NEWS
Woods, Judge debate
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Courtney Johnson:
- Construction pops up on State Street this spring (November 6, 2007)
- Woods ahead in fundraising race (March 28, 2007)
- E-mail sparks privacy concern (October 9, 2007)
- Big Ten Network reaches deal with UW housing (August 31, 2007)
- City agency to run Halloween entertainment (May 10, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Aldermanic campaign goes international with Internet ads (March 21, 2007)
- College Dems endorse Judge (January 24, 2007)
- Woods drafts campus safety initiative (February 26, 2007)
- UW students go head-to-head for District 8 seat (January 19, 2007)
- Woods kicks off alder campaign (February 1, 2007)
by Courtney Johnson
Friday, March 16, 2007
Focusing on campus safety, District 8 aldermanic candidates Lauren Woods and Eli Judge faced off in a debate Thursday night at the Red Gym.
Judge, a University of Wisconsin sophomore, and Woods, a senior, are both vying for the soon-to-be vacant District 8 seat, which is currently held by City Council President Austin King.
With a recent string of high-profile assaults on Spring, Langdon and East Wilson streets, the primary concern on most students' minds last night was campus safety.
"What we're going to be trying to do is set up something called the Campus Watch Program," Judge said.
He added the Campus Watch Program would include teams of students who "walk around with armbands, indicating piece of apparel and cell phones, communicating directly with neighborhood watch officers, just so we can have a visible thing on the streets."
Judge has criticized Woods' call for increased lighting, saying it's too expensive, and instead has called for an ordinance encouraging property owners to install their own lighting. In turn, Woods criticized Judge's plan, saying it relies too heavily on volunteerism.
"I think, definitely, it is important to engage our citizens — we want people to be good-hearted," Woods said. "But I know that it's the responsibility of the city to make sure that we're safe, and so I advocate for pedestrian-scale lighting instead of privatizing lighting."
Woods also stressed that most sexual assaults occur between acquaintances, so a neighborhood watch program might not do much to curb assaults.
"I think that the assumption is that one in four women will be walking down the street and get attacked by a man in the bushes, and that's certainly not the case," Woods said. "It's not as easy as saying that we want to have people patrolling the streets, because in fact people are not getting raped in the streets — they're getting raped in their bedrooms."
About 40 students and community members attended the event, which was hosted by the Wisconsin Black Student Union, the Campus Women's Center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Center.
Suchita Shah, a UW sophomore, said she is happy the debate was made available to students.
"It's a very important race, because one of these two is going to be the next representative and take City Council President Austin King's spot," Shah said. "I think both candidates are great students who have great ideas, but overall I thought Eli Judge did an absolutely amazing job and is very in touch with students."
Many Woods supporters also turned out for the event, including King, Woods' campaign treasurer.
Woods' supporters said they were impressed by the forum, as well as Woods' plans for District 8.
"I think it was very important for BSU to hold the forum just to educate the African-American and other minorities on campus," UW senior Heydie Navarro said. "Lauren stood out to me the most — I think that her answers were more full and more insightful, and I stand for what she stands for."
The two candidates will face off during the spring general election, which takes place April 3.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 1:04am):
Judge has made it pretty clear he advocates some public and some private lighting; that's a typo in this article.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 1:39am):
NOBODY CARES.
Just forget about this race already.
Besides, w/ PD in the running, there's no such thing as democracy.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 2:29am):
That's not a typo at all. Judge clearly said that he thought public lighting was too expensive, like he's the great champion of lower taxes.
Honestly, if only for that reason, Woods won this debate hands down.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 2:36am):
Lauren did so well! Congrats on winning the debate, Lauren! Keep it up!
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 2:40am):
"I think it was very important for BSU to hold the forum just to educate the African-American and other minorities on campus," UW senior Heydie Navarro said.
-Well *THAT* sounds like a fair forum... do the College Democrats or Students for Judge plan to hold a "debate" as well? Puh-lease. Maybe Fair Wisconsin can sponser a "LGBT issue" debate.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 9:24am):
The debate was also co-sponsored by the LGBTCC, based on the flyer I saw.
