Progressive Dane and Cieslewicz

Wisconsin State Journal columnist Susan Lampert Smith continues to bring timely news, as well as insight, to her readers:

They Had Some Fun, but Marriage Is Over

Psst. Did you hear about the breakup?  Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has dumped Progressive Dane. Or, maybe, it was PD that ditched Dave...

...Maybe it was just a marriage of convenience that is no longer convenient for either spouse. Back in 2003, Cieslewicz was an unknown name full of consonants on a crowded primary ballot...

With no serious challengers, particularly from the left, in the 2007 election, Cieslewicz has no need for Progressive Dane. 

In terms of substance, the split does have some long-range implications for Madison. Progressive Dane  (PD) will now feel more at ease in publicly criticizing the mayor in terms of his failures in social programming and combating poverty.  The two, PD and the mayor, had  common ground, launching the disastrous Inclusionary Zoning campaign. If that is any indication of Madison's future, we can expect a lot of fireworks and little substance.

Comments

[Brian]

Look what is happening to the school district under this mayor.
Budget cut after budget cut. And have they done anything about moving away from the horse and buggy accountability sytstem known as standardized testing?

[Peter Rickman]

What's left unsaid here is the role of the Dane County Democratic Party. Largely absent on issues, will they step into the void to show some spine and conscience (not to mention activity) on the left, giving Mayor Dave a partner that is not seeking ideological purity?

Who Mayor Dave backs with all the open seats on the council is going to be key to his working government (I find it hard to believe that Allen or Munoz can seriously challenge him in a general, especially without MDC having to cater to PD). If the Dems are behind good candidates in 2007 and actually work on issues after the votes are counted, there is the very possible likelihood that there would be a whole different dynamic in city government.