NEWS
Mayor encourages spring voting
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Also by Aubre Andrus:
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by Aubre Andrus
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
With the City Council elections approaching this spring, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss voter turnout and statistics concerning issues the people of Madison find important.
Wood Communications Group’s “Spring out the Vote” campaign is working with Cieslewicz to increase last year’s 30 percent voter turnout at the spring city election to 50 percent, or by an additional 127,000 votes.
Jim Wood, president of Wood Communications Group, said the company will work alongside many companies, including labor organizations and businesses, to encourage voting.
“We will be working with broadcast associations and other media to increase awareness of the issues and the public-election process,” Wood said.
According to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, spring elections do not receive as much money or press time as the fall elections, affecting voter turnout. Falk said she is counting on the local media to cover the election and inform the citizens of Madison.
Under the assumption that voter turnout correlates with how much the prominent election issues affect the people of the city, the Wood Communications Group interviewed 600 residents over the phone in a random digital-dial sampling last November.
The poll included two open-ended questions, encouraging citizens to provide their own answers as opposed to choosing from a set list.
When asked what the city government could do to improve the Madison area, 41 percent of those questioned mentioned the need for budget cuts in city government and fear for rising taxes. The second-highest concern for citizens addressed the need for new businesses and jobs in the city.
Cieslewicz said increasing participation in elections includes encouraging people to run for city-government positions. Some of the districts’ council seats remain uncontested this spring.
“Everybody ought to have a choice,” Cieslewicz said, “even for the next mayor’s election.”
The alders on the council influence several issues that directly impact the lives of students, Cieslewicz said, and he encourages students to vote. The alders will address these issues and make final decisions on many controversial topics.
“Alders will have a lot of say, for example, about what Halloween is going to look like next year,” Cieslewicz said, adding, “whether or not underage people can get into bars to enjoy music and dance … transportation issues … a variety of housing issues.”
The Southeast residence halls and the College Court area fall under Ald. Austin King’s District 8, which is contested by Awesome Car Funmaker band member Ryan Corcoran and Kimia Lounge owner Kami Eshraghi.
District 5, which includes the Lakeshore residence halls, is currently held by Ald. Robbie Webber, who will be challenged this spring by Ben Moga.
According to Wood, a lot of organizations are reaching out to the campus area to encourage students to vote and increase turnout at the election. Wood’s campaign encourages all people to vote, and he said he is willing to help.
“It is our intention, in the next couple of weeks, to contact as many of those organizations that we can and say, ‘We are doing this. Is there anything we can do to help?’” Wood said.
Anonymous (February 2, 2005 @ 11:20am):
I guess your definition of "contested" in District 8 is that there are two other people on the ballot. King's going to be re-elected with at least 70%.
