Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Update Before Taking Office and a Chance To Say Thank You

On Tuesday, April 19, I will be sworn in as Madison Mayor. New City Council members will also be sworn in at that time. In the two week transition period between election day and the inauguration, we must get a great deal of work done in key areas including policy, committee appointment and staffing.

Last week we finished the city council appointments to committees. It took some 14 and 18 hour days but this way the council gets the list of appointments long before the traditional Tuesday morning submission.

I asked Sally Miley, Anne Monks, Jane Richardson, and a few others  to assist me with the transition. Mayor Cieslewicz and his staff have been very helpful.  Our team has been included in staff meetings and we have met with all council members, most department heads and many city staff members.

We are focusing on a wide range of issues from the new library to the impact of the Walker budget, from beaches to snow plowing. (Yes, snow plowing is on the table on April.)

We have also set up a process for hiring staff in the Mayor’s office.  We have made two hires which will be announced shortly. Four executive positions are yet to be filled and one of these will be a new position.  As I promised during the campaign, this will be a government relations officer who will analyze legislation, and help develop strategy for working with state government and other local units of government. This person will not have managerial duties.

The other three positions will be administrative managers. Each will work with members of the public, department heads and the respective city committees in his/her area.  These managers will work in the areas of Public Safety (Police and Fire, Health), Public Works (Streets, Parks, Water Utility, Motor Equipment, and Engineering), and Internal Services (HR, City Clerk, City Attorney, City Treasurer, Civil Rights, etc).

We are going through a standard hiring process for these positions. That means advertising the positions and everyone will be screened by HR as we attempt to get the widest and most diverse set of applicants.

In the area of committee appointments, we plan to examine resumes and solicit recommendations from Madison’s diverse citizens. During the campaign I talked extensively about the need to both fill the large number of vacancies that exist, and to fill them with people who bring needed diversity to these important committees which are such a key part of Madison City Government. Madison works best when good ideas come from active, engaged citizens who are given the opportunity to participate fully in city Committees and Commissions.

I will also attempt to honor the city policy of limiting individuals to ten successive years as an appointee to a city committee. In instances where a committee or board is in the middle of a major project, I may simply make no appointment allowing the incumbent committee member to retain their position until the project is well underway.

Our goal is to get the committee appointments to the city council by the end of April and to finish the staff hiring by mid-May. If you are interested in serving either in my administration or on a City Commission or Committee, please contact Sally Miley ([email protected]).

For a staff position, we need a resume and a cover letter. For appointment to a commission or committee, please indicate your area of interest and expertise in addition to making a request for appointment to a specific committee or commission.

We have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of interest in being a part of my administration. I am deeply grateful for your support and for your enthusiasm about what the next four years will bring. Let’s keep working together to get it done.

Thank you - everyone no matter who you voted for and a big thank you to Mayor Cieslewicz and his staff.

 

Mayor-Elect Paul Soglin Hits The Ground Running

Yesterday was filled with meetings with City officials and press avails. Dean Mosiman's story in the Wisconsin State Journal had details:

Energized by his win Tuesday, Mayor-elect Paul Soglin on Wednesday met with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and city managers and started to forge his early agenda.

Soglin, mayor for 14 years over three decades, said he intends to revive "neighborhood resource teams" of police, building inspectors, public health nurses and others to address growing poverty. He's exploring a humane way to control the geese population. And he wants to use appointments to bring more diversity to the city's array of committees.

"We're going to be moving on many tracks at once," he said.

Soglin, who takes office April 19, said Cieslewicz initiatives such as rebuilding the Central Library and planning for a public market southeast of the Capitol "will continue on present course."

But he said he will seek briefings on why decisions were made and particular options chosen. "We may or may not make changes," he said.

Cieslewicz took no issue with that approach. "That's absolutely fair," he said. "I'd do that myself. I think he's going to find that these are all solid decisions."

The mayor credited Soglin with an effective, clean campaign and vowed to "do everything in our power to make the transition easy for him so he can be successful."

We owe a huge thank you to Mayor Cieslewicz for his assistance in this transition. He's been gracious and helpful.

(For those of you waiting for a callback from Paul, or a response to an email, have a little patience. Nearly every Madisonian and a few thousand from elsewhere have wanted to congratulate him or offer an idea.)

- Barry Orton

 

Mayor-Elect Paul Soglin: "Thank You, Madison"

Paul Soglin has been elected mayor of Madison again. The Wisconsin State Journal's Dean Mosiman had the best lede:

Maybe he is mayor for life.

In a scenario unlikely only a few months ago, former Mayor Paul Soglin on Tuesday stunned two-term incumbent Mayor Dave Cieslewicz to recapture the office he has held longer than anyone in city history.

Soglin, 65, mayor from 1973 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1997, entered the race late and ran a spirited campaign, serving as the aggressor throughout.

The Capital Times' Kristin Czubkowski's story focused on what made the difference in a very close contest:

With the final unofficial numbers coming down to just more than 700 votes separating the two candidates, Soglin added that the individual work of campaign staffers and volunteers became even more important.

