With Election Day approaching, John R. Nelson faces Basil Ryan and surprise write-in Steve Olson in a race marked by a defamation lawsuit and online contention.
The Franklin mayoral race has taken wild turns in its final weeks, with former Mayor Steve Olson launching a last-second write-in campaign trying to regain a position that he lost three years ago, and challenger Basil Ryan suing the incumbent’s campaign for defamation over mailers alleging endorsement by a convicted criminal.
Incumbent Mayor John R. Nelson, a lifelong Franklin resident who defeated Olson in the 2023 election (57% – 43%), is seeking a second term. Nelson, who previously served six years as District 6 alderman and retired as a lieutenant from the Waterford Police Department in 2024, has focused his campaign on attracting business and residential development to create family-supporting jobs while preserving green space and stabilizing property taxes. The Milwaukee County Republican Party Executive Committee voted in mid-March to support him, though that vote was not without controversy, as opponents raised concerns about Nelson’s time as Milwaukee County Sheriff and with the Waterford Police Department.
Also running is Basil Ryan, a former Franklin alderman, who has criticized Nelson’s approach to development, arguing it has favored developers over residents and led to taxpayer subsidies through tax incremental financing districts. Ryan’s platform emphasizes listening to residents, balanced budgets without deficit spending, and prioritizing public safety and family values over projects requiring public funds.
Ryan has highlighted differences between himself and Nelson on fiscal priorities, citing what he calls Nelson’s proposed 2026 budget, which includes a $1 million deficit and a 2.9% property tax increase.
To the surprise of many, Steve Olson, who served as mayor before losing to Nelson in 2023, announced his write-in bid on March 25. He is pitching his return as a way to deliver “strong, experienced and open” government, promising “No more scandals, just open, ethical government. No alliances, no endorsements, no donors.” Write-in candidates face long odds, but Olson’s name recognition as a former mayor has added uncertainty to the April 7 contest.
To further complicate matters, Ryan filed a civil defamation lawsuit this week in Milwaukee County Circuit Court against the Nelson campaign. The suit accuses the campaign of libel and defamation for distributing mailers falsely claiming that a convicted criminal had endorsed Ryan. Ryan alleges that the statements were made with malice to damage his reputation and seeks monetary damages, injunctive relief, punitive damages, and a jury trial.
The race has played out contentiously online, with voters expressing frustration over the negative tone and difficulty choosing among the candidates. Some residents have raised concerns about the quality of life, vacant properties, and the need for a mayor focused on everyday families rather than on development incentives. With two candidates at each other’s throats and a third who was tossed out in the last election running a last-minute write-in, this leaves voters with a difficult choice and promises to be a complicated election night.
