My name is Chris Hoffman, and I’m running to be your District 5 County Board supervisor. There are significant improvements we can make in our county government, and I’m running because I will initiate these changes. One change would be to increase communication with the City of Madison in order to reduce redundancy and coordinate policy efforts. While upholding the progressive values and policies that are enacted at the local level, I also want to protect our lakes and ensure quality health and human services for county residents and ensure confidence that emergency services will arrive in a timely manner. There are two major issues that are the central focus of my campaign: increasing student involvement in county government and bettering public safety.

My passion for these issues has been apparent since I came to the UW campus. In my first semester here, I was elected chair of the College Democrats, and I utilized this leadership position as an opportunity to engage and mobilize the student population. It has been my top priority to increase student civic engagement with the community. I am proud to have earned the College Democrat’s endorsement in this race. Currently, I am the only candidate with a serious plan to address a crucial issue: the lack of a relationship between students and their county government. I plan on building this relationship by increasing the communication between students, campus organizations and county government officials. Through conversations with hundreds of students, I learned there is currently minimal knowledge of how county government functions. I know I can help turn this trend around throughout campus. Moreover, I want to increase the number of students who are appointed to county committees; this is an opportunity for students to have real-world policy making experience. My goal is to be an accessible and active supervisor, collaborating with organizations to publicize county government’s initiatives. I know students can become informed, involved and invested in their county government.

The second pressing issue I will address concerns public safety. As students, we expect a rapid response from our emergency services. However, it has recently come to the public’s attention that our county has been experiencing problems with our 911 call center. Following a software upgrade, there was a spike in complaints, and the center currently has an average dispatch response time that is triple the national average. There have been incidents where officers have been sent to the wrong location. Furthermore, the City of Madison has publicly condemned this issue. Our current supervisor has ignored this public safety crisis and our cries for reform. I will address these issues as your supervisor.

As I’ve knocked on doors and talked with students in dorms, apartments and houses, I have heard from across the district about how concerned students are for their safety and well-being. As your District 5 supervisor, I will be an accessible advocate who will address issues that directly impact campus and our community. I hope to have your vote on April 1!

Chris Hoffman ([email protected]) is a senior and candidate for Dane County Board District 5 supervisor.