Mayoral Debate Video

Brenda Konkel has video of the January 20 Capitol Neighborhoods mayoral debate here.  Brenda deserves kudos for taping the whole thing solo using two cameras, and then editing both angles into one video. The video was cablecast on WYOU (which is still worth saving).

For your viewing clarity, the candidate wearing the propeller hat is not Paul Soglin, nor Dave Cieslewicz, nor the professional comedian, Nick Hart, who wore the ever-fashionable too-small fedora. It was perennial candidate Dennis de Nure, who found that the answer to every question was "build a Museum Mile."

The Waxing America post-debate post is here. It quoted coverage by the Wisconsin State Journal that led with the pointed attack on Mayor Cieslewicz from longtime civil servant John Blotz:

Former Madison mayor Paul Soglin didn't have to go after Mayor Dave Cieslewicz too hard in the first mayoral debate Thursday night. That was done for him by a virtually unknown candidate.

City Engineering Division construction supervisor John Blotz, one of three lesser known candidates in the race, said city government has become a nasty place to work and that Cieslewicz only puts people in power who agree with his positions.

"He's encouraged a culture of intimidation within the city," Blotz said.

Blotz dropped out this week, realizing he had no chance of surviving the primary. Brenda has his statement here.

- Barry Orton