Judge will not seek re-election

by Becky Vevea

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 00:00

Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, will not be running for another term as alder and said Monday he encourages another student to fill his shoes.

District 8 is comprised of approximately 98 percent students and encompasses the downtown University of Wisconsin campus area.

“I think there is some virtue in having a student serve the 8th district,” Judge said.

Judge, a University of Wisconsin senior, is the youngest member of the Madison City Council. He plans to graduate in May and attend law school.

“It was a really tough decision,” Judge said. “I really do love this job. … Law school is going to help me serve a lot better in the future.”

The application deadline for people interested in running for alder is Jan. 6, 2009, and the election will be the first Tuesday in April.

“Whoever fills this seat has big shoes to fill,” said UW junior Bryon Eagon, who has worked with Judge on youth activism and participation in the past.

As of press time, the one person who formally announced candidacy for Judge’s position is 20-year-old Michael Johnson.

Johnson, a Madison Area Technical College student, lives in District 8 and plans to transfer to UW at some point.

As co-founder of Student Progressive Dane, Johnson said he is committed to tenants’ rights, social and economic justice as well as environmental responsibility.

Johnson said he has experience with student activism, such as helping to organize immigration rights rallies in March and at the recent Dane County Board of Supervisors budget hearings.

While Johnson said he would be running the same day Judge announced he would not, Judge said he will not help or support any candidate before the Jan. 6, 2009, filing deadline.

“I refuse to talk with anyone who is running for the seat until after the filing deadline,” Judge said. “I want this to be as equal and fair an election as possible.”

Judge said he was sure there would be a number of people running for his position, and his best advice to whoever wins would be to “be as accessible as possible.”

“Way more than a majority of the people in your district don’t know you exist,” Judge said.

Over his term, Judge proposed the textbook ordinance shortly after taking office and worked to protect students and renters from landlords with the passage of the photo ordinance.

Most recently, Judge authored the downtown residential lighting initiative, aimed at improving downtown safety through providing grants for residents to install lights on the sides and backs of buildings.

Judge said he will miss serving as an advocate for students and “seeing something that the students need done and jumping on it.” On the other hand, he said he will not miss the long City Council meetings.

“I’m really proud of all the things I’ve been able to accomplish,” Judge said. “I’m looking forward to a respectful and productive couple of months as people start to run for the seat.”