President of Fire Fighters Association to enter governor’s race

Mahlon Mitchell, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Wisconsin, is expected to launch his candidacy for governor on Monday.

Mitchell said he would make a “major political announcement” at a series of events in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Madison. He’s been contemplating joining the large field of Democrats who want to take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker in his bid for a third term next year.

Mitchell said he’ll be joined at the events by local firefighters, workers, educators, students and small business owners “who believe it's time for a change in Wisconsin.”

In 2011, Mitchell became the youngest and the first African-American president of the PPFW. He’s now 40 years old.

Mitchell achieved statewide recognition as one of the leading opponents of Scott Walker’s Act 10, which virtually dismantled public unions.

He ran for lieutenant governor in the 2012 recall against Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, but lost the race by 53-47.

He’s been active in Democratic politics since that time, and there were efforts to recruit him to run for governor in 2014.

Eight other Democrats have launched gubernatorial campaign, and several others are contemplating a bid. The election is just under a year away.