Mayoral candidates
Dave Cieslewicz
How do you see UW students fitting into your administration?
"My administration has worked closely with UW students on many issues. We made major changes to the Halloween plan based on student input. When there was a problem with the date of last year's Mifflin Street Block Party, we worked closely with students to successfully resolve the issue. I would also continue to encourage students to serve on city commissions and committees."
Beyond the $100,000 Downtown Safety Initiative, what is the next step in improving downtown safety?
"We need to continue support for crime prevention initiatives, such as neighborhood watch programs. We also need to continue to expand the police force as needed — during my four years in office, we've put 26 new police officers on the street. We also need to continue investing in programs that address the root causes of crime, as I have done over the last four years."
Is the gate ticketing at Halloween something you would like to see continue?
"I would continue it. Under this system, we had the first peaceful ending to Halloween in four years. This was good news for students, State Street businesses and the police. Thanks to last year's success, we are rebuilding community support for Halloween. It would be a mistake to reverse course, as my opponent has suggested."
What are your views on the Mifflin Street Block Party? Is it a good or bad Madison tradition?
"This has been a generally successful event in recent years, because it is a locally focused neighborhood event. When an issue came up with the date for last year's Mifflin Street party, I worked closely with students to successfully resolve that issue."
Has the Madison smoking ban improved the nightlife here?
"The smoking ban has been a great success. More people, such as individuals with asthma or other health conditions, are able to enjoy Madison nightlife now. And bar employees — many of whom are UW students — are healthier for not having to inhale secondhand smoke during their shifts at work."
How do you think the Alcohol Density Plan would affect life downtown?
"The police use most of their resources downtown during evening hours surrounding bar-time responding to alcohol-related issues. These are resources that could be spent addressing other issues, like preventing robberies. The density plan would slowly reduce the number of bars over time, by saying that if a bar closes, a new liquor license wouldn't be issued unless it was for a restaurant. This isn't the only solution to downtown alcohol issues, but it's part of it."
Is a Madison trolley system something that needs to be explored?
"Unless we do something, we are facing 100,000 more vehicles in Dane County in 20 years. We need to continue strengthening our Metro system, keep Madison bikeable and walkable and study possibilities for rail, such as streetcars, commuter rail and high-speed rail."
What priority would the environment take in your administration?
"The environment would continue to be a high priority for me. To improve the water quality in our lakes, we passed a ban on phosphorous fertilizers. Just this year, we created a new position in city government focused on sustainability efforts. And we are promoting the use of rain gardens to reduce runoff into our lakes."
What do you think about the proposed renovations and plans for the Majestic Theater?
"The plans sound very promising. Madison needs more quality venues for diverse, live music, and it sounds like the proposal from the new buyers would be a step in the right direction."
Why should UW students vote for you?
"Students have had a real voice in my administration for the past four years and would continue to do so. On major issues like downtown safety and Halloween, we have consistently sought out student input, and incorporated it into our plans. This is a collaborative approach I will continue to take if I am re-elected."
Ray Allen
How do you see University of Wisconsin students fitting into your administration?
"UW students will play a vital role in my administration. I will actively work for student representation on city committees, and I'll also always be conscious of student schedules and try to not hold meetings that affect them when they are on spring/winter/summer break. But I will also need students to help fight poverty by volunteering in Madison's most challenged neighborhoods."
Beyond the $100,000 Downtown Safety Initiative, what is the next step in improving downtown safety?
"Violent crime has skyrocketed almost 17 percent in Madison. As mayor, in the short term I will add 10 officers a year to the police force to fight violent crime, and in the long run we can fight crime by fighting poverty. I am proud to be endorsed by the union representing police officers."
Is the gate ticketing at Halloween something you would like to see continue?
"Halloween is a valued tradition in Madison, and I don't want City Hall to throw a wet blanket over it. I think Halloween can be both safe and fun, and would not like to see the gate ticketing continue. Part of my Halloween plan is to petition the state Legislature to exempt Madison from the 2 a.m. bar time, which will help us avoid the drunken mob caused by bars pushing everybody onto State Street at bar time."
What are your views on the Mifflin Street Block Party? Is it a good or bad Madison tradition?
"Mifflin Street, like Halloween, is a tradition that City Hall shouldn't throw a wet blanket over."
Has the Madison smoking ban improved the nightlife here?
"The key issue is making sure Madison bars and taverns are on a level playing field with other establishments. I would support a decision by the state Legislature to level the playing field."
How do you think the Alcohol Density Plan would affect life downtown?
"It will not reduce crime downtown. It will create longer lines at bars and force students to walk farther when they go out to bars. We need to focus on the muggings and assaults downtown."
Is a Madison trolley system something that needs to be explored?
"Absolutely not. Trolleys, which cost $15-$25 million per mile, will be the biggest mistake in the history of modern Madison. We need to focus on increasing Madison Metro ridership by making it more efficient for people to use."
What priority would the environment take in your administration?
