Madison’s Common Council voted to elect a new council president and vice president Tuesday before voting to move forward with plans to fund a private development of Judge Doyle Square.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, an unexpected addition to the race for council president, won after 15 rounds of voting.

Despite citizens speaking out in opposition to using public funds for the JDS development, the council voted unanimously to move forward with the selection of a development team.

Council leadership elections

After an hour of voting, the council elected Verveer as council president and Ald. Marsha Rummel, District 6, as pro tem. The lengthy voting session highlighted the new divisions inside the council, which Verveer said motivated him to accept the nomination for president.

Verveer said he made the decision to accept his nomination for president at the last minute and had not asked a single alder for their vote. He presented himself as an experienced unity candidate, well positioned to provide a third option to the two other candidates, former Council Pro Tem Ald. Maurice Cheeks, District 10, and former Council President Ald. Denise DeMarb, District 16.

“I have been asked by approximately half the council to accept the nomination,” Verveer said. “To me this is all about the institution of the council and it hurts me to see so much conflict and strife [in the council] behind the scenes.”

Verveer last served as council president in 2008 and is widely considered the most experienced alder on the council, having already served three times as president.

‘Motion creates emotion’: New Judge Doyle Square proposal would bring reflective building to city

Judge Doyle Square

The city currently owns the JDS property near the Capitol and has long sought to use the land for a partnership with a private developer. The most recent developer, Beitler Real Estate Services, entered the scene after a previous deal involving Exact Sciences fell through last year.

Citizens in opposition to the current JDS plan said the proposal is a waste of public funds that could go toward school funding.

Andy Olsen said his group, Citizens Against Subsidized Hotels, believe the current proposal is wasteful as it uses extra public funds to construct underground parking. Olsen said they do not understand why the city did not select other projects that do not call for expensive subterranean parking.

Ald. Tim Gruber, District 11, said he disputed the public perception that pursuing a development with underground parking would be a waste of city funds as it would be payed for with TIF funds, which diverts increases in property taxes to a fund used to pay for the capital project. He also clarified the vote does not mean the city is committed to any particular development.

The County Board of Supervisors also swore in new board member Supervisor Hayley Young, District 5, along with Supervisor Mary Kolar, District 1, Supervisor Michele Ritt, District 18 and Supervisor Nikki Jones, District 28.