Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5, has served on the City Council for the past four years. During that time, she has helped shape the rapid growth of both the University of Wisconsin campus and the city of Madison, focusing on issues such as transportation, city development and bicycle advocacy.
Webber's passion for bikes and alternative transportation fits Madison well. She has worked as an advocate for bicycle transportation with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin for the past eight years, and described Madison as a city that has been a "pioneer of bike transportation," partly due to necessity.
"The fact that the central city and campus is built on an isthmus means it is extremely compact," Webber said. "It functions as a city much larger than it is; it is much more dense."
According to Webber, Madison was one of the first cities in the state to build bike lanes, and in 1988, Madison enacted a code requiring bicycle parking.
"[Bicycling] has become a very strong political force, which is great," Webber said. "I'm all for people having a strong political voice."
Webber is running for a re-election April 3 against Troy Thiel, a realty agent for First Weber. If re-elected, this would be her third term as District 5 Alder.
Both Webber and Thiel have an ear for students' concerns and have worked to improve student quality of life. Webber sponsored an ordinance mandating exterior locks in buildings, the smoking ban, the minimum-wage hike and the sick-leave ordinance, all of which affect students living and working off-campus.
Thiel has worked as a liaison with UW on different development projects, served as an advisor on Madison's inclusionary zoning law, serves as co-chair of the Regent Neighborhood Association and is a supporter and fundraiser for the Tenant Resource Center.
"I've found that Robbie's priorities are not the priorities of our district," Thiel said, citing Webber's need to focus more on crime and street improvement.
But City Council President Austin King has worked with Webber during her four years on the Council and said he can attest to her efforts to represent students.
"She has been a great champion of student issues, especially with nightlife and student safety issues," King said. "She has shown how fair she is, how diligent she is — she has a good attendance record [and] she speaks her mind."
The quality and accessibility of the city's public transportation is also an issue that directly impacts students, Webber said, particularly when the temperature drops below zero. Students pay for the cost of the public transportation system through city taxes.
"Students pay rent, so they pay property taxes," Webber said. "It's perfectly reasonable for students to say, 'This is how I want my money to be spent.'"
The city's Streetcar Study Committee, of which Webber is a member, is currently exploring ways to expand and improve Madison's public transportation system. One proposal in the study is to construct streetcar lines connecting the Capitol Square with the east, west and south sides of Madison.
"The bus system is the base of the public transportation system," Webber explained. "The Streetcar Study Committee is trying to figure out the next step — light-rail or streetcar."
But Webber's opponent said the city should focus on priorities other than a streetcar system.
"I don't see the traffic crisis to merit the streetcar," Thiel said. "I believe that we should improve and streamline the services we have now — I'm not sold on the streetcar concept."
From campus renovations to housing developments and city transportation, Webber has found great satisfaction in shaping issues that affect her neighborhood.
Webber said she realized the importance of each vote when her predecessor won the aldermanic seat in District 5 by only 29 votes. Every vote will count April 3, Webber added, when students and Madison residents choose who will represent the west end of campus for the next two years.
"Getting involved and voting is so powerful, especially at the local level," Webber said. "Very few votes can have a large impact."