"It's very clear in an election like this that everything makes a difference," he said.

Paul thanks his supporters and all of the City of Madison's voters, and promises not to let them down.  He's already started working on the transition; he takes office in two short weeks.

Thanks to everyone who helped in any way. Thanks to the many people who approached Paul and encouraged him with a hug or handshake, and to the many teachers, firefighters, snowplow drivers, nurses, police, students, and others who gave him a "thumbs-up" while they were parading around the Square or voicing their concerns at a demonstration or rally.

Thanks also are due to Dave Cieslewicz, who ran a clean, issues-oriented campaign, and as mayor always did his best for Madison's citizens. He and all his supporters are all our friends and neighbors, and will remain so long after the details of this campaign have faded in memory.

- Barry Orton

"Paul Is Uniquely Qualified To Guide Madison Through The Minefield The Walker Administration Has Created"

Veteran Madison newsman Tim Morrissey wishes he could vote for Paul, but alas, he lives a few hundred feet outside of Madison city limits.  That's not stopping Tim from making his preference known:

I can’t vote for Paul Soglin. But that’s only because I don’t live in the city of Madison. If you live in the city, I strongly suggest you vote for Hizzoner. I believe so strongly that Paul is the right man for the job at the right time, that I may just wander over to the polling place for the 57th Ward, where I used to live, see if I’m still on the voter list (it’s only been 16 years) and cast a vote or two for Paul.

... I’ve known Paul for 23 years, personally and professionally, and I’ve never seen him more energized and more ready to take on and solve the challenges ahead for Madison. Dave has done a decent job of running the city, but Paul is uniquely qualified to guide Madison through the minefield the Walker administration has created for Madison and Dane County. (emphasis added) 

 

                                                       

- 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.

"We Need Mayor Paul Soglin’s Broad, Inclusive Vision — Now More Than Ever"

A letter in today's Capital Times from former Middleton Mayor Judy Karofsky:

Dear Editor: I support Paul Soglin for mayor because he is an exceptional leader. He affords Madison a competitive edge. He served in city government, and he worked in the private sector, in the financial world, and for a transformative high-tech company. He personifies the new economy.

While the incumbent mayor talks about jobs of high value, Soglin gets it that the critical jobs that will support our city’s future are filled by “creatives” — highly educated people who create value-added businesses, software and technology. Leaders of the new economy have unlimited choices of places to live, and competition for their contributions is intense. Soglin knows they want walkable, lively neighborhoods, strong schools, and intergenerational activities. He teaches graduate students at the UW-Madison, and he understands that, in these times, even the creatives are financially constrained.

A Madison resident since 1993, I’ve observed Soglin both inside and outside of government. He demonstrated how to create a Madison kind of place — a diverse community. He helped develop affordable neighborhoods, recreational opportunities, cultural landmarks, and clusters of employment. He has pledged to work with community leaders, advocates, business people, and public officials to support a full spectrum of housing for those who are young or old, whether they are well or need help. We have serious challenges ahead, and we need Mayor Paul Soglin’s broad, inclusive vision — now more than ever.

Judy Karofsky

former mayor of Middleton

 

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.

Sly's Post On Why He's Voting For Soglin

Sly has a post (with some great historical photos) up today on why he supports Paul for mayor:

What makes Paul Soglin America's most unique Mayor is the time he spends, in and out of office, obsessing over public policy. When Soglin is not teaching it, he studies it. When he's not blogging about it, he's on the radio talking about it.

...The most important article on this year’s mayoral race is in the Madison Times. Paul Soglin understands the most critical issue for our city's future: combating poverty in Madison.

The Madison Times piece is worth reading.

- Barry Orton

East Side Neighbrhood Activist Switches Support To Soglin

From Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal:

I supported Dave Cieslewicz during his first two elections for mayor, but no more.

The list of people and principles disrespected by Cieslewicz in recent years continues to grow. It includes volunteer members of city commissions, residents of our official historic districts, long-serving and distinguished city employees and the time-honored tradition of neighborhood associations having a valued voice at city hall.

By comparison, Paul Soglin built his well-deserved legacy by supporting and nurturing these very principles, championing the voice of the people. His commitment to open and inclusive government, inviting the input of all parties, is what we need now more than ever.

While I respect Mayor Dave on many levels, the divisiveness of his past term stained the spirit of civic involvement in Madison. Now that we find ourselves in this hole, we need the proven leadership of Paul Soglin to help the city find its way forward.

- Joe Lusson, Madison, Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood council

- 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.

No Madison Neighborhoods Troubled By Poverty, Mayor Cieslewicz? Two Neighborhood Leaders Strongly Disagree

Yesterday, Brenda Konkel's blog, Forward Lookout, had a letter to Mayor Cieslewicz that strongly took issue with the Mayor's statements that his administration had a handle on poverty and that there were no longer Madison neighborhoods in trouble.

