He knows he probably doesn’t stand a chance, but that’s not the point.

Nick Hart, one of Madison’s top stand-up comedians and a member of the Isthmians of Comedy, is running for mayor. Not because he thinks he can win – though winning would be “interesting” – but because he thinks it’s time for a change in the current state of Madison’s municipal politics. And he’s not kidding.

The set-up

Sitting at one of the tables at the Comedy Club on State, Nick Hart leans against the wall. It’s Wednesday, or open mic night for the club, and stand-up novices and naturals walk down the steps and into the bar to sign up for their slot in the night’s lineup. Many approach Hart to say a few words while the bartenders start to get ready for the night, neatly slicing lemons, limes and oranges and storing them away. Wearing a corduroy shirt and a red knit hat, Hart makes for one inconspicuous mayoral candidate.

“When people ask, ‘Why do you run for mayor?’ I was like, ‘Well, why aren’t you?’ There should be 50 people running for mayor,” Hart said.

The thought of running first crossed Hart’s mind in 2007 while watching news coverage of the mayoral election. Out of a population of a little more than 200,000, about 27,000 voted in the 2007 primary election. In the general election, the number was 50,000 – and that news discouraged Hart.

“That’s embarrassing for a progressive city,” Hart said. But voter turnout wasn’t the only problem Hart saw with Madison municipal politics; complacency was the other.

“These are people that are making decisions that are affecting your life and people are just like, ‘I trust them’,” he said with a shrug.

Thus Hart was inspired to challenge the status quo of politics in Madison by running for mayor. And in his eyes, there’s no one better than a comedian for the job.

“We’re the last art form that has the license to tell the truth,” he said. 

Hart didn’t let go of the idea of running for mayor. Last year, he brought the news to his friends, who were immediately supportive. Together, they collected the required 200 signatures to land on the ballot and turned them in – and that’s all it took. After all, Hart said part of the allure of running for mayor was how easy it was.

Aug. 11 was the first day candidates could announce their intention to run for mayor. That happened to be a Wednesday, so Hart took to the Comedy Club stage and told his audience what was on his mind.

“It is a fact that any group of people, including the people in this room, with the enthusiasm, concentration, imagination and organized effort, can no doubt take over the world,” he said.

“Fuck yeah!” came replies from the crowd.

“That said, Madison should be no problem, and I’m proud to say that the papers have been properly filed today and I’m announcing…my intentions for running for the office of mayor in Madison, Wisconsin, here tonight.”

The issues

In the same set on that night in August, Hart rolled out his platform. The first order of business: water quality. While he said people initially shrugged off his concern about high levels of fluoride in Madison’s water supply, the Environmental Working Group released a study in December to confirm his concern about Madison’s poor water quality. 

According to the study, which examined drinking water in 35 cities around the country, Madison has the 4th highest levels of chromium in its drinking water.
“That’s a serious thing to look at,” he said.

However, Hart has a couple of other interesting proposals, including the production and manufacture of hemp and the legalization of cannabis.

“Most people don’t know what hemp can do,” he said. “There’s 27,000 different uses for hemp. Anything that’s petroleum-based, hemp can do, so you’re looking at all of your plastics being made out of biodegradable hemp.”

In particular, Hart would like to take run-down properties and create “hemp parks” and then create accompanying production sites in the city as well. 

“You’re already selling clothes, you’ve a hemp store on Willy Street, but you can’t grow the plant that you’re making these clothes out of? That seems silly,” he said. 

As for cannabis, the plan would be to legalize it and tax it. 

“Alcohol is more detrimental, kills more people every year than cannabis ever has or ever will, and yet alcohol keeps this entire economy thriving along with the university…Name one thing on the planet that’s not negotiable – everything is on the table.”
Hart said the reaction to his platform has largely been positive, including the more controversial issues of hemp and cannabis.

“Relax, it’s your city, not your sister” 

“What’s the funniest thing about Madison”?
Hart was asked the question by a moderator during a mayoral debate. 

After determining it was a serious question, Hart replied with something he thought wasn’t funny: water quality. 

“That’s the first time we noticed that people were not taking us seriously,” said Stefan Davis, Hart’s campaign manager. 

Davis is a fellow stand-up comedian and one of the founding members of the Isthmians of Comedy, along with Hart. “I think his platform and all of his talking points should be taken seriously because there’s nothing in there that is not tangible.” 

And what about Hart’s counterparts, which now include incumbent Dave Cieslewicz, oft-mayor Paul Soglin and perennial candidate Dennis de Nure? Is it possible to take a comedian-politician seriously? 

“They have to take us seriously because the way Madison is set up, it’s probably one of the last places, definitely in Wisconsin, probably in the country, where something like this could happen,” Hart said, referring to a possible upset by someone like him. “And the reason is because of the lack of participation in municipal politics.” 

While he doesn’t expect to win, or even make it beyond the primary for that matter, Hart and his team have one goal: to win five percent of the vote. 

“If I can get 5,000 people that normally wouldn’t vote in municipal politics to show up, well then you’ve got a whole new ball game,” Hart said. “That adds a whole new dynamic to the mayoral race.”

The punchline 

The primary is Feb. 15, but Hart and his team already know their efforts in their civic exercise are worthwhile.

“We’ve already considered it a success because we got on the ballot,” Davis said. “So whatever happens from here on out is a bonus.” 

But should Madisonians vote for a comedian for mayor? When asked about it, Hart had to think it over himself. 

“They probably shouldn’t. But at least they’re paying attention,” he said. “‘OK, I shouldn’t vote for that person.’ I have nothing invested in it. I’m merely just someone who lives here who got 200 people to sign documents to get on the ballot.” 

With a budget of around $149 – $80 of that coming from Stefan Davis’ pocket and the rest from donations – and those 200 signatures, Nick Hart makes the campaigning process look easy and is glad to have proved that to others who may consider participating in municipal politics in the future. 

But one question remains: What if he did win the election?
“It would be interesting to see what exactly you could do as mayor.”