After facing off in the 2003 mayoral election, incumbent Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and former Mayor Paul Soglin will compete again in today's election. However, this time it is about more than political philosophy.
Because both Soglin and Cieslewicz lean to the left, significant policy differences on issues like crime, poverty and environmentalism are not as obvious as they would be in most two-party elections.
UW-Madison political science professor Dennis Dresang said this particular race instead focuses on leadership methods and how fiscal and social decisions are likely to be made.
""It's a matter of confidence and style, and who's more likely to run the city well,"" Dresang said.
When Soglin beat Cieslewicz in the primary election, Dresang said it was clear where the votes came from. Soglin has split several of the traditional liberal parts of the city and also won the support of more moderate liberals.
Dresang said Soglin is using Cieslewicz's term events from his handling of the cumbersome Edgewater project as points to highlight how his leadership will differ.
""Success is always greater when you bring people together with diverse experiences and backgrounds to discuss how to solve the problems identified,"" Soglin said.
Soglin said he believes the mayor's role is to guide processes and to encourage discussion, not to select an outcome and then impose a solution.
Cieslewicz, who has held office since 2003, said after eight years of experience he is the best person to accept the challenges the city faces.
Cieslewicz said his record shows he can handle any challenges that will be thrown at him over the next four years and pointed to his turn around of Halloween on State Street and managing various difficult economic issues.
""I love the job and I love the city,"" Cieslewicz said. ""We were able to manage the city budget and we've managed strong fiscal standings, not resorting to budget gimmicks.""
In response to Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill, Cieslewicz said he extended all of the university's union contracts until March 2014 so provisions of the bill will not be in effect for another three years.
To resolve Walker's proposed biennial budget, which would dramatically cut Madison's state aid payment, Cieslewicz said he plans to reach out to neighborhood employees, non-profits and the business community to get their insight on how to balance the budget.
""The main point is we need to continue to build a strong economy in our city, and many proposals we've had have been along those lines,"" Cieslewicz said.
A focus of Soglin's plan for Madison is to use city resources not just to build up downtown, but to build up other neighborhoods in job-friendly ways.
Soglin said last time he returned to office, the city had a problem of growing poverty rates, which he stabilized at 27 percent for 12 years. He said the poverty level was at 32 percent in 2008, and has now reached 51 percent.
""I love this city,"" Soglin said. ""This city needs a leader who can manage the financial problems we face along with the challenges of growing poverty.""
