OPINION & EDITORIAL
Diverse experiences make Woods best choice
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Letters to the Editor:
- SSFC stipend appropriate (December 11, 2007)
- Poor plowing cuts off handicapped access (December 10, 2007)
- Cars that actually help the environment (December 10, 2007)
- Organic food: Deliciously safe (December 10, 2007)
- Diversity deserves attention at UW (December 7, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Granias' pro-Woods bias obvious (February 23, 2007)
- Judge for District 8? (March 22, 2007)
- Readers dispatch varmints (February 23, 2007)
- UW Dems limit Woods' support (January 30, 2007)
- Woods deserves students' vote for aldermanic race (February 22, 2007)
by Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I was discouraged to see on Thursday that the Badger Herald Editorial Board failed to recognize a discernible difference between District 8 aldermanic candidates Lauren Woods and Eli Judge. A quick look at the websites of the two candidates reveals numerous distinctions between the two in policy ideas, community support, and personal characteristics.
In contrast to Thursday's editorial, I think this election needs to be about the future and not the past. The failure to see the differences between Woods and Judge probably stems from a very campus-focused approach to the two campaigns. They both offer a considerable amount of rhetoric concerning campus safety, they both oppose the Downtown Density Plan, and they both speak of continuing to support the Madison Metro bus system. I think Lauren's more diverse experiences, including experience inside City Hall, will make her a more effective advocate on these issues of agreement.
Distinctions between Lauren and Eli truly emerge in consideration of issues that will have an impact on the entire city. This is where Lauren stands head and shoulders above her opponent. Throughout this campaign, she has been the only candidate to discuss expanding civil rights, protecting pedestrians on campus, and developing more infrastructure for bike transit throughout the community. Eli has also shown that he's good at mimicking Lauren's issues, like putting out a campus safety plan only after Lauren did. That's why Lauren has earned the exclusive endorsements of Mayor Dave, the Sierra Club, the Affordable Housing Action Alliance, Democracy for Wisconsin, and numerous other elected officials and organizations. I encourage all students to support Lauren Woods before April 3!
Matt Donoghue '03 Political Science
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 1:16am):
Well said, Matt! While both are good candidates, Lauren does stand out as the one better prepared to represent the student interest. Eli definitely would not even had a safety plan if he weren't forced to respond to Lauren's safety plan, which is much better and more detailed.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 1:22am):
Thanks dude, congrats, you graduated four years ago and are stuck here.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 1:25am):
"Eli has also shown that he's good at mimicking Lauren's issues, like putting out a campus safety plan only after Lauren did."
or... Eli talked about safety being his number one issue, and then Lauren (Austin) realized she (he) needed to catch up. I encourage you to listen to some of the radio transcripts and press releases from the first days of the campaign to underscore my point.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 2:19am):
So, any of you fuckers out there gonna attack Lauren on the issues, or attack the content of what Matt had to say? Countdown to "OMG that's totally Austin posting!" in 3... 2... 1...
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 2:24am):
Matt is right. While Eli has done his best to make it appear that there are no differences, there most certainly are, and they all favor Lauren. At least, if people knew about them.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 3:14am):
2:24AM, Judge has said "unlike my opponent" enough times in this campaign that your statement is silly.
Another fun difference for the BH comment board:
-WSJ, Badger Herald, Daily Cardinal, for Judge
-Dude from 2003, for Woods.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 3:28am):
heh heh, lauren, still trying to convince people you have done a lot of work inside city hall? for a fun trip, check out when lauren was confirmed on the committees. December '06, Jan '07. Smoke and mirrors kids.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 8:41am):
Eli Judge clearly knows nothing about civil rights, having lead the most significant civil-rights effort on campus in history.
Where was Lauren Woods this fall? What'd she do for Fair Wisconsin?
