Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett launched a vigorous defense of his record in the African-American community and city as a whole following Tuesday’s primary election and subsequent criticism from Ald. Joe Davis and Bob Donovan.

Barrett is facing Donovan in the April election.

"If you’ve looked at the work we have done, in areas like job creation, job training, summer youth employment, we have done a lot," Barrett said on Thursday in Waukesha, where he was at a public hearing on water issues. "I am proud of our record."

He said he "fervently" disagreed with Davis’ criticism that he has not done enough for the African-American community, as well as the rest of Milwaukee. He cited a "job core center. Our summer youth employment program. We’ve hired over 25,000 kids over the past 10 years. Go to our worker training program; we’re helping people get jobs that have not had jobs before. We’ve been very, very aggressive in that area, and we will continue to be."

Responding to critics who noted Barrett earned under 50 percent of primary votes, Barrett said comparing primary and general election voting is "apples to oranges" because turnout will be higher in April due to the presidential primary.

"It’s a much ... different dynamic in the general election," he said.

Former mayoral candidate James Methu, a political newcomer who came in fourth in the primary, gave Barrett his endorsement for mayor on Thursday.

"I was pleased to get the endorsement of James Methu," added Barrett. "He is, in many ways, the new millennial, the new generation candidate, the true outsider in this race."

Some observers feel the millennial vote will be particularly important in April, with Bernie Sanders and others generating interest among younger voters.

It was a week of dueling endorsements, with each candidate, Barrett and Donovan, picking up support from a former opponent.

At a news conference earlier this week in which he endorsed Donovan, Davis, who placed third in the primary contest, had accused Barrett of not being honest with the city, particularly with issues relating to lead in the water pipes in older parts of the city.

"Clearly, there was a study that there was lead contamination in some of the City’s laterals," said Davis. "How severe is the problem? In the older areas of the city, are babies becoming contaminated with it? I think we deserve a comprehensive briefing on it ... it should come from the mayor. 

"Right now, Milwaukee needs a new mayor. We need a new philosophy ... I grew up on 9th and Burleigh, and I want to see Milwaukee get right. I want to see these kids have the same opportunity as me."

Barrett strongly disputed the claim.

"I would totally disagree," he said. "Talk to Ghassan Korban, our public works commissioner."

Korban was standing nearby the mayor at the public hearing.

"We’ve been forthcoming and so transparent about the lead issue from day one," said Korban. "Whoever were to say that is so disingenuous."

Barrett, the incumbent, won the spring primary Tuesday with 46 percent of the vote. Donovan took second place with 32 percent, Davis had a third place showing with 18 percent, and Methu finished last with two percent.  

In spite of the incumbent’s victory, Barrett received a significant decrease in votes compared to the 2012 mayoral primary race, when Barrett won 80 percent of the vote. However, Barrett remains optimistic for the general election in April.

"Primaries allow people to vote people from their neighborhoods, and that’s fine," said Barrett.  He said that the April election will be different. "Now, you have two candidates who are very different in approaches and policies. If people want a clear choice, they got a clear choice in this race."