As a candidate for Milwaukee County executive, Chris Abele made job creation one of his priorities. In that vein, he promised to sell unused and "underused” county facilities that could be used to start or expand private businesses.

Abele's one-year term term as county executive is coming to an end as he runs for re-election to a full four-year term in April 2012. And though he has no opponent in the election, the expectation of the promise was it would be fulfilled in his current term.

Abele chief of staff Amber Moreen said in February 2012, when we rated this promise Stalled, that Abele's administration has "actively sought opportunities to sell underused assets” and taken steps to meet the goal. She said the steps include provisions in the 2012 budget for a facilities study and for creating a new until that will help county leaders "consider the best strategic use of county assets.”

Moreen said Abele's administration also led an effort, approved by a County Board committee, to sell county-owned land in the Park East corridor to the Milwaukee School of Engineering. That sale is not to a business or company, though, and it is not expected to spur much business development. MSOE plans to build a parking structure that would contain a small retail portion, perhaps a coffee shop.

Abele spokesman Brendan Conway confirmed in March 2012 that no sales of the type Abele pledged had yet been made. We rate this a Promise Broken.

As a candidate for Milwaukee County executive, Chris Abele made job creation one of his priorities. In that vein, he promised to sell unused and "underused” county facilities that could be used to start or expand private businesses.

Abele"s one-year term term as county executive is coming to an end as he runs for re-election to a full four-year term in April 2012. And though he has no opponent in the election, the expectation of the promise was it would be fulfilled in his current term.

So far, he hasn't sold such assets.

Abele chief of staff Amber Moreen said Abele's administration has "actively sought opportunities to sell underused assets” and taken steps to meet the goal. She said the steps include provisions in the 2012 budget for a facilities study and for creating a new unit that will help county leaders "consider the best strategic use of county assets.”

Moreen said Abele's administration also led an effort, approved by the County Board, to sell county-owned land in the Park East corridor to the Milwaukee School of Engineering. This sale would be to another public entity and would not create much new business, per se.

MSOE plans to build a 780-space parking structure that would contain a small retail portion, perhaps a coffee shop. Such an operation would pay property taxes, as would some of the parking stalls that would be leased to businesses and other private parties.

We rate this promise Stalled.