P.O. Box 1222, Madison, WI 53701 | www.prodane.org | office@prodane.org | (608) 257-4985
Posted by prodane at 07:23 PM
Spring Elections are coming up soon! The Progressive Dane Elections Committee will be holding interviews with candidates that are seeking the PD endorsement. The meeting will be on Janaury 22nd at the Social Justice Center - 1202 Williamson St. This meeting is open to Progressive Dane members.
4:00 pm: Elections Committee meeting
4:30 pm: Kyle Richmond County Board D27 - PD Incumbent
5:00 pm: Arlene Silviera School Board
5:30 pm: Ashok Kumar County Board D5
Hope to see you there!
Posted by prodane at 08:10 PM
Chuck Erickson
Progressive Dane has again endorsed Chuck Erickson for election in District 13. Chuck is running unopposed for a third term to the near west/near south side district, including the Vilas and Bay View neighborhoods.
Chuck is widely known for his environmental and transportation expertise. But we also know Chuck to be a dedicated neighborhood activist, paying keen attention to the issues confronting the county and the urban areas he represents.
Chuck is chair of the Land Conservation Committee, and vice-chair of Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. With land use and planning being among the primary areas of concern in growing Dane County, Chuck's expertise and progressive vision will be depended on heavily again for the next two years and beyond.
John Hendrick
Progressive Dane has endorsed John Hendrick for reelection in District 6, which runs south of E. Washington St. from Blair St. to Starkweather Creek and includes the town of Blooming Grove. John is running for a seventh term and is unopposed.
John, a founding member of PD, has been active in the County Board Caucus and the Elections Committee. He also attends meetings of Marquette Neighborhood Association, Schenk's Atwood Starkweather Yahara Neighborhood Association, Town of Blooming Grove Board, East Isthmus Neighborhood Planning Council and Common Wealth Development Corporation.
In the coming term, he hopes to pass a resolution to refinance of a portion of the county debt which will free up at least $1.5 million of available levy under the state tax "freeze" and use those funds for a 1% COLA for human service employees. He also hopes to extend the living wage to Alliant Energy Center employees. Finally, he hopes to pass a strong comprehensive plan and start the process of keeping County Board decisions consistent with the plan.
Al Matano
Progressive Dane recently voted to endorse 3-term incumbent Al Matano for re-election in District 11 on Madison's near west side. Al is unopposed.
Supervisor Matano has been consistently attentive to neighborhood associations in his district, and has worked to establish relationships with the Village Board of Shorewood Hills. He has done work with anti-war and animal rights groups, and assisted the effort to construct multi-use trails in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton. Al's plan's for the coming term include: prioritizing adequate funding for human services in the next budget cycle, defeating land use petitions for unwise developments, working to diminish undue reliance on automobile transportation, and continuing his work on the Dane County Comprehensive Plan. Happily for PD, Al will continue his loyal participation in our county caucus.
Barbara Vedder - District 2
Progressive Dane has endorsed Barbara Vedder's election to the Dane County Board in District 2, which is on the east Isthmus north of East Washington out to around East High School and including a small piece of Town of Madison around Lakewood Gardens.
Barbara is a long time member of Progressive Dane and served as a City Council Alder from 1995 to 2001. In late 2005 she was appointed to fill out the remained of Beth Gross’s term.
Though she is running unopposed, her District 2-based team of volunteers continues to plan an active campaign to bring district residents closer to their county government.
Kyle Richmond - District 27
Progressive Dane has again endorsed Kyle Richmond for re-election in
District 27. Kyle is running unopposed for a third term to the board.
Kyle is currently the chair of Environment, Agriculture & Natural
Resources Committee and also sits on the Human Services Board and Long Term Support Committees. Kyle is working to protect our greenspace and farmland through good land use policies and also to preserve strong county human services for people with fewer privileges.
Kyle believes that government at all levels requires openness, debate, active citizen involvement and oversight by the people it serves. Kyle is ready to serve his 3rd term on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
Posted by prodane at 06:16 PM
This April we will choose 37 Dane County Board supervisors and two members of the Madison School Board. Progressive Dane has already endorsed four County Board candidates and is interviewing several more including a school board candidate. PD has also endorsed the referendum on Iraq that will be on the April 4 ballot.
PD has an elections fund goal of $2500 and you can help by being a sponsor of our fund-raiser. We're asking for a $25 donation. Please say yes!
PROGRESSIVE DANE ELECTIONS FUND-RAISER
Soup, Chili, and Conversation
Friday, February 10, 5:00 – 7:00
James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation
2146 East Johnson Street
Kids Welcome!
You can contribute on-line or contact Progressive Dane and we will mail you a contribution form.
Other needs: ten volunteers to make soup or chili, ten more to bring a dessert, and some set-up and clean-up volunteers.
It's very important that we keep or even increase the progressive/liberal presence on the County Board, because there will be many important planning, land use, and social service issues coming to a head this year. Even though at least four of our endorsed candidates will be running unopposed, we need to help them alert their constituents to the issues and get out the vote. We do anticipate one primary, (in the 5th County Board supervisory district), and if we get involved in a school board race, we'll want to give our candidate a modest financial contribution as well as volunteer power. We'll also have some political expenses for PD publications.
Finally, we'll need more volunteers than ever before to support both our candidates and the referendum on Iraq.
Thanks so much for all your support. Hope to see you on the 10th!
Posted by prodane at 04:50 PM
Progressive Dane had another successful year in 2005. We would to thank all the PD members and volunteers who worked hard to create a more progressive community. As 2006 begins, we would to take a moment to enjoy our accomplishments and thank our members for making PD as successful as it is.
Here are some of the highlights from 2005:
Posted by prodane at 12:11 AM