Grant Langley
{{short description|American lawyer}}
Grant F. Langley is an American attorney and politician who served as Milwaukee City Attorney from 1984 until 2020.
Life and career
A 1970 graduate of Marquette University Law School,{{cite news|last1=Horne|first1=Michael|title=Grant Langley's Dour Ranch Home|url=http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2013/07/12/house-confidential-grant-langleys-dour-ranch-home/|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=Urban Milwaukee|date=12 July 2013}} Langley served as an assistant Milwaukee city attorney from 1971 to 1984.{{cite web|title=Office of the City Attorney|url=http://city.milwaukee.gov/CityAttorney#.VbQMcvlViko|publisher=City of Milwaukee|accessdate=25 July 2015}} As an assistant city attorney, Langley provided legal representation to the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission and controversial Milwaukee police chief Harold A. Breier.{{cite news|last1=Gill|first1=Bruce|title=City lawyer kept cable TV talks on the beam|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19830509&id=g6pRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LRIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6578,1522086&hl=en|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|issue=9 May 1983}} He also represented the Milwaukee Harbor Commission and oversaw cable television contract negotiations between the city and Warner Amex Communications Company. Langley was also active in forming a union of assistant city attorneys,{{cite news|title=Union supports Langley|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19840215&id=-G4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_ykEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1533,2842289&hl=en|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=15 February 1984}} which often feuded with City Attorney James B. Brennan.{{cite news|last1=Lamke|first1=Kenneth R.|title=City Attorney's Office Magnet for Controversy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19721023&id=lH9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4486,2490448&hl=en|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=23 October 1972}} In 1984, Langley challenged Brennan and, after a highly contentious campaign, unseated him.{{cite news|last1=Resler|first1=Jerry|title=Brennan is back to law, bids politics adieu|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19840905&id=TiQWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UhIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3906,570523&hl=en|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=5 September 1984}}
Langley maintained a low public profile as City Attorney and faced electoral opposition only three times. In 2004, he handily defeated former Milwaukee County Supervisor Fred Tabak. In 2008, Langley faced state Representative Pedro Colón; Colón received considerable support, but ultimately received only 41% of the vote to Langley's 51%.{{cite news|last1=Sandler|first1=Larry|title=Langley seeks re-election as Milwaukee city attorney|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/132805453.html|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=28 October 2011}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Sandler|first1=Larry|title=Legal Eagles|url=http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2015/04/10/legal-eagles-milwaukee-city-attorney/|accessdate=25 July 2015|work=Milwaukee Magazine|date=10 April 2015}} He was defeated in the 2020 election by attorney Tearman Spencer.{{cite news|url= https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/04/13/wisconsin-election-results-tearman-spencer-wins-milwaukee-city-attorney-race/2980548001/ |title= Tearman Spencer wins Milwaukee city attorney's race, upsetting longtime incumbent Grant Langley |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last= Jones |first= Meg |date= April 13, 2020 |accessdate= April 13, 2020 }}