"The environment will be a high priority for my administration, and I will start by making sure Madison has clean and safe drinking water. The Water Utility will not be ‘out of sight, out of mind’ in my administration, as the current mayor claimed it was for his administration."
What do you think about the proposed renovations and plans for the Majestic Theater?
"It is positive that we are reopening the Majestic. The new owners seem committed to offering a variety of new venues that will keep Madison a destination point."
Why should UW students vote for you?
"Students should vote for me because I have made public safety a cornerstone of my campaign, and public safety will be a cornerstone of my administration. I understand that public safety is about preventing muggings and assaults, not ending Halloween and Mifflin Street celebrations. And we are proud to have the endorsement of the Badger Herald!"
District 8 aldermanic candidates
Lauren Woods
What's the next step in addressing downtown safety?
"The next step in addressing downtown safety is to reprioritize police and have policing with a purpose. We need more police out of the bars and on the streets, walking the beat and engaging with our neighborhoods. This means fighting for more neighborhood officers that work along with community members to keep our streets safe."
What effect do you think the proposed Alcohol Density Plan would have on the downtown?
"Preventing new bar licenses in the downtown area will only steer students into unregulated house parties, where there are higher incidences of over-consumption, binge drinking and sexual assault. This plan does not address the abuse of alcohol at its root and is counterproductive to providing safe spaces for students. That is why I spoke before the Public Safety Review Board at City Hall to oppose the Alcohol Density Plan."
How would you balance representing students with representing non-students who live in your district?
"As a student seeking to represent an overwhelmingly student district, my first priority will always be to represent the student interest and student voice. That being said, I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of people who live in the 8th District that aren't students — including a few senior citizens! — and I will represent them with equal zeal and listen to their concerns with equal care."
Besides safety, what do you think is the most important issue facing District 8?
"I think the second-most important issue facing the 8th District is tenants' rights, and I am proud to have earned the endorsement of the Affordable Housing Action Alliance, a leading group for tenants' rights."
How would your previous experiences impact your performance as alder?
"I have a diverse background of experiences, from running a major student organization to working in the Capitol, to serving on several City Committees, to which I was appointed by Mayor Dave (Cieslewicz). My experience inside City Hall will allow me to hit the ground running from day one."
Do you think the Madison smoking ban has improved life downtown? Why or why not?
"I am a supporter of the smoking ban, and my friends and I all go out more often because we enjoy the smoke-free atmosphere. The most important impact the smoking ban has had is allowing bartenders and servers to work in an environment that doesn't make them sick."
Why should University of Wisconsin students vote for you?
"I hope that UW students vote for me because I am an experienced, strong voice that will be a champion of student interests in City Hall. From making our campus safe again to expanding tenants' rights and affordable housing, and defending our civil rights against attack, I will be a forceful advocate for the campus voice."
Eli Judge
What's the next step in addressing downtown safety?
"First, police officers need to be directed away from bar raids and focus instead on the areas most susceptible to late night muggings and assaults. Second, campus lighting needs to be improved in order to brighten the poorly lit and more dangerous sections of campus."
What effect do you think the proposed Alcohol Density Plan would have on the downtown?
"I fear that limiting the number of liquor licenses available downtown would not curb student drinking, but instead simply redirect where students drink. If there are fewer bars in which to socialize, more students will flock to house parties."
How would you balance representing students with representing non-students who live in your district?
"I will hold regular sessions throughout my term as alder so that all of my constituents will have the opportunity to share their concerns with me. The conversations that I've had with countless students in dorms, apartments and on the street has already contributed to some of my policies."
Besides safety, what do you think is the most important issue facing District 8?
"Transportation is another important issue. I want to expand (the) 80 and 85 bus service during the winter months so that we can arrive to class safely and on time. 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."
How would your previous experiences impact your performance as alder?
"Co-founding and leading Students for Equality and Students for a Fair Wisconsin allowed me to meet with many organizations both on and off campus and talk with thousands of students during last fall's elections. These experiences have convinced me that consulting with knowledgeable sources and speaking with constituents is an effective way to approach policy decisions."
Do you think the Madison smoking ban has improved life downtown? Why or why not?
"The ban has made many activities more enjoyable, ranging from meeting friends at a State Street bar to going out for a nice meal with our parents when they visit. The ban may have been inconvenient for some at first, but its community-wide health benefits is making Madison a better place to live."
Why should UW students vote for you?
"I will be a student during my entire two-year term, so I'll be very aware of how students feel about issues that affect our campus, like our Halloween celebration and other UW-Madison traditions. My comprehensive safety plan, available on my website, offers immediate and realistic solutions to curbing campus crime and has been praised by the Dane County sheriff."
District 5 aldermanic candidates
Troy Thiel
What is the most important issue in the District 5 aldermanic race?
"The most important issue is probably public safety, and development pressures are a close No. 2. By public safety, I mean issues of crime around the neighborhood and the pressures that relate to West High School."
What can the City Council do to improve campus safety?
