Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, announced Monday he will not seek re-election for a second term as a member of the Madison Common Council, and others are already preparing to campaign for his spot.
A UW-Madison senior, the 21-year-old Judge is the youngest member of the council, and his plan to attend law school was one of the biggest factors in not running,"" he said.
Over the course of his term, Judge has accumulated a number of policy achievements. His first item passed through the Common Council was the Textbook Ordinance, which has resulted in almost a 100 percent drop in textbook thefts on the UW-Madison campus, according to the UW Police Department. He also worked with local business groups and tenant-rights organizations to pass the Photo Ordinance, which adds protection for renters from dishonest landlords.
""It's sad that he's not serving on the council with us,"" said Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, who worked with Judge as an advocate for tenants. ""I think he was a good representative for the students and brought a balanced perspective to the council. I really appreciate all the hard work he did on behalf of tenants.""
Throughout his term, Judge helped the Rape Crisis Center by securing $10,000 of new funding. Most recently, he drafted the Downtown Residential Lighting Initiative to place strategic lighting fixtures in the downtown area and improve safety.
""Eli has been a thoughtful, productive member of the council and an effective advocate for students,"" Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said in a statement. ""He has a bright future ahead of him, and I wish him well in all his endeavors.""
Judge worked toward the creation of a student-centered neighborhood association and opposed alcohol taxes on local businesses and students. He remains involved in helping students keep their community safe by constructing campus-area watch programs.
""I am really proud of my accomplishments over the last two years,"" Judge said.
Judge's term expires in April 2009, and he is encouraging District 8 residents to run for election.
""I think it's really important to have a healthy debate, and to have qualified people running for the job and discussing the issues important to the district,"" Judge said.
Contenders for Judge's seat include Bryon Eagon, former state coordinator of Wisconsin Students for Obama, and Madison Area Technical College student Michael Johnson.
""I think that the 8th District, arguably one of the most progressive in the city, requires an aggressive and progressive advocate,"" Johnson said.
A co-founder of Student Progressive Dane, Johnson says he will work to ensure students are treated fairly, as well as those marginalized within the community, such as minorities and immigrants. ""They need to know that their needs are not pushed aside,"" he said.
