Bice: Sheriff Earnell Lucas hires 20-year-old son of District Attorney John Chisholm for $85,000-a-year job

Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas is a family man. 

As in he doesn't mind filling one of his top posts with the family member of one of his biggest political allies — no matter how unusual the move. 

In a short email on Tuesday evening, Lucas confirmed that he has named Ted Chisholm, the 20-year-old son of District Attorney John Chisholm, as his chief of staff. Ted Chisholm had a prominent role on Lucas' successful campaign last year and his father was a big supporter of the Democratic sheriff.

"Ted represents the finest in young, servant leaders and will make a great addition to the Sheriff's Office," Lucas wrote in his email.

In his new job, Ted Chisholm will earn $84,900 a year, which is roughly the annual pay for a new captain. His start date is Monday. 

This is a newly created position by the new sheriff, who took office last month. It represents a sharp break from previous sheriffs, who typically surrounded themselves in top positions with law enforcement personnel, not political activists.

In another brief email, John Chisholm said he had no involvement in the appointment, which was not announced publicly. The Democratic district attorney also said he did not believe the hiring will create a conflict of interest between the two agencies.

As for whether Ted Chisholm was qualified for the job, his father wrote that question "is appropriately directed to the sheriff."

Ted Chisholm was listed as "campaign staff" on Lucas' campaign reports and was paid at least $4,000 last year. Lucas defeated then-Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt in the Democratic primary in August. Lucas was unopposed in November. 

"Ted ended up running that campaign," said one Democratic insider. 

The Democratic insider described Ted Chisholm as a "courthouse rat" who was a "very politically smart young man." He has been involved in several other campaigns, including one for a Ramsey County sheriff's candidate in Minnesota in November.

The insider noted that Ted Chisholm does lack a college degree. He is currently a junior at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, majoring in religious studies, according to his LinkedIn page. 

"I am actively engaged in progressive politics and criminal justice policy," Ted Chisholm said on that website. He did not respond to texts or calls on Tuesday. 

John Chisholm was a strong supporter of Lucas' during the 2018 campaign. The incumbent district attorney had clashed often with Schmidt's former boss and mentor, former Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. 

Records show John Chisholm donated $250 to Lucas and his campaign fund gave another $500.   

Not everybody at the courthouse is thrilled with the move. 

A second Democratic insider accused Lucas of engaging in Chicago-style politics by appointing "someone barely out of his teens to a leadership position in a law enforcement agency."

"It's hard to say where the cronyism ends and the nepotism begins here," said the second Democratic insider. 

Craig Peterson, an adviser to the conservative Clarke, said the former sheriff's top staff members were always inspectors in the department. Inspectors usually have extensive law enforcement backgrounds. 

"For all of Lucas' complaints about David Clarke's management style, Clarke never wasted taxpayer dollars for a partisan campaign aide," Peterson said. It should be noted that Clarke did hire Fran McLaughlin, a longtime GOP activist, as his spokeswoman. 

As for Ted Chisholm, Peterson said, he wouldn't have his new position "if he had any other last name." 

Lucas did not respond to these criticisms of his appointment. 

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.