Clemens Michalski


Clemens F. Michalski was an American machinist and politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who represented the 12th Milwaukee County Assembly district, succeeding Democrat Max Galasinski. Michalski was a U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Wisconsin form 1952 to December 31,1955, after which Michalski was elected Sheriff of Milwaukee. Michalski served as sheriff from 1956 to 1960 when George J. Witkowski was elected.

Background

Michalski was born on April 21, 1902, in Milwaukee, where at one time or another he attended public schools, parochial schools and night school. In 1918, he became an apprentice machinist, and continued in that profession, except for a brief time as an inspector for the State Athletic Commission. He worked for many years for Allis-Chalmers; and also worked part-time as a salesman of Essex and Hudson automobiles.

Political office

At the time of his 1934 election to the assembly he was chairman of the Twelfth Ward Democratic Committee; the Athletic Commission position may have been a patronage appointment in the wake of the 1932 Democratic sweep of Wisconsin offices. He was the only member of the Assembly to specifically list his political affiliation as "Liberal Democrat"
In 1936, he ran for a position on the Milwaukee Common Council; he would remain as an alderman for 16 years. He was not a candidate in the 1936 Democratic primary for his Assembly seat, and was succeeded by Democrat Peter Pyszczynski.
Parker spent some time as a member of the central committee of the Wisconsin Democratic Party for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. During this period, he ran a liquor store on Mitchell Street for five years, and made investments in South Side real estate.
He resigned as alderman in 1952 to accept an appointment as a United States Marshall from the Truman administration. He then resigned that position in December 1955 to seek the office of Sheriff for Milwaukee County, a position he held from 1956–1960, when he was elected as county clerk. Michalski, described as "a large man with a booming voice... known in the political arena as a fiery orator", became known for his malapropisms. When asked to speculate on the outcome of a particular case he said, "I don't have any sugar bowl." He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention, nominally pledged to favorite son Governor John Reynolds as a presidential candidate.
In 1968 he retired as county clerk. He died October 20, 1977.