Alder Syed Abbas Announces Resignation from Madison Common Council Effective December 1, 2022

On November 24, Alder Syed Abbas announced his resignation from the Common Council, effective December 1, 2022.

“It has been my great privilege and honor to work with you. Together, we fought against the deployment of the F-35 fighter jets, worked hard to protect our wetlands at Hartmeyer (ultimately, protecting 15 acres), developed bike paths behind Kwik Trip, invested in and supported affordable housing units, supported the Tiny Home Village, fought together to clean up the contamination at the Oscar Mayer site, pressured the City, County, Airport and Air National Guard to clean the PFAS contamination, introduced the Plastic Straw Upon Request ordinance to reduce plastic waste, introduced an EV charging ordinance, and in a first for the City of Madison, we created a Tax Incremental District (TID) to support a WHPC affordable housing project (on the corner of Fair Oaks and East Washington). Last, but not least, just last week, we were able to protect the future of the Public Market”, said Alder Abbas in a blog post. 

In April 2019, Alder Abbas was elected to the Common Council and was re-elected in April 2021. He was the Common Council President from April 2021 to April 2022 and Common Council Vice President from April 2020 to April 2021. As an alder, he has served on the Ad Hoc Task Force on the Structure of City Government (TFOGS) Final Report Implementation Work Group, Board of Parks Commissioners, Common Council Executive Committee, Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award Committee, Finance Committee, President’s Work Group to Review and Revise the Chief of Staff Position Description, Public Market Development Committee, Sustainable Madison Committee, Task Force on Structure of City Government, Urban Design Commission, and Warner Park Community Recreation Center Advisory Subcommittee. As council president, he also created the President's Workgroup on Environmental Justice and the President's Workgroup on Racial Justice, Antiracism and Equity.

Applications Being Accepted to Fill Vacancy
Must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 13, 2022.

The procedure for filling a vacancy on the Common Council is set out in Madison General Ordinance 2.03 and Wisconsin State Statute 17.23(1)(a).

District 12 residents are invited to apply to fill this vacancy for the remainder of the term, which ends on April 18, 2023.

Check whether you live in District 12.

The Common Council President oversees the application process to fill the vacancy. Received applications are reviewed by the Common Council Executive Committee. This process includes an interview of applicants at a special Common Council Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, December 22, at 5:30 p.m. After conducting interviews, the committee will make a recommendation to the Common Council. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, the Common Council will appoint the interim District 12 Alder who will serve until April 18, 2023.

Applications should be emailed to ccec@cityofmadison.com and must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.

Applications should include:
· Name
· Address
· Telephone Number (Home/Mobile/Work)
· E-mail address
· A biographical resume should include education, work, neighborhood, and civic experience
· A statement on why you wish to serve
· A statement of what you wish to accomplish
· A statement on whether you plan to run for alder in the Spring 2023 election

The following is the timeline:
· Tuesday, December 13, at 4:30 p.m.: Applications to fill the vacancy due
· Thursday, December 22, at 5:30 p.m.: Special CCEC Meeting for applicant interviews and recommendation of selected candidate to Council
· Tuesday, January 3, at 6:30 p.m.: Common Council Meeting - Appointment of District 12 Interim Alder.