[media-credit name=’AJ MACLEAN/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]This is part of a series profiling the leaders of the University of Wisconsin campus and surrounding community.

For Mayoral Chief of Staff Janet Piraino, no two days in the office are ever alike. As a primary aid to the mayor, she tackles tough issues that affect the city of Madison and students on a regular basis.

According to Piraino, her job is one of the best in the city, which is due in large part to the people she gets to work with.

Working with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz on a daily basis, Piraino said, is one of the perks of the job. She and Cieslewicz have been friends for 20 years, making her job worthwhile, she said.

“It’s great working for a friend,” she added. “We have a great long-term relationship.”

Mayoral Spokesperson George Twigg said the staff in the mayor’s office works closely together on policy issues. The toughest part of the chief of staff’s job, Twigg said, is dealing with daily responsibilities and the more specific issues that can come up at the same time.

“It’s balancing all of the issues and priorities out there,” Twigg said.

In February, Piraino worked with Cieslewicz to set up a progressive mayor’s conference called the New Cities Project. The conference was designed to bring mayors from all over the nation together to discuss ways in which progressive ideals can be implemented in cities and towns across the country.

“The mayor believes that local government is where it’s going to happen,” Piraino said.

When Piraino is not organizing committees for new developments like the New Cities Project, she works on issues including the upcoming citywide bar smoking ban.

The city is working on a public education campaign to help prepare establishments for any problems that may arise when the ban goes into effect July 1.

“We all have a vested interest in making sure the transition goes smoothly,” Piraino said.

The city is also working with the University of Wisconsin chancellor’s office to provide information for incoming freshman about the smoking ban, she said.

The relationship between the chancellor’s office and the state is an important one, according to Piraino. The state works with the UW on events like the Halloween celebration on State Street every year, as well as the UW Campus Master Plan.

Before taking her job as chief of staff in the mayor’s office, Piraino worked as the state director for Sen. Russ Feingold from 1997 until April 2003.

A graduate from the UW School of Journalism, Piraino said she got into politics after getting her first job working on a campaign.

The chance to work on a campaign provided the preparation needed for a political career, she added.

Piraino said her journalism degree also helped her prepare for her current job and taught her how to effectively communicate complicated issues to the public.

“I love the strategy involved,” Piraino said.

Although Piraino loves working in politics, she said she doesn’t plan to run for any offices because she prefers staying behind the scenes.

“I want a front seat,” Piraino said. “But I don’t want to be on the stage.”