Archdiocese disavows Wiken f lier
Mailing identified Listecki as supporter of candidate
A Milwaukee aldermanic candidate’s campaign flier identifying Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki as a supporter was not authorized, Milwaukee Archdiocese spokeswoman Amy Grau said Monday.
The candidate, Chris Wiken, has a good chance to unseat veteran Ald. Terry Witkowski in Tuesday’s spring election.
A Wiken campaign flier mailed to homes in the 13th Aldermanic District includes a photo of Listecki and identifies the archbishop as a “Proud Supporter of Chris Wiken” and “100% behind him.”
Not true, Grau said. The archbishop did not endorse Wiken, she said.
In a statement, Grau drew a distinction between Listecki the individual and Listecki the archbishop.
“Archbishop Jerome Listecki’s representation on Chris Wiken’s political campaign flyer, including quote, picture and title ‘Proud supporter of Chris Wiken’ underneath Archbishop Listecki’s name was neither approved by Archbishop Listecki nor the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for use,” Grau’s statement said.
“Although Chris Wiken is a supporter of the Archdiocese and a personal friend of Jerome Listecki, the representation of Archbishop Listecki on Wiken’s political flyer, titled as Archbishop and in his clerical collar, implies that he endorses the candidate as the Archbishop of Milwaukee.”
“The Archbishop was not aware of his representation on this political flyer until this morning, nor was he contacted for approval/ awareness of any of the content related to him on it. For theological and legal reasons, Archbishop Listecki did not and would not approve any representation as Archbishop for campaign use,” Grau’s statement said.
Witkowski issued a statement slamming Wiken.
“We all know lying is a sin,” Witkowski said. “And if you lie about the Archbishop, you are a particularly egregious sinner.”
“Voters in my district value integrity,” Witkowski continued. “My opponent, Chris Wiken, has clearly shown he has none.”
Wiken is general manager of The Packing House restaurant on E. Layton Ave. He is one of a slate of candidates being backed by Craig Peterson, a longtime conservative activist trying to upset the balance of power at City Hall. Peterson denied any involvement with the flier.
“Archbishop Listecki and I have been very dear friends for many years,” Wiken said Monday in a statement. “He offered his wholehearted personal support of my campaign and continues to do so. I am grateful for his support and friendship.”
“In no way did we intend to imply that the Archdiocese was endorsing a candidate and we did not explicitly or implicitly imply that they did,” the statement said.
“I believe this is a last minute, desperate attempt by my opponent to distract voters from the real issues facing our community,” the statement continued.
Wiken has used Listecki for political purposes in the past. He listed Jerome Listecki by name, not as archbishop, in an invitation to a Nov. 17, 2015, fund raising event at the Wisconsin Club.