I'll tell you. Nothing.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 11:06am):
As a student at the UW and a resident of the 8th district, I don't feel that I need to be told who to vote for by someone who graduated four years ago. And if we're going to talk about a quick look at the candidates' websites it might be worth remembering that Judge had the talking points of his safety plan on his website back when the only thing you could do at Woods's website was give her money. I think the biggest distinction between the candidates is that only one has been going door to door in disrict 8, introducing himself to the residents and hearing from them firsthand what they'd like to see there city do for them. That's why Eli has earned the exclusive endorsements of the entire Dane County Dems executive board, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, AFSCME, and numerous leaders of student organizations for campus safety...not to mention both campus papers. If you think you can undo the work that Judge has done in actually meeting the voters in this district by writing a 250 word letter to the editor, think again.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 1:17pm):
Eli supporters sound like they're copy-pasting scripts from rejected political adverts.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 2:32pm):
God I wish I was a communist(or cyborg), then I could say we should elect them both and share the wonderful perks they would both bring to the collective.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 2:45pm):
Woods supporters soudn like they're copy-pasting scripts from the communist manifesto.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 3:46pm):
Wow. The College Dem hacks are back and on the attack!
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 4:14pm):
To 8:41: did you really just call a five-month issue campaign the most significant Civil Rights battle on this campus, ever? Paul Soglin is going to kick your ass.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 4:25pm):
Apparently Austin King has alienated so many actual current students during his tenure on the City Council that the only person he could find to submit a letter depending his little puppet Woods was someone who graduated with him four years ago. I personally find that absolutely hilarious.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 4:51pm):
I agree, Vote Woods/Judge for ASM!
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 5:12pm):
Okay everyone, stop being children, just stop posting. For what it's worth, I voted for Eli, NOT because of anything he stood for, but because Lauren literally killed a forest under my door. I don't care about either of you, but leave my place alone.
~College Court
Love Hughes (March 27, 2007 @ 8:35pm):
Matt Donoghue is still an undergrad. He is a senior.
Anonymous (March 27, 2007 @ 9:27pm):
"or... Eli talked about safety being his number one issue, and then Lauren (Austin) realized she (he) needed to catch up."
could you be more paternalistic? Because clearly, a black woman can't make her own platform and own decisions, and has to have a white male tell her what to do. Asshole.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 12:20am):
I don't think I've ever heard of a candidate wasting so much money and tress on flyers & bulletins in a campaign before. And I'm talking about in any political race. Ever.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 12:34am):
9:27: wow. you really did just say that. maybe at minnesota that wouldn't be so obvious, but uw-madison students are a little smarter than that. no direct response necessary.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 1:19am):
To 927pm,
You're ridiculous. Because of that, I swear to Bucky, I'm taking the trolley tomorrow.
-Someone who just decided to vote
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 1:54am):
Nobody just decided to vote. Everyone who has ever posted here has been volunteering for either the Woods or Judge campaign since January. Get over yourselves.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 5:07am):
I don't want to Judge Woods, but she's overdoing it for this campaign. She has killed a lot of trees and somehow managed to get the flyers into my apartment complex even when she doesn't live there (speaking of campus safety issues)....scary.
Thank you, Eli, for not breaking into my apartment complex and repeat what Lauren did.
With this said, neither one of you are getting my vote because I plan on voting for myself. YAY!
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 6:07am):
9:27 pm - Oh my, in an attempt to conceal the fact that Woods is Austin's hand-picked successor, you throw around racist accusations. Whereas 2:19 am challenges Judge supporters to "attack the content" of what the author wrote, 9:27 pm seriously undermines that argument by doing to exact opposite as a Woods booster.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 12:01pm):
let's just re-elect austin king, he is so great for students. under his reign more students have been robbed and raped than in years past
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 4:12pm):
So, this Donoghue guy claims that his friend Lauren "has been the only candidate to discuss ....protecting pedestrians on campus?"
Apparently Donoghue didn't take the time to actually read the paper before submitting something to it - the Herald featured a questionaire with both candidates on March 22. This is what Eli said, copy-and-pasted-from the questionaire as it was printed in the Herald:
"I also want to address bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways, so vehicle-pedestrian accidents, like the accidents that occurred in front of Memorial Union and at the corner of Park and Regent Street in the past two months, will not become widespread."
Oh, Donoghue. What exactly were you basing your claims on?
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.
