Ald. Todd Jarrell, District 8, announced Monday he will not run for re-election to the city council this spring, citing personal reasons.
Jarrell was the only undergraduate from UW-Madison on the council. He graduated last May but continued to fight for student interests like tenants' rights, stricter regulation of landlords and more lenient alcohol policies, colleagues said.
The eighth district encompasses several areas heavily populated with students, including parts of the Lakeshore Residence Halls and State Street. Jarrell said another student would best represent the interests of residents in the district.
\[We need] a good student that cares about this stuff, and wants to do it not for their own ego, not to go to business school, [but] just because they care about the issues,"" Jarrell said.
At this time Jarrell said he does not endorse anyone, includes the only candidate presently running in District 8, Jeff Erlanger. Erlanger, chair of the Equal Opportunity Commission, is more interested in business' rights than students' and tenants' rights, according to Jarrell.
Erlanger and Jarrell currently work together on the EOC and the Lisa Link Peace Park Committee, but Erlanger said they differ on many issues such as the recent ban on smoking in restaurants. Jarrell voted for the ordinance but Erlanger said he does not support it.
While Jarrell and other council members would prefer another student representative, Erlanger said a non-student can still represent student interests.
""I've lived and worked and studied in this district for over 12 years and I live in the Towers, which is a student dormitory,"" he said. ""I interact all the time with students.""
Several of Jarrell's colleagues on the council said they were shocked by the announcement and disappointed that Jarrell was leaving.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he tried to persuade Jarrell not to leave.
""He'll definitely be missed by practically everyone on the council,"" Verveer said. ""He was one of the most well-liked alders, because he was such a genuinely nice person, he doesn't hold political grudges, he gets along with pretty much everybody.""
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, former director of the Tenant Resource Center, co-sponsored many ordinances with Jarrell. Konkel also said she was disappointed that Jarrell would not seek re-election.
""Todd was a great voice for students--he got more done than most rookies ever get done,"" she said.
