Individuals living on or near the University of Wisconsin campus will be casting their votes today to determine their representation on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
At polling places throughout the county’s fifth district, including Gordon Commons, Memorial Union, Holt Commons and Memorial Library, voters are faced with determining which candidate — Analiese Eicher or Michael Johnson — is qualified to act as their voice on the county level.
The County Board’s fifth district and City Council’s eighth district are situated primarily around the UW campus.
“It’s a way to participate in government and another way to have your voice heard,” Eicher said. “Especially on this campus, we’re very lucky to have districts on both the city and county level made up of and represented by current or former students.”
Johnson said District 5 has had notoriously low voter turnouts in past elections, something he viewed as unfortunate given the importance of students’ representation on the county board.
While the candidates both fall on the left side of the political spectrum, the focuses each candidate have stressed in recent months highlight the distinction between Eicher’s Democratic stance and Johnson’s Progressive Dane affiliation.
Johnson said one of his largest concerns in running for the county board is working with Dane County’s established sustainability plan and how it will affect future generations of Dane County residents.
“We have to be very diligent and tactful in how we decide to expand and develop; this is a growing county,” Johnson said. “Dane County’s governing body can impact hundreds of thousands of people.”
He added the establishment of an affordable housing trust fund in the county could significantly aid in providing housing for many of Dane County’s low-income residents.
Eicher said she believes there has been a lack of communication between students and current supervisor Wyndham Manning, something she said she hopes to address if elected.
She added she would like to place a larger focus on making the County Board relevant to students.
“I’m also looking to put a focus on safety and making sure there is fair enforcement during Mifflin and Freakfest,” Eicher said. “We have those events so we can have a good time, and if students are getting arrested for little to no reason, that’s an issue.”
Each candidate has received endorsements falling roughly along the lines of their previous party affiliations and activities.
Some of Johnson’s endorsements include the Sierra Club, Progressive Dane and the Four Lakes Green Party.
Eicher’s previous work with College Democrats has earned her endorsements from that group, Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Democratic Party of Dane County.
Individuals who have not previously registered to vote are required to present some form of identification to prove a current residence, be it a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, WisCard or paycheck before casting their vote.
“I really hope that students will take the opportunity to vote,” Eicher said. “I will be making sure myself that students will be active in getting out the vote.”