Just because Judge lost the debate doesn't mean you should start making things up.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 10:05am):
Lauren win? No Way!
Great job, Eli, on your debate victory! I'm looking forward to seeing you on City Council representing common sense UW values.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 10:27am):
You think anyone there didnt have their mind made up going into the debate?
I think the 20 people in the room are the only ones who care...
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 11:20am):
i'm sorry but who declared that Lauren Woods won the debate? Thats right. No one did.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 12:05pm):
The debate was awesome but next time it should be in an arena and it should be a fight to the death with the winner getting a spot on the city council.
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 1:22pm):
if the badger herald ever had an online poll i bet someone would spend a whole day spamming people emails about how to delete their cookies and vote multiple times to win the poll. badger Herald polls would equal real electoral power. congrats.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 1:27pm):
I was there, and Lauren was hands-down the winner.
Eli couldn't even answer my question about safety, just kept repeating the same talking points from earlier so I had to ask him again. Then Lauren got my question, and she was able to answer it head-on. Of course, I was already supporting Lauren, but this was just one more example of how she is better informed and more knowledgable. Go Lauren!
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 3:18pm):
to 2:29AM saying Judge does not support new lights:
Straight from Judge's safety plan: "I wholeheartedly support the expansion of pedestrian scale lighting in areas of low visibility, including North Frances St., Spring St., Lake St. (by the vacant McDonalds), and Mills St."
You are a liar, 2:29AM, most likely Austin King.
-A Judge supporter
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 5:32pm):
I think most of the comments are missing the point. The district 8 race is not about whose campus safety plan is better or even who won the debate, the race is really about ensuring that Austin King has yet another political ally in office. Because after all with Lauren, Ashock, and Vicki in office, the path will be clear for Mr. King's mayoral run in 2011, after he finishes law school.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 6:09pm):
Madison would go to hell in a handbasket if King were elected Mayor.
What a nutjob.
Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 6:35pm):
"Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 5:32pm):
I think most of the comments are missing the point. The district 8 race is not about whose campus safety plan is better or even who won the debate, the race is really about ensuring that Austin King has yet another political ally in office. Because after all with Lauren, Ashock, and Vicki in office, the path will be clear for Mr. King's mayoral run in 2011, after he finishes law school."
Well that scares the shit out of me.
Anonymous (March 17, 2007 @ 2:08am):
"I think most of the comments are missing the point. The district 8 race is not about whose campus safety plan is better or even who won the debate, the race is really about ensuring that Austin King has yet another political ally in office. Because after all with Lauren, Ashock, and Vicki in office, the path will be clear for Mr. King's mayoral run in 2011, after he finishes law school."
What are you talking about? Even if King were to run for office, Madison is not an oligarchy. We still elect our mayor. Having a couple of friends on the county board (assuming that a few don't also go to law school, which is unlikely) does not "clear the path" for anyone.
Anonymous (March 17, 2007 @ 6:09am):
King isn't going to run for Mayor. He wants Black's seat. And when King runs, every. single. skelton. will. come. out.
Anonymous (March 17, 2007 @ 12:14pm):
Ha! Austin would never run for mayor. Ever. But that would be pretty hilarious.
And what skeletons? That he smoked pot as an undergrad? Put him on a list with Michael Bloomberg, John McCain, Bushie, Clinton, etc.
If you've got any "goods" on him, bust him on it already. Oh, wait, that's right, you're just lying.
Anonymous (March 17, 2007 @ 6:20pm):
Why would the College Republicans want to use it up you right now? Stop posting Austin King. You're too old to hang around college kids anymore.
Anonymous (March 19, 2007 @ 3:26pm):
An unfunded mandate to install outdoor lighting? The reliance on the 'good' of the people to start a neighborhood watch? Judge sounds more and more republican every day.
Anonymous (April 1, 2007 @ 10:01pm):
Dude it was a freakin' debate it was an open forum for the canidates to discuss there proposals, etc... GOSH PEOPLE!!!!
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
