Common Council

Run for District 3 Alder

Friends: To cut right to the chase, I have decided not to run for election in the spring of 2023. 

If you're still reading, I wanted to say thank you to all of you who have encouraged me to seek a full term on the Common Council. It was a difficult decision, but for some (happy!) personal reasons that perhaps I can share later, I have decided that I am not able to make a commitment to you all and the rest of the City for the upcoming term. 

Being an alder is a tough but rewarding job, and it is an especially wonderful way to learn about Madison and its residents. I have lived in Madison for over 25 years but being an alder has shown me so many parts of the City that I did not know much about, and it's definitely what I will miss most about the job when I muster off the Common Council next spring. If you have patience, a love for Madison, and a love for learning, you might also enjoy being an alder. 

I would be happy to talk with anyone who is interested in running for alder in 2023 (or even in future years), either over the phone, on Zoom, or in-person. Please feel free to email me at district3@cityofmadison.com and I'm happy to give you more details about what the position involves and to answer any questions you may have.

The City Clerk's Office has an election website for interested candidates with more information on how to run for office, including a calendar of important dates. The most important upcoming dates are December 1st, which is the start of nomination paper circulation, and then Tuesday, January 3rd, which is the deadline to file to appear on the ballot. It only takes 20 signatures from district voters to get on the ballot, so the first step is not very challenging. The election itself will be on April 4th, with a primary on February 21st if needed. The next alder will assume office on April 18th, 2023 and will serve through April of 2025. 

(Note that the current Council is considering changes to how future Council terms might work, including a change that I am proposing that will leave the terms at 2 years long but will stagger them, with half the council up for reelection every year instead of the current system of the entire council up every two years. However, such a change would have to be approved by voters and would not go into effect until at least 2025, so the term that will be up for election in April of 2023 is guaranteed to be for 2 years)

I certainly intend to continue working as hard as I can for the next five months on a number of important issues. The Council has a lot on its plate with important new programs moving forward around transportation, land use, and climate resilience, and there are some important local planning projects that will be important to District 3 that I want to start laying the foundations for. 

Again, if you are interested in running for District 3 alder, please feel free to get in touch with me or the City Clerk's office with any questions.