Spencer elected as Milwaukee city attorney

Listen to this article

Voters elected Tearman Spencer as Milwaukee’s new city attorney, ending Grant Langley’s nearly four decades in the role.

Results posted to the city’s website on Monday showed Spencer received about 61% of the vote with 50,687 votes. Langley garnered 31,987 votes — about 39%.

“We did it,” Spencer wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “The people of Milwaukee used their voice and said they’re ready for a new voice in City Hall.”

Spencer is an attorney at Spencer & Associates in Milwaukee. He called for more fairness in the city and the Milwaukee Police Department’s relationship with residents. He had criticized the city’s handling of high-profile and expensive lawsuits involving the police department, including a case involving Milwaukee Bucks Sterling Brown.

Langley was first elected as city attorney in 1984. After receiving Monday’s election results, Langley said it had been an honor to serve the city and he had enjoyed a fulfilling legal career.

“While I am sad to leave the post of City Attorney, I feel confident that the experienced and talented team of lawyers I have assembled will continue our legacy of outstanding legal support for the City,”  Langley wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

Spencer will serve a four-year term as city attorney. Follow @WLJReporter