Madison housing development, county jail expansion and leadership experience were the main points of a debate between two student candidates running for the Dane County Board 5th district Tuesday.
UW-Madison junior Ashok Kumar and UW-Madison freshman David Lapidus used the debate to defend their platforms to prospective voters before the April 4th election.
Kumar, the progressive candidate, stressed the importance of his experience working for the district in the past. He has been involved in outlawing discrimination against low-income housing tenants and is endorsed by several environmental groups including the Sierra Club.
I have worked continuously for almost three years in this district on behalf of students, and won victories,\ he said. ""I haven't been here for five months and not actually worked on anything for students [like my opponent].""
Lapidus, a non-partisan candidate, emphasized the fact that he was fiscally responsible and would listen equally to his peers.
""I have realistic solutions on the issues that do not need do not need partisan supporters from the left, right or center,"" he said. ""I'm not just going towards one party for support.""
One of the biggest areas of disagreement dealt with housing development.
Kumar argued for building more apartment complexes in the city. This would allow people to walk to work saving time and money, and prevent construction into agricultural areas, he said.
Lapidus was not in favor of expanding into undeveloped land, but felt that progressives, such as Kumar were attempting to micromanage development. Development in the outskirts of Madison is important for the economy, he said.
The two also disagreed about the criminal justice system. Lapidus was in favor of expanding the Dane County Jail while Kumar believed funds would be better spent in rehabilitative programs to keep criminals out of the system.
Lapidus was not against rehabilitation but said he believed in a two-pronged system that will solve the problem in more than one way.
Both candidates felt that overall the debate went well.
""Both my opponent and I got our differences out on the issues and all the voters who came to the debate tonight … will be better informed about each campaign and make a good choice next Tuesday,"" Lapidus said.
UW-Madison freshman David Wimmer said he entered the debate undecided and the discussion helped him pick a candidate.
""I was disappointed in the voter turnout for the primary and I was disappointed that I was among those who didn't vote. I wanted to correct that certain measure of apathy,"" he said \
