In a special city election pairing new City Council candidates with fresh district boundaries, residents in District 5 will vote this spring to appoint their official representative.
Interim Alderman Tom Powell, District 5, faces challengers Monroe Rosner and Wintford Thornton in his pursuit of re-election.
In a move provoking criticism from fellow alders, Powell decided to run for the seat despite his previous promise to the council that he would not seek the position.
Following last spring’s election scandal involving UW-Madison student Jessy Tolkan and her subsequent resignation due to mounting legal fees, Powell was appointed to the seat with the stipulation that he not run for re-election in this spring’s special election.
Powell is undeterred by the criticism. He said he hopes to continue working on issues important to the residents of the new District 5.
The new district includes Eagle Heights, some of the Lakeshore university housing, University Heights and a large part of the Regent Street area, ultimately creating a constituency comprised of both student tenants and single-family homes.
Powell and Rosner both see balancing the concerns of both groups as a high priority in district representation.
“For the integrity of the neighborhood, we need balance,” Rosner said. “Someone who represents the district must be sensitive to the balance.”
Rosner, a former Peace Corps volunteer and Penn State University professor, has been an area resident since 1969. He said he represents many student interests politically, but does not think students have a substantial interest in city government. For student concerns to be brought to the forefront, students must voice their concerns, he said.
“Students for the most part have been silent,” Rosner said. “They can be as high a priority as they want to be.”
Powell and Rosner both plan to work with housing issues if elected to the position. Powell said he has been working with other aldermen to increase the presence of affordable housing.
“Everything being built right now is unaffordable,” Powell said. “Homelessness has been extreme this year.”
He said properties surrounding the campus area typically have the highest rental rates in the city.
“Landlords see an opportunity to fleece [students] of their money,” Powell said.
Rosner said binge-drinking, another issue that directly affects students in District 5, is also a concern that manifested in neighborhoods surrounding student-populated areas. Rosner said he thinks the city gives binge-drinking adequate attention, but he would work hard to curb such activity.
“I have no sympathy for binge-drinking, and I will work to try to reverse that culture,” Rosner said.
Both candidates said the constituency created by the newly-drawn district boundaries poses serious concerns for the future of the district.
“One constituency is students and the other is single-family homes,” Powell said. “I hope to work on issues that are popular with both.”
Thornton was unavailable for comment about his campaign.
The spring primary will be held Feb. 19, followed by the election April 2.
