore and briefed and helped argue the pretrial litigation that was the subject of the State Supreme Court case. Mr. Moore was interrogated by law enforcement and as co-counsel for his defense, I helped challenge the admissibility of the interrogation. Juvenile interrogations should be audio or visually recorded and portions of Mr. Moore’s interrogation were done without recording and a subsequent recording was made in secret by law enforcement. The State Supreme Court ruled wrongly that the interrogation was admissible against Mr. Moore. Bank of New York Mellon v. Carson, 2015 WI 15 While I was not counsel on the Carson case, it was one that I followed closely and was inspiration for and useful during multiple legislative sessions working on mortgage foreclosure legislation. Carson involved so called “zombie foreclosures,” where lenders never sold properties after receiving a foreclosure judgment. This meant the previous homeowners, many of whom no longer lived in the home, remained legally responsible for property taxes and the condition of the property. Carson was a big victory and helped create additional legislation improving the sheriff sale process for mortgage foreclosures. Carson remains an inspiration to me today as I look toward focusing on housing and housing quality as City Attorney. The City Attorney’s Office wrote as an Amicus in Carson. Describe your legal experience as an advocate in criminal litigation, civil litigation, and/or administrative proceedings. My litigation experience is in the criminal justice system. I worked as a trial attorney in the Office of the State Public Defender in Milwaukee County and handled all levels of criminal defense litigation, including administrative hearings. During my time in the State Legislature I have been actively involved in writing laws, or trying to block bad laws, that make changes to how criminal and civil cases are tried in Wisconsin. Describe an instance when you were challenged and had to exhibit courage in the face of adversity or opposition and how you handled that situation. Throughout my elected career I have had to make difficult decisions in the face of opposition. I handle these instances through research, balancing each side of the argument, listening to those directly impacted, and making the best decision possible. I can think of many instances working to reform the criminal justice system within a legislature hostile to the idea, where I pushed for compromise rejected by both the right and left wings of the major political parties. This was particularly the case working to reform Wisconsin’s juvenile justice system, where one party rejected doing anything and the other pushed against plans that did not do enough. Those were difficult, long days/months/years, but I stayed committed to the process I’ve outlined and it ultimately was a positive, meaningful effort for the issues being advanced. What are the greatest obstacles to delivering true justice for the citizens of Milwaukee that you anticipate? What can or should be done about them? I think the greatest barrier to true justice in Milwaukee, as I define it, is poverty. I don’t mean temporary poverty, I mean the generational, segregated, deep poverty that strips hope and opportunity from a person or a community. I say this because I define true justice as an equal opportunity for each person to reach their potential and live a happy, healthy life as they desire. That definition falls well outside just a legal context of justice. I plan to use the power of the City Attorney’s office to work alongside, listen to, and support community organizations, community leaders, and residents to address the challenges that allow generational poverty to persist. I plan to focus on tangible progress at the neighborhood level. I expect many barriers, as change is difficult. I plan to stay committed to residents and local stakeholders and to not allowing opponents, especially those outside our community to distract from solving the issues presented. I plan to be relentless in these pursuits until we achieve meaningful progress.
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