Starting today, The Daily Cardinal will profile each of the four candidates with a Q&A segment before the Feb. 20 primary election, which narrows the race to two. First, is incumbent Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was born in 1959 and raised in West Allis, Wis. He graduated from UW-Madison and has served one mayoral term. During his time in office, he has keyed in on environmental, social and educational issues.
The Daily Cardinal: How do you think Madison has progressed during your time as mayor?
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz: I think that we've made a lot of progress in the last four years, for example Madison had been talking about a municipal swimming pool for 60 years—with the help of the Goodman Brothers we got that done ... we're buying 5 new diesel hybrid electric buses, we're one of the first in the nation. I think were making a great deal of progress on a number of fronts.
DC: How has curbing the violence on Halloween helped your status?
MDC: I think this last year was great, I think what we started to do was build public support for the event ... what we need is to string two or three years together like this last one.
DC: In what ways do you see Madison blossoming into a city?
MDC: There are people that want to go back, people who want us to be this sleepy college town, which we're not. It's an opportunity to be a more interesting place, a more vibrant place ... but with that comes some growing pains and we have to recognize that as well.
DC: Does crime come with the territory of growing into a larger city?
MDC: I hope it doesn't. If you look at our record we have one of the lowest murder rates in the entire country. What you tend to see is in any given year [is] an increase in certain categories of crime and decreases in others.
DC: Besides more police, what do you want to see residents get out of the $100,000 Downtown Safety Initiative?
MDC: I think if you look at that plan, what you'll find is a comprehensive approach. It isn't just about more cops—it's about a total community approach.
DC: What city do you think Madison most resembles throughout the whole nation?
MDC: Well, there are aspects of Salt Lake City that are very similar to us. Salt Lake City is a very progressive city.
DC: Is the economic gap between rich and poor in Madison going to have an effect for years to come?
MDC: We hope to be able to manage that. There's not too much that the city itself can do about the income gap that has more to do with the federal tax policy, but here at the local level, we try to provide services to people who are poor.
DC: What are your three strongest assets?
MDC: First, we have the ability to bring people together. Secondly, we have an agenda, a vision, a plan, I think one of my opponents faulted me for having too strong a vision and as criticisms go, I guess I'll take it. The third thing is we try to have a sense of humor.
DC: What do you plan to do after your time in politics has ended?
MDC: To be honest I haven't given that a whole lot of thought, obviously I plan to run for one more term ... I have to admit I do like teaching. If there were a place for me in a research or academic setting that might be of some interest to me.
DC: What is your favorite album?
MDC: The Beatles, The White Album.
