Grant F. Langley is an American attorney and politician who served as Milwaukee City Attorney from 1984 until 2020.
Life and career
editA 1970 graduate of Marquette University Law School,[1] Langley served as an assistant Milwaukee city attorney from 1971 to 1984.[2] As an assistant city attorney, Langley provided legal representation to the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission and controversial Milwaukee police chief Harold A. Breier.[3] He also represented the Milwaukee Harbor Commission and oversaw cable television contract negotiations between the city and Warner Amex Communications Company.[3] Langley was also active in forming a union of assistant city attorneys,[4] which often feuded with City Attorney James B. Brennan.[5] In 1984, Langley challenged Brennan and, after a highly contentious campaign, unseated him.[6]
Langley maintained a low public profile as City Attorney[1] and faced electoral opposition only three times. In 2004, he handily defeated former Milwaukee County Supervisor Fred Tabak.[1] In 2008, Langley faced state Representative Pedro Colón; Colón received considerable support, but ultimately received only 41% of the vote to Langley's 51%.[7] Although it was initially speculated that Langley would not seek a ninth term, he did go on to re-election unopposed in 2016 and sought a tenth term in 2020.[8] He was defeated in the 2020 election by attorney Tearman Spencer.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Horne, Michael (12 July 2013). "Grant Langley's Dour Ranch Home". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "Office of the City Attorney". City of Milwaukee. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ a b Gill, Bruce. "City lawyer kept cable TV talks on the beam". The Milwaukee Sentinel. No. 9 May 1983. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "Union supports Langley". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 15 February 1984. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Lamke, Kenneth R. (23 October 1972). "City Attorney's Office Magnet for Controversy". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Resler, Jerry (5 September 1984). "Brennan is back to law, bids politics adieu". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Sandler, Larry (28 October 2011). "Langley seeks re-election as Milwaukee city attorney". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Sandler, Larry (10 April 2015). "Legal Eagles". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Jones, Meg (April 13, 2020). "Tearman Spencer wins Milwaukee city attorney's race, upsetting longtime incumbent Grant Langley". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 13, 2020.