Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series in which aldermanic candidates in the central city address issues of concern to their district. Tomorrow’s article will cover Districts 4, 8 and 12. In addition to participating in the presidential primary and mayoral elections, voters in the City of Milwaukee will also have the opportunity to cast a vote in one of 15 local aldermanic races on Tuesday April 5. Those who are elected will represent their district on the Common Council for a term of four years. Aldermen are responsible for representing the interests of residents of their districts on the council, serving on committees and making policy decisions that affect the quality of life in the neighborhoods they represent and the city as a whole. Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing! The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service asked aldermanic candidates in 9 central city races to complete a survey addressing neighborhood concerns. Candidates in Districts 1 and 7 did not respond to the survey. We asked the candidates the following four questions. (Note: Some answers have been edited for length.) District 2: Chevy Johnson, Sherman Morton Chevy Johnson 1. Residents are concerned about safety. Many feel that over time, their neighborhood is increasing becoming more susceptible to criminal activity. My goal as alderman will be to curb that deterioration and work with district residents, city departments and my colleagues on the Common Council to change the perception and the reality in my district for the better. 2. I bring with me to the Common Council a 15-year history of service and dedication to our community. My path to service has taken me across the country and back home to Milwaukee where I worked with young people involved in the juvenile justice system, young people preparing for their first summer job and older adults working to get back into the workforce. I also bring the unique experience of having studied political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and I have experience working in city government, as staff assistant to the mayor. 3. There are several recommendations that I support to make our neighborhoods safer. I support encouraging the expansion of traditional block watch groups and the adoption of modern electronic neighborhood organizations like Next Door. I support programs that work to increase homeownership because that creates stability in neighborhoods, the expansion of community police officers and a more robust partnership between Community Liaison Officers and the neighborhoods that they serve. The best way to reduce criminal activity is to remove barriers, tackle systemic discrimination and racism, improve our education system and make proper investments in transportation that allow people to have access to good jobs with family-supporting wages. If we’re truly serious about taking on crime, then we have do it from a multi-pronged approach taking into account real-time safety on the ground, education, access to stabilizing career opportunities, homeownership and law enforcement. 4. We should of course work to attract jobs to our city but that doesn’t mean that we should forgo accessing good, family-supporting jobs where they are. We have to firm up the education system in Milwaukee so that every kid has access to a quality public education where they learn to be competitive in the 21st century. We also need to encourage entrepreneurship by streamlining the economic development toolkits available at all levels of government and even those available outside of government. Entrepreneurship helps to boost Main Street by keeping dollars circulating locally and those businesses have a higher likelihood to employ people who live in nearby neighborhoods. We also need to connect the dots between people who need access to family-supporting jobs in Milwaukee and employers in our metro area — particularly those in the WOW counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington) in need of a larger talent pool. Sherman Morton 1. Where you stay within the district will most likely determine your specific concern. If you live in the Dineen Park area off Capitol Drive along the Hampton Avenue area right off the Fond Du Lac freeway, one of your main issues may be rolling or drive-by drug deals. If you live along the area of 68 and Grantosa your issues can range from break-ins to gunshots. One of the issues in the area of 91 street from Appleton to Good Hope is speeding and in a few other areas they are experiencing a situation with lack of regard for stop signs. I have spelled out in my 60-day plan what my plan of action will be to deal with these issues and others concerning residents in the district. 2.