Matt Scherling
City Editor
After a two-year term in the District 5 City Council seat, Ald. Todd Jarrell announced Monday his name will not be on the ballot in next spring’s election.
Jarrell cited personal reasons as the determining factor in his decision not to seek re-election.
Jarrell is one of several alders under increasing pressure from the Dane County Tavern League and Wisconsin Restaurant Association for their outspoken support of a smoking restriction within Madison city limits.
Jarrell, representative of a student-dominated neighborhood, decided to support the controversial ordinance to ban smoking in restaurants with alcohol sales that make up less than 50 percent of their total revenue.
The decision came as a surprise to many in Jarrell’s district, which contains several popular State Street bar/restaurants, such as State Street Brats, whose owner, Ross Johnson, has been vocal in his disapproval of the ban.
“The factor that decided it for me was the health report that most waitstaff are students, and several people who worked in smoky venues experienced bronchial problems,” Jarrell said.
Barb Mercer, owner of Pitcher’s Pub on the Beltline, said earlier this month the Tavern League had already raised $5,000 for a potential opposition to Jarrell in the spring.
Jarrell said he saw Mercer’s comments and the mobilization of the Dane County Tavern League as an attempt to intimidate politicians.
“It’s another example of money and politics,” said Jarrell, who claims to have won his 2001 alder seat with under $6,000 in campaign spending.
“They’re trying to scare people into supporting it,” he said.
Jarrell cited his sponsorship of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was founded to help subsidize the building of low-income housing in Madison, as one way he helped improve the city while in office.
The Madison City Council adopted the resolution and appointed a subcommittee to investigate ways to provide the foundation with the funds necessary to provide developers with capital to launch housing projects.
“The hope is that if we built more affordable housing, it might cause rents throughout Madison to drop,” said Jarrell, who regrets not making an earlier push to raise Madison’s minimum wage, an endeavor he is hopeful his successor takes up.
“I hope the seat goes to someone who cares about the issues and does things good for students and not just for their ego,” he said.
“Todd will be missed,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. “It’s safe to say he is one of most liked in City Council. Not just because of his accomplishments, but his personality makes him one of most well-liked alders in City Hall.”
