What to know about the Milwaukee County Treasurer race between David Cullen and Ted Chisholm

Elections to fill the partisan office of Milwaukee County treasurer have often been quiet, sometimes with no competition on the ballot.

That changed this year with longtime Treasurer David Cullen, 63, fending off a political newcomer with a well-known name: Ted Chisholm, 25, son of Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. Both are running as Democrats in the Aug. 13 primary race. With no Republicans running, the Democratic primary will determine who holds the office next.

Here's what to know about the two candidates.

What does the Milwaukee County treasurer do, what does the job pay?

The county treasurer acts as a banker of sorts, administering all county-related monies, investing funds not for daily operations, as well as collecting delinquent real estate taxes.

Whoever is elected can reap the benefits of a recent pay bump of 11.5% that will see salaries for three of the county's top elected officials — treasurer, county clerk and register of deeds — jump to $102,000 in 2025.

Chisholm, however, has said he would not accept the pay increase if elected.

Who is David Cullen?

Cullen was elected treasurer in 2014 and previously served as a Democratic state legislator as well as a member of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, where he was co-chair of the county's finance, personnel and audit committee. Cullen is also an attorney, passing the Wisconsin State Bar 1984.

According to Cullen, he has earned the county more than $27 million in investment income in 2023, negotiated more than 500 payment plans with delinquent property taxpayers, as well as collecting roughly $90 million in delinquent property taxes.

His most recent campaign finance reports show he has received more than $30,000 in contributions and, as of July 14, had roughly $46,000 cash in hand.

Financial backers include Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman. Groups supporting Cullen's campaign include "Friends of Israel Ramón" and "Citizens for Christenson" — two groups tied to Ramón, the county's register of deeds, and George Christenson, the county clerk. Those officials are running unopposed.

Cullen spent more than $8,100 on Facebook campaign ads, campaign literature, yard signs, and postage and mailings for his campaign, his campaign finance reports show.

Who is Ted Chisholm?

Running as a reform candidate, Chisholm served as senior administrator for management, finance and strategy at the county Clerk of Circuit Court's Office until January of this year before leaving the position to campaign for treasurer.

In 2019, then-Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas hired Chisholm for an $85,000-a-year chief of staff job. Chisholm also previously worked as a part of Lucas' campaign staff.

Chisholm has acknowledged he does not have a college degree after he dropped out of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., after he was hired to work for the county.

He told the Journal Sentinel he brings a "bold vision" of a Treasurer's Office that would serve the community "more effectively," help homeowners in need, and do more to restore vacant and abandoned properties from tax delinquency to the tax base.

Chisholm has raised almost $46,000 in contributions, according to his July campaign finance reports, and has roughly $20,000 cash in hand. He has received donations of $100 from his father, unchallenged Milwaukee County District Attorney candidate Kent Lovern and his attorney wife Susan Lovern. Other contributors include: Clerk of Circuit Court Anna Maria Hodges, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office Inspector Brian Barkow, and former Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who donated $6,000 to his campaign.

Both Chisholm and Cullen have provided substantial donations to their campaigns, with Chisolm contributing to more than half of his total donations and Cullen contributing more than two-thirds of his donations, according to reports.

Experience and qualifications become a talking point

Experience, or lack thereof, has become a talking point in the race.

Chisholm called Cullen's leadership "not effective" and "not engaged," calling Cullen a "career politician."

Cullen seized on what he sees as Chisholm's lack of qualification.

"I really think this office needs someone with more experience and credentials than being a political operative without a college degree," Cullen said of Chisholm.

Cullen recently added in an email to the Journal Sentinel that Chisholm's two jobs were "political appointments," that he has no experience investing millions of dollars nor negotiating payment plans with delinquent property taxpayers.

Chisholm disputed Cullen's claim he had no experience investing millions of dollars, saying during his time as one of two deputies to the county Clerk of Circuit Court he managed more than $20 million in CD accounts and a money account at the end of 2023.

"The reality, whether the Treasurer likes it or not, is that during my tenure in county leadership I was engaged in the direct and successful management of critical financial resources and services," Chisholm said.

A Cullen campaign mailer has generated questions

Earlier this week, Chisholm called on Cullen to pay more than $24,000 back to taxpayers after the incumbent sent about 40,000 taxpayer-funded mailers in April featuring a handful of pictures of him with his grandchildren.

Cullen has denied that the newsletter was campaign-related and was aimed at highlighting to constituents issues addressed during his time as treasurer. He told the Journal Sentinel he stands by his statement.

Late last month, Cullen's wife paid more than $1,000 for a list of county voters who voted in the partisan primary races in 2020, 2022 and 2023. Cullen expensed the request, which was repaid by his campaign committee, Friends of David Cullen, according to his recent campaign finance report.

Cullen did not respond to an email asking if he would return the money.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information Chisholm supplied about his background investing public funds.

Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or at [email protected]. Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: David Cullen, Ted Chisholm face off for County Treasurer on Aug. 13