Steven Coleman, Peng Her and Anita Weier running. This race had a strong contrast in style and presentation of the candidates as well as experience.
This past weekend I sat in on the tapings of the League of Women Voters and City Channel “Know Your Candidates” Interviews. They were doing the tapings for the primary elections, which is February 15th. This was the first time many of the candidates met each other and it was their first forum for the alders. The questions are predictable if you have ever watched these shows. The candidates are nervous as heck because it is one of the first times they have to put themselves out there and the cameras and the lights are intimidating to many. I’m not doing a full recap of the taping, you need to watch the shows for yourself (information on when and how at the end of this post.) I have a brief analysis with some of my thoughts about the races at the end as well.
What is your professional, educational and civic background and why are you running?
SC: Lived in Madison 43 years, works at UW hospital, and a union member and he’s running because he thinks there are things that need to be corrected.
PH: He’s the Executive Director of EINPC, works with neighborhoods to make sure needs are being met. On the Economic Development Commission for the City he worked on the 3 – 5 year strategic plan, TIF policy and development planning process. He is on the water utility oversight committee, Dane County Human Services board, he (is or was) President of his neighborhood association, and formerly served on the Northside Planning Council and Board (?) for the Gardens at Troy Gardens.
AW: Lived on northside for 17 years, she has been involved in environment, economic and neighborhood issues, she worked with the Northside Planning Council to switch focus to jobs and economic development. She’s on the Friends of Cherokee Marsh Board, a volunteer writer for newsletter, she has been a writer for 30? years, she is on the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council that works to make information available to the public.
What are the most urgent issues facing the city?
PH: Safe drinking water (he’s on the oversight committee so site a well on the Eastside, has a degree in physics), Jobs. Environment on the northside.
AW: Economy, unsold homes and empty storefronts. Streets and sidewalks and pedestrian safety and traffic problems.
SC: Safer streets. Pool, he wants two on the northside to keep kids out of trouble.
What are the most important issues in your district that you will work on as alder?
AW: Cherokee marsh keeping it form pollution and development, specifically Independent Living plan for senior housing. Great project, should be built across the road or needs a larger buffer. Crime, is more a issue of perception than reality. Wants more community policing. She would limit property tax increases.
SC: Jobs, open spaces in the shopping center, need good paying jobs so people stay in the area. Pool and safety issues.
PH: Safe neighborhoods, but not more police officers, but a holistic approach, police and neighborhoods and community services need to work together. Business closings and empty storefronts, need to attract new businesses to Madison, money form norhtside leaks to East Towne or downtown. Reduce borrowing, so taxes not raised every year, will use money wisely.
How will you balance the interests of city, district and business interests and what will your role be?
SC: He will stay in touch, hold open forums, attend meetings, create community where people communicate, and act together.
PH: Has a long history as an organizer, he would help facilitate discussions, make sure needs are being met and listen to the voices.
AW: She would create a committee including people from areas of the district, different ethnic groups and businesses to advise her, she would attend neighborhood association and civic and business group meetings, disseminate information in north side news and electronically, she would return email and phone messages promptly.
Given the latest water utility controversy , what is the role o the council in safe water
PH: He’s active on this issue as a member of the eastside citizen advisory panel. He’s aware of contaminants and challenges the water utility face, not just chromium 6, but iron and manganese. He would advocate so community has information, communication is key with water utility, need transparency, residents complain they are hiding something, they need open dialogue and discussion. Also need to invest in infrastructure.
AW: Testing with water is important, needs to be frequent and reliable, communication with water board, issue that requires constant attention, infrastructure getting old.
SC: Knows very little except what he reads in the newspaper cuz he works full time, but would appoint someone to look at it.
Any other issue that hasn’t been covered?
AW: First she says they all have been covered but then talks about Cherokee marsh retention ponds and concern about loss of trees.
SC: Will work with anyone, his issue is Cherokee marsh, concerns with water run off and want to keep the water safe and pure.
PH: Loves the diversity of the northside, wants to make sure everyone has a voice. Wants to attract businesses and make sure people have good jobs. (Missed a bunch cuz the noisy heater kicked in.)
Closing Statement
SC: Was very brief, said there is lots of issues to work on.
PH: He will bring your idea and energy to council, has the experience, civically and in the community. He will be your voice, strong and responsive.
AW: She will work together to make northside a great place. Reads a written statement. Mentions economic difficulties, environment, safety and holding the line on property taxes, says the diversity of north side is greatest strength but need to make effort to bring people together, will work hard for north side.
WATCH IT YOURSELF!
City Channel on channel 98 or 994 will air this show:
Friday, Jan 28 at 11 pm
Monday, Jan 31 at 11 am
Saturday, Feb 12 at 3:30 pm.
ANALYSIS
It’s not just these candidates, but I’m amazed when people say they want more police but will cut taxes. Police are a huge portion of the budget, the largest, so what are they going to cut? And using money more wisely sounds great, but what does it mean? Sounds like there is issues with their current alder not returning phone calls and emails promptly. In some ways, I feel like they missed the question about balancing the needs of the city, neighborhoods and business community, but there weren’t a whole lot of good answers to that question, because it is hard. And again, there was a stark contrast in experience, knowledge and style/presentation, so its worth watching. I think Peng Her really stood out as the person ready to be alder, to step in and hit the ground running and would serve the district most competently, but you should judge for yourself. That’s not an endorsement, just an observation, but remember this is the first time the candidates met and that could change by April 5 if the other candidates work hard.
