State Representative Pedro Colon kicked off his campaign for Milwaukee City Attorney “from the same southside community center where he learned to box as a young man.”

I was very happy to read this. 

I don’t care for most elected officials. Most seem to be out for themselves; the same with most prosecutors and, frankly, with most people in government generally. They forget the service in public service.

But Pedro Colon is different; he’s one of those people who actually believe in public service in the great tradition of “Fighting Bob,” Robert M. La Follette Sr. 

I had the opportunity covering a story these last several months about the VA shafting veterans to talk to several former VA staff attorneys, who actually believed their jobs were to help veterans get the benefits that their service and sacrifice deserve. [The attorneys left when they found out their jobs’ duties at the VA were something else entirely.] 

Colon is a lot like these former VA staff attorneys, except that he is still there for his constituents today. Colon thinks he’s actually there to help; he believes in public service and doing something, something, to address real issues of real people. 

Maybe there are other good folks running for Milwaukee city attorney; frankly, I don’t know. 

What I do know is: There is one good man throwing his hat into the ring and Milwaukee citizens are fortunate to see a man who believes in public service on the ballot.

What the hell good is government if it's not there for its citizens?

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