Go vote! Tell your friends to vote! Tell your family to vote! Tell your co-workers to vote! Take someone to vote with you when you go vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! (and here’s who I would vote for . . .)
Supreme Court This is a no-brainer. Joanne Kloppenberg! We need to make sure that Scott Walker can’t just win through the Supreme Court when he and the Fitzgeralds ignore the law!
Dane County Executive Also, a no-brainer. Joe Parisi! With Eileen Bruskewitz we’d never see an RTA or high speed rail or any real mass transit, but instead we’d see more roads and cars and sprawl. She doesn’t like zoning regulations, so it would become a development free-for-all if she had her way. And, she likely voted for Scott Walker, she agrees with him on some things. She may not be Scott Walker, but she is supported by the Republican Party.
Madison Mayor For me, a no-brainer. Paul Soglin! 8 years ago, when they were both running, I supported Dave Cieslewicz, because of his promises for the future. He didn’t really follow through on those promises and morphed into a whole new person. Since then, both Mayor Dave and Paul Soglin have endorsed against me, so it wasn’t a slam dunk. But, I’ve also worked with both of them. I just think that I want a mayor who isn’t blind to the 17% of the people in Madison who are poor, is concerned about the 50% of kids in our schools who get free and reduced lunch, who thinks that there is still work to be done in low-income neighborhoods (and here) and feels that it is the Mayor’s role to do something about it. And when I say “do something” I don’t mean go crazy hiring more cops. I want a mayor who understands that community services are as much a key to the quality of life of neighborhoods as police officers. I want a mayor who doesn’t just decide what should be done, but works with neighborhoods and interested parties to come up with solutions. Who appoints a diversity of people to committees so there are different voices at the table. One who understands that the very diversity of people that is appointed will help come up with decisions that people can get behind because they participated in the process. And yes, even tho the process can be a pain in the butt sometimes, understands that the process is important. I want a Mayor who is not petty and vindictive when people disagree with him and then holds a grudge. I want a Mayor that understands that when you are supportive of a project, you don’t just change the laws to get it built. I want a mayor that understands that the capitol spending in the city is growing to unacceptable proportions. That mayor for right now, is Paul Soglin. Is Paul some sort of saint who will do everything right in my eyes, all the time? Absolutely not, but at least I feel like he’ll listen. And probably argue and fight but at least I would know where he’s coming from and why and that he’d listen and maybe even change his mind from time to time. I want a mayor who engages the community, who loves the city first and foremost and who will do what is right for Madison! There is a difference between the two candidates, a very clear difference. My clear choice is Paul Soglin.
Yes (and Yes!) The referenda questions in Madison and Dane County are about getting corporate money about of elections. Deciding the corporations are not people and money is not speech. Again, complete no-brainers. They have wide bi-partisan support and its a great chance to show our politicians that they need to do something to address this issue. Vote yes!
District One – Lisa Subeck vs Brian Driscoll I’m declining to make a choice in this race. I’m too familiar with one candidate and not familiar enough with the other. I don’t know if it will make a difference who is elected, but either way, they will be more progressive than the current alder, Jed Sanborn.
District Two – Sam Stevenson vs Bridget Maniaci No secrets here, I’m going with Sam Stevenson. Yes, I’m not happy with the Edgewaterm, to some extent that is minor. I”m also not happy with an alder who ignored our neighborhood’s unanimous request not to be in a TIF District. An alder who didin’t work to make parking restrictions more friendly to the neighborhood. An alder who cannot show up for her committee meetings and has one of the worst records on the council for attendance. An alder who is more concerned about what she gets out of being an alder (health care benefits, full time job, trips to Japan and steak instead of salad) than she is about issues in the neighborhood. I want an alder who respects community process, who hasn’t decided she is the decider and who involves the community in making big decisions (East Washington corridor, Edgewater, etc.) Sam Stevenson is prgressive. He’s smart and kind and compassionate. He’s sincere and has integrity. He doesn’t think he knows everything, he’s interested in building community, he’s passionate about issues beyond how much he’s getting paid and he’d serve the 2nd district well! At first I wasn’t so sure, but I think he’d be an excellent alder after getting to know him, and hopefully the 2nd district has gotten to know him and agrees!
