Soglin Called "Better-Equipped" To Fight Walker

Veteran radio newsman Tim Morrissey knows both Paul Soglin and Dave Cieslewicz well, and is very familiar with each's performance as mayor of Madison. Tim's Rifles at Dawn post today on the April general election:

The only real race is Paul Soglin v. Dave Cieslewicz. Hizzonner did amazingly well in areas of the city where he didn’t do so well last time around. Both of these guys are highly intelligent, highly motivated, and it’s going to be one wild, bumpy race for the next couple months. It’s NOT “old v. young,” as I see it, and both candidates have impeccable progressive credentials. But Paul has a demonstrated ability to GET THINGS DONE in Madison, knows how to deal with labor issues, and is, I think, better-equipped to deal with the challenges the city faces under the Walker administration.

(emphasis added)

Paul has been at the Capitol every day since Sunday, and been very visible among the protestors. From Isthmus' election night coverage:

“The challenge has been made more complicated by the announcement by Governor Walker,” Soglin said. “The impact on all of Madison, whether we’re talking public employees or not, is very significant.”

...“We don’t yet know what’s going to happen to public employees, and we don’t know what’s going to happen in regards to shared revenues,” Soglin said. “In addition, there’s some modifications I know we can make to the city budget. It will be necessary to take all these varied elements and bring them together, and then make recommendations.”

...In the next several weeks, the Soglin campaign will continue its endeavor to stand apart from Cieslewicz by focusing on several key city issues, including drinking water, childhood poverty and “problems making complicated decisions.”

“What I’m hearing is that the voters want a mayor who can handle these difficult matters and do it in a process that engages everybody,” said Soglin. “We’re not going to be able to give everyone their first choice in any solution, but by bringing those interests together, we will get the best solution. And that’s the job of the mayor.”

- Barry Orton

Editor's Note: Campaign contributions can be made out to Soglin for Mayor and mailed to PO Box 1228, Madison WI 53701. Please include contact information and whether we can use your name as a supporter.  Let us know if you can volunteer or sponsor a fundraiser. State law requires you to supply employer information (name and address) if your contribution is over $100 in a calendar year. The campaign website at http://www.soglinformayor.com is able to take online contributions, but please feel free to go old school via the US Postal Service.

Comments

[Chris]

Soglin's comments from a blog in February 2009 regarding Scott Walker, then Milwaukee County Executive:

"Walker must learn to operate on more than one track at a time. County government is like a switch yard with dozens of tracks and the state is even more complicated."

Irony and prophecy -- Scott Walker just doesn't know how to play with trains.

[Ty O'Mara]

Escape...Escape to Wisconsin......Um...I mean Illinois.

Yesterday afternoon I was headed north on I-94 into my beloved Dairyland. Just before I got to that interchange by the Brat Stop a mini-van on the other side of the median screamed past me into Illinois. There must have been 14 or 15 people in that thing. I didn't even know the circus was in town. High speed rail, I thought, would get those goofs off the road.

As I exited onto Hwy 50, I could see that traffic was backed up for miles on the southbound lanes. There were maybe 20 Wisconsin State troopers and their cars stopped right on the interstate just on the Kenosha County side of the border. Behind the troopers were Jeeps filled with camouflaged national guardsmen. The camnouflage thing just wasn't working for them on that fine day. Groups of Muni Bond originators were milling around==urging them to cross the border in pursuit. A group of foam-cheese=headed protesters descended upon the scene. Their signs read, "Dread Scott," "Spread the pain, Fruitcake," and "Try to catch us, bitch." I'm just reporting the scene, OK. I wish I would have had my camera, it was lovely.

Later I slipped back into the Land of Lincoln, along the back roads-with my tax free groceries from the homeland. Dusk surprised me, as I prepared my Wisconsin cheeseburger. The nightly news was on, all reportiong the scene from Madison, and the phone rang--my teacher friend from Lake Geneva. As we chatted about the events, I thought to myself, "I love the smell of smoked gouda in the evening. It smells like......like victory.

Almost immediately, I thought, no, there is no victory. There is only victory when we all come together. There is only something to be gained if we honestly strive to understand the opposition. Damn it. maybe the Governor needs a bit of education right now--I think he does. I think he will get the message. There is not 4 years to waste here, and I think he will understand that very quickly. I think Mr Soglin should be mayor of Madison, because he wants to work with everyone, and everyone includes the Governor of the state.