"I sit on the Downtown Coordinating Committee as well, and I'm a strong proponent of increasing police force downtown. We need to staff the police department better — there have been some recent increases, but we're still not there yet. And one of the issues I have … is the fact there are a lot of sub-par buildings. Students need to be in a safer building."
What qualities will you bring to the City Council?
"I've worn a lot of hats. I'm in the business community, but I'm also a neighborhood activist. I think I've got some natural desires. I think the best policy comes out of good, effective compromise."
What insight can you bring to the District 5 that your opponent cannot?
"I've been more active on the issues of the district. The priorities of [District 5] have not been the priorities of my opponent. I would love to serve on the school liaison committee. [Webber's] priorities are progressive and ideological, which neglect social services that are our quality of life."
In the coming term, what do you hope to accomplish on City Council?
"I hope to bring back representative advocacy — that's Job One. I also hope to help bring back a balanced, reasoned approach … that sees Madison as a whole and doesn't get bogged down in an ideological argument that, in the end, doesn't create good policy and doesn't achieve the things we want. We've got to work together better — there's far too much us versus them.
Robbie Webber
What is the most important issue in the District 5 aldermanic race?
"I think that the campus portion and off-campus residents … are a very important part of our district, as well as the long-term homeowners. I've really paid attention to making sure the short-term residents and the students get attention in the district."
What can the City Council do to improve campus safety?
"One of the things that hasn't really been discussed, but I've been pushing for, is better coordination between University of Wisconsin police and the Madison Police Department. I'd like to see the UWPD taking a greater role in patrolling streets that are actually city streets … I think that would make a huge difference in safety on campus."
What have you brought to the council throughout your four-year term?
"I've been known for my interest in land use and transportation issues. I've been very interested in making sure that we have development that actually works for both the residents and the people passing through, and that is both attractive and also functional."
What insight can you bring to District 5 that your opponent cannot?
"I've been living in Madison for 20 years now, and my opponent has been here for about four years — nothing against that, but I've seen a lot of changes and I've got a lot of experience in the city. I've chosen to live in a part of the city that's very, very connected to the campus area. I don't think my opponent recognizes that there's a District 5 outside of the homeowners in our neighborhood."
In the coming term, what do you hope to accomplish on City Council?
"I spent a lot of time teaching people how to be involved in their government … and that's very near and dear to my heart. I would really like to work more with students … to teach people who arrive in Madison how easy it is to get involved in city politics. It is so powerful to be able to have an effect on your local issues, and I'm very committed to that."
Supreme Court candidates
Annette Ziegler
Boasting years of experience as a circuit court judge, Annette Ziegler said she believes experience will allow her to better protect constitutional liberties and interpret the law.
"On April 3rd, voters will have a clear choice between a candidate who is a judge and former prosecutor and another candidate who has never been a judge and has no criminal law experience whatsoever," Ziegler said in an e-mail to The Badger Herald.
Before her judgeship in the Washington County Circuit Court, Ziegler worked as a federal criminal prosecutor and an assistant U.S. attorney in Wisconsin. She has also served as a pro bono special assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County.
In the private sector, Ziegler worked for O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman & DeJong, a business law firm in Milwaukee. She graduated from Marquette University Law School.
Ziegler recently made her way into headlines for hearing cases in the past involving businesses of which she owned $50,000 in stock and cases involving West Bend Savings Bank where her husband was a member of the board of directors.
Ziegler has welcomed any inquisition and said it would prove that she acted ethically without judicial bias.
"My background as a prosecutor and my reputation for being tough on crime has helped me earn the endorsements of a bipartisan majority of Wisconsin's sheriffs and district attorneys, as well as numerous law enforcement organizations," Ziegler said.
Linda Clifford
She has also been endorsed by former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and several former Supreme Court justices.
Campaigning on ethics and fairness, Madison lawyer Linda Clifford said she is running for the vacant state Supreme Court seat with a strong commitment to justice and a goal to preserve judicial balance.
Clifford, a 1974 University of Wisconsin Law School graduate, served as an assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice under three attorney generals.
As an assistant attorney general, Clifford performed tasks such as enforcing environmental protection laws, writing legal opinions and defending state employees.
After Clifford's two daughters left nursery school, she worked part time for the Madison law firm LaFollette Sinykin — now called LaFollette, Godfrey & Kahn — and became partner in 1986.
According to the firm's website, Clifford's practice includes "civil and administrative litigation and appeals involving energy, telecommunications, media and municipal and state government issues." She also handles immigration on a regular basis, sometimes pro bono, for refugees seeking asylum.
"What this race really comes down to is ethics and fairness, and that's important to everyone, including students," Clifford spokesperson Nicholl Caruso said.
While Clifford has never sat in a judicial seat, Caruso said the candidate has argued cases before the state Supreme Court and U.S Court of Appeals.
Clifford has gathered endorsements from four former Wisconsin governors and seven members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation. Her campaign website also lists the endorsements of former state Supreme Court justices, local officials, organizations and other supporters.
