Ryan Corcoran is one of three candidates for the upcoming aldermanic election of District 8, a district with a predominant student population. Corcoran met with The Daily Cardinal Monday night to discuss his background and possible transition to city council.
The Daily Cardinal: Could you tell me a little about yourself, like how you're familiar with Madison and where you went to school?
Ryan Corcoran: I grew up in a small town up north called Black River Falls, moved down to Madison in 1998 to go to school at UW-Madison. I graduated in 2002 with a degree in history. ... I've been working with people with developmental disabilities for the last three to four years. ... I've been playing in bands down around Madison and that's the first thing that drew me down here. ... That's kind of what got this whole thing with 'alder person' going. A friend of mine saw the success the band was having and he felt there was a tie between what my band was doing as far as getting people out to shows and he equated that to getting people to the polls.
DC: Incumbent Ald. Austin King told the Daily Cardinal he 'plans on running on his record because he is proud of the legislative success he has had.' What separates King's record from yours?
RC: One of my concerns about Austin's record is the stance on minimum wage. I feel that it's important that the cost of living is equal to the student's income. ... I feel his approach on the issue is not quite the most effective way possible. I feel the cost of living is really a matter of rent. ... Rent keeps going up and up and up, and at the same time we're facing the highest vacancy rate in Madison history. ... [I'm concerned] about the regulation of how much property mammoth management companies can own. ... You cannot have a monopoly. ... I do support the governor's proposal of $6.50 statewide.
DC: How would you classify your and your opponent's party affiliation?
RC: The alder position is a non-partisan office. It's not supposed to be about left or right, Democrat or Republican issues. ... I do know that Austin King is affiliated with the Green Party and Progressive Dane. ... Kami Eshragi claims to be a liberal, but he makes statements sometimes and I'm just like 'what are you saying?' ... I like to see myself as an independent, but really others see me as a moderate liberal. ... I see myself fairly liberal on a lot of social issues, but more moderate on economic issues.
DC: How would students go about contacting you on issues that matter to them?
RC: I plan on having [Today In The Union] meetings on Sunday nights. I'll also have a website ... and I'm pretty good at keeping up with my emails.
-Interview conducted by Chris Essig
