NEWS
Alderman kicks off re-election campaign
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Also by Liz Perron:
Related Stories:
- King reigns over District 8 (April 2, 2003)
- Erlanger vows to continue city work (April 2, 2003)
- King tops City Council primary (February 16, 2005)
- Erlanger leads District 8 financing (February 18, 2003)
- Council candidates duke it out at Union (March 28, 2003)
by Liz Perron
Thursday, January 27, 2005
A small collection of supporters gathered to help Ald. Austin King, District 8, jump-start his re-election campaign Wednesday night at the Memorial Union.
With an informal setting similar to King’s laid-back attitude, King hit the campaign trail once again to hold his spot on the City Council.
Fellow politician Jeff Erlanger, who was King’s opponent in the 2003 election, joined King at the kick-off.
“It’s a testament to King’s hard work that I’m here joining him today,” Erlanger said.
Erlanger noted King’s extreme passion for not only his beliefs, but also his ability to reach out to those who do not fully agree with his beliefs.
Erlanger is not alone in his support for the alderman. King mentioned approval and endorsement from both local and state representatives, as well as numerous organizations, including Associated Students of Madison, College Democrats and the local Green Party.
King said in his last campaign, he set out with four primary goals he hoped to achieve. He stated he delivered on three of the four promises — enacting security laws and regulations for apartment buildings, repealing the requirement of the cabaret license in bars and passing the minimum-wage law. He added he is left with nothing but determination to act on the fourth promise.
King, one of only two Madison renters among the 20 councilmen, said he feels strongly that it is his right to protect the rights of tenants. On the forefront of his re-election campaign, King said he believes security deposits should be placed under protection of the state rather than the landlord.
“People are getting ripped off on their security deposits,” King said. “Tenants currently only have the option to sue in order to get their deposit back in some cases, and that just is not right.”
King said he hopes since 90 percent of his constituents are renters, it will become a major issue in the campaign.
King and Echnaton Vedder, a county supervisor and supporter, both agree the activation of a performing-arts license will appeal to the voters of District 8. The license would allow people under the age of 21 into establishments currently off limits to those that are not of age, primarily to allow those under 21 to hear live music.
“Kids shouldn’t have to get IDs in order to enjoy music,” King announced.
Vedder said he believes enacting a performing-arts license would promote a better, friendlier nightlife in Madison.
“Austin has an amazing amount of knowledge and connection pertaining to the predominantly student population in his district,” Vedder added.
King said he hopes his established relationship with his constituents is enough to get him re-elected in April. King is faced with two opponents, local musician Ryan Corcoran and Kimia Lounge owner Kami Eshraghi. However, King said he believes his opponents are older and out of touch with the primarily student population of District 8.
The election will be held this spring.
Anonymous (January 27, 2005 @ 9:26am):
Oh Badger Herald. There is no way that King could be endorsed by ASM, and he would never have said so. Also, "he feels strongly that it is his right to protect the rights of tenants." Are you kidding?! What awful righting.
Anonymous (January 27, 2005 @ 9:36am):
Yeah, King's got this one, no problem. It would have taken a particularly strong candidate to knock off the hippy that raised the minimum wage, and neither of his opponents are anywhere close to what it would take. As a nineteen year old conservative, I don't like his politics generally, but I actually do appreciate his efforts on the underagers in bars issue. This city's nightlife sucks if you don't have a fake ID, and mine was taken two months ago.
Anonymous (January 27, 2005 @ 1:35pm):
The article about Alderman Austin was very eloquent and well-written. Congratulations, Ms. Perron.
Anonymous (January 27, 2005 @ 8:59pm):
"Older and out of touch?!?!" Corcoran is eight months older than King. Lets be reasonable here. You wont be able to fool people for long on that one hippy.
Anonymous (January 28, 2005 @ 1:27am):
LOL what a stupid loser
Anonymous (January 30, 2005 @ 3:33pm):
OMG LO0K ITS SOM3ONE WHOS3 HARE IS LONG3R THAN MIEN THEIR HE MUST B A STUPID HIPPY GOD DOES THIS COMANT MAEK MAH ASS LOK FAT??!??! OMG
Anonymous (February 1, 2005 @ 12:08pm):
Corcoran may be not as old or as out of touch, but it's pretty clear King thinks he'll be running against Eshraghi in the general. Corcoran gave an idiotic interview in the Cardinal, hasn't done anything noteworthy ever, and is opposed to the minimum wage. Eshraghi is all those things minus the idiotic interview plus lots of special interest cash.
If I were King, I'd also be worried about Eshraghi. If you're a progressive, why on earth would you vote for anyone but King? And if you're a conservative, why would you vote for anyone but Eshraghi? Corcoran seems to be going after the idiot vote, but I think he'll find out that while there are a lot of idiots out there, most of them don't vote in primaries.