District 3 – Lauren Cnare, unopposed
District 4 – Mike Verveer, unopposed
District 5 – Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, unopposed
District 6 – Marsha Rummel vs Twink Jan-McMahon Again, another no-brainer in my book. Marsha has served the district well, understands community and the city process, is thoughtful and deliberate. Is a great progressive voice on the council, asks great questions without beating around the bush and is diligent in her very long list of issues that she is constantly working on. She loves her district, loves Madison and has the history and skills to serve her district well.
District 7 – Steve King vs. Nathan Judnic I know very little about this race and very little about the challenger. I’d have to leave this one up to people who live in the district and hopefully are better informed.
District 8 – Kyle Szarzynski vs Scott Resnick I really hate these campus races, they are always so negative and attack the candidates mercilessly. My clear choice in this race is Kyle Szarzynski. If you read the student newspapers and blogosphere, you’d think he was the devil incarnate. I happen to know Kyle and that is far from the truth! He’s passionate, and sometimes that scares people. He’s has great progressive values and wants to make this world a better world! And Madison a better city. And I’m convinced he is the right candidate to make that happen. I’d love to see us return to the day when the alder in the 8th district is a staunch supporter of his district, who is more worried about getting the job done than wearing a suit while doing it and who understands the the goals are not just to reach a compromise, but to get work done for the district in the best way possible.
District 9 – Paul Skidmore vs Rick Cruz Well, I’d take a pass on this one too, but honestly, I think Paul Skidmore, who I rarely agree with, is the better candidate.
District 10 – Brian Solomon vs Tom Farley Brian Solomon! Tom might be a nice guy, but Solomon has the core values that I look for in a candidate, I think Tom Farley in many ways is still trying to figure out what his are. I also think Allied Drive needs Brian Solomon and his passion for that neighborhood, and I want Brian Solomon there to fight for things like card-check nuetrality and keeping the bus fares low. I want his knowledge of workforce development to be on the council so when they start talking about creating jobs, he is part of that conversation and makes sure that whatever happens, the jobs created are not just for people in the biotech industry, but also include career ladder jobs for people with less skills.
District 11 – Chris Schmidt vs Brandon White I’m declining to make an endorsement in this race. The incumbent knows why. Enough said.
District 12 – Satya Rhodes-Conway, unopposed
District 13 – TJ Mertz vs. Sue Ellingson In this race, the person with the most knowledge of the city and the issues is clearly, hands down, TJ Mertz. When I’ve seen him in debates you’d think he was the incumbent. And, I know he will work his tail off in the position. He’s also got great progressive values and I think he was sold a little short in some of the endorsements because he didn’t do well in the primary, but I”m hoping voters look beyond the party politics (which is the most important thing to his opponent, just ask her) and look at who would be best for the job. Hands down, its TJ Mertz to replace Julia Kerr who is retiring.
District 14 – Tim Bruer, unopposed
District 15 – Larry Palm, unopposed
District 16 – Jill Johnson vs Ryan McKee Wow, I’ve heard nothing about this race. The only think I was told by someone I trust is that we are likely getting “more of the same”. The same being Judy Compton.
District 17 – Joe Clausius, unopposed
District 18 – Peng Her vs Anita Weier Much the same as the 13th. Watching the debates, Peng Her was knowledgeable on the issues and appeared to be the incumbent. I know that he understands the city, understands poverty issues, understands budgets. He’s been a small business owner, works at the East Isthmus Planning Council and is very involved in community. I think he’d be less parochial and look at the issues citywide, yet fight hard for his neighborhoods when necessary. I’d love to see him on the council, I think he could step right in and do the job!
District 19 – Mark Clear, unopposed
District 20 – David Glomp vs Matt Phair Write in Thuy! At least she keeps us entertained. I’m worried about Matt Phair and his buddy-buddy relationship with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz if he wins. Glomp is a republican. Phair’s wife works for the Mayor and I think there would be many conflicts of interests. You choose.
A guide to election night parties is coming up.
If you need know where to vote, go here for Madison. Here for the rest of Wisconsin.
If you need a ride to the polls, here’s details on Union and Badger free cab rides.
Joe Clausius is not running unopposed. Jill Johnson’s opponent has pulled out of the race (reason why it’s so quiet).
Doh! Spencer White . . . forgot about him! So hard to keep track when there is so little coverage . . . but I don’t know how I could have forgotten the Wisconsin State Journal’s endorsement of Clausius . . . how’d that go. He promised to be boring and he delivered! ??????????????????????