Along with several hundred of my eastside neighbors, I attended last week’s People’s Forum for the Mayoral and Dane County Executive Candidates. As the President of the Worthington Park Neighborhood Association, imagine my surprise to hear you say that Madison no longer has any troubled neighborhoods. You are surely aware that the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood includes some of Madison’s lowest-income residents, rundown housing stock, high concentrations of children eligible for free and reduced lunch, and challenges related to crime. Though there certainly have been improvements in recent years – and the Neighborhood Association has been at the heart of the creative and collaborative efforts that have led to many of these improvements.

And while those of us who live in the neighborhood see everywhere the possibilities and the opportunities instead of just the challenges facing our small neighborhood, I remain dismayed that you feel that our neighborhood is no longer “troubled.” I would like to ask that, if you are re-elected on April 5th, that you commit yourself to better understanding the challenges facing Darbo-Worthington neighborhood and make addressing them a priority for your next year as Mayor. Would you be willing to make that commitment to us?

Thank you,
Dace A. Zeps
President, Worthington Park Neighborhood Association

 

Today Brenda posted a similar letter from the head of the Allied Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood Association:

We, as members of the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association and co-sponsors of the “People’s Candidate Forum” held March 22 at the Barrymore Theater, are gravely concerned with some of Mayor Dave’s statements from that night. We want to go on record as questioning your commitment as Mayor to this neighborhood and other similarly struggling neighborhoods in Madison.

Several questions we asked the candidates that night dealt with issues that concern communities of color and neighborhoods with a significant portion of the population living poverty like ours in Madison and Dane County. We were surprised by many of your responses and we were disappointed that you took personal credit for work in Allied that has been done collaboratively. We were particularly troubled that you readily dismissed the fact the vast majority of Allied residents continue to be burdened by the challenges of poverty and lack of opportunity. While we’ve made some strides to improve the quality of the housing stock and engaged more residents in moving forward, we know we are not finished. Just because the Mayor has declared victory over poverty in Allied, doesn’t make it so.

...We would also like to take this opportunity to set the record straight about what the “Allied Approach” has involved and give credit where credit is due.

Despite your claim that we no longer have troubled neighborhoods in Madison, we know from our personal experiences that we still do. Allied is definitely improving, that is true. But there remain many neighborhoods in Madison that require the attention and resources of the City—Darbo-Worthington, Wexford Ridge, Truax, Vera Court, and South Madison come to mind. We ask that you listen to communities of color and other communities plagued by poverty in this city to find out where they are and what they say they need to improve their neighborhoods.

...You referenced the Neighborhood Indicators Project that will allow us to find early indicators, early warning signs, of stress in neighborhoods. Presuming the City has these tools, we have not seen how the City will use this information to make policy and resource allocation decisions. Again, with the recent challenges of the decreased economy, loss of jobs, high unemployment in these neighborhoods, we think there is more the City can be doing and we wonder about the upcoming commitment after April 5. Additionally when you, Mayor Dave, talked about jobs for the City of Madison, they all seem to be geared toward high-tech and jobs that require a 4-year degree. What is being planned for job creation for residents in OUR communities?

... We are looking for Mayor Dave’s response and commitment to our neighborhood, along with many other similar groups that seem to be on the fringe of the City’s attention in these challenging times.

Selena Pettigrew
President, Allied Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood Association

(emphases added and edited for space)

Paul Soglin has made fighting poverty's impacts on Madison's citizens a centerpiece of his campaign, and was aghast at Cieslewicz' assertions that Madison no longer has troubled neighborhoods. Looks like leaders of those neighborhoods are aghast also.

- 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.

Former Mayor Joel Skornicka: We Need Soglin's Proven Leadership

Former Mayor Joel Skornicka wrote this to the Capital Times:

 

Dear Editor: The next four years will be crucial for the future well-being of Madison. It will be a period of austerity not experienced by local government in many years. I believe that Paul Soglin is better qualified to address the challenges and to retain Madison as a leader even during difficult times.

Currently, we lack a clear vision for Madison’s future. Soglin has time and again articulated a vision for the type of community that Madison can become. More importantly, he successfully implemented his vision through the construction of the State Street and Capitol Concourse malls, the Monona Terrace Convention Center, the bike path system, etc. We need his clear-headed and proven leadership.

During the past eight years, Madison’s debt has doubled and debt service costs will increase substantially -- consuming a greater portion of the budget. This level of borrowing is unsustainable. We need to change course and Soglin has demonstrated the critical skills needed to successfully manage the city’s finances.

Similarly, during the past eight years Madison has seen an unprecedented exodus of upper management officials. For the first time, we are experiencing difficulties recruiting the top-quality talent that Madison needs to navigate the difficulties we will encounter in the upcoming years. Again, throughout his previous administrations, Soglin recruited and retained top-notch managers and has demonstrated his management skills.

Please join me in supporting Paul Soglin for mayor.

Joel Skornicka

former mayor

Madison

- 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.

Rep. Terese Berceau: Soglin Is "Our Best Choice For The Future"

 

"As a state Representative battling the Walker budget, I know that we need a savvy, tough Mayor to stand up for Madison's interests and values. Now, more than ever, we need Paul Soglin."

"Paul Soglin is passionate about our city, and he's our best choice for the future."

 

Terese Berceau is one of Madison's real heroes.

- 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.