Why do you think you are the best candidate for this seat?
My experience and passion for the City. I’ve lived in the
2nd district for the past 12 years, both as a renter and a homeowner. Since graduating
from law school in 1993, I have been extremely active in the community. Before
I was on the council, I was appointed to the Backyard Parking Implementation
Committee and the Arrest and Conviction Record Task Force by former Mayor Paul
Soglin during his second stint as Mayor, served as president of the Old
Marketplace Neighborhood Association, founded the Affordable Housing Action
Alliance, had a community garden plot, volunteered with gardening in James
Madison Park and was a vocal activist for tenants’ rights, fair and
affordable housing.
My day job is as the Executive Director of the Tenant Resource
Center (TRC). The TRC helped create the Social Justice Center and I am
currently President of the Board. I also serve on the board of Community Shares
of Wisconsin. Many of you know I am also an active member of Progressive Dane.
I served for 3 years as the co-chair of this political party and am currently
serving on the steering committee. I am also on the coordinating committee for
the Wisconsin Green Party.
As an alder, I am one of the most active members of the council. I
serve on the following committees: Breese Stevens Neighborhood Planning
Committee, East Washington Oversight Committee, City-County Liaison Committee,
Equal Opportunities Commission Housing Subcommittee, Intercity Rail Project
Oversight Ad Hoc Committee, Transit and Parking Commission, State St.
Reconstruction Oversight Committee, Mid-State Street Parking Ramp Committee,
Police Staffing Committee, Common Council Organization Committee, Southeast
Campus Advisory Committee and the Yahara River Parkway Implementation
Committee.
2) When I moved into
this neighborhood twenty years ago, I was able to afford a house on my
blue-collar salary. Now I could never afford to buy a house with my current
salary. How would you address the issue of affordable housing in this
neighborhood and the city both from a renter's and a home-owner's perspective?
I have helped the housing activists create a comprehensive plan
for affordable housing for both renters and homeowners. I have lead the fight
to end discrimination against tenants who receive Section 8 housing assistance
and to end unfair minimum income standards. Both of these landlord practices
prevented many low-income people from living throughout our community. I also
worked with Sol Levin to revise the city TIF policies to require that 10% of
TIF funds in a district be spent for affordable housing. The TIF policy applies
to both rental and home-ownership.
Recently, the Common Council created the Affordable Housing Trust
Fund that will provide financial assistance to developers to provide affordable
housing. We have allocated $1.5 million to the fund. The best part about these
funds is that they are not tax dollars, the money is all unanticipated income
to the city. The funds would go to help build both rental and home-ownership
opportunities.
I am also leading the effort to create an inclusionary zoning
ordinance. The ordinances provide that developers provide 15% affordable
housing, for both rental and home-ownership, in exchange for incentives for
developers. I would prefer that this ordinance apply to all developments so
that we achieve the goal of having economically integrated communities.
I also support the Madison Area Community Land Trust that helps
low-income homeowners purchase homes, co-housing, cooperative housing projects,
homeless outreach programs and would welcome any new ideas to help both renters
and homeowner of all income levels afford the homes they live in.
3) Who are you
supporting for mayor and why?
I don’t know. This is an unusual position for me to be in,
as I write this it is less than two weeks after the primary and I’m
tempted to write in Bert Zipperer. I am going through a process where I am talking
to both Paul Soglin and Dave Cieslewicz and assessing their positions on
policies.
Quite frankly, I haven’t heard either campaign speak much
about issues or what they want to accomplish in office. They seem to focus on
leadership style. There is definitely a leadership style difference. From what
I have observed, Paul has true leadership skills and is less likely to include
people in making decisions. Dave is likely to bring many people to the table,
but not make the tough decisions.
On the issues, quite frankly I’m disappointed. One clear
difference that is important to me is on affordable housing and inclusionary
zoning and if I were to choose on that issue alone, I would choose Dave
Cieslewicz.
On other issues, I haven’t heard many details which is why I
am undecided. On issues of race, I’m told Paul is better, but I
haven’t seen it with his record with policing and housing issues in
low-income neighborhoods. On land use and environmental issue, I believe Dave
will be better. Hopefully, by the time this newsletter is printed you will know
who I have chosen. At this time, I am leaning toward supporting Dave
Cieslewicz.
4) Graffiti is on
the rise. Do you have any new ideas?
Quick removal is the key. I don’t have any new ideas, but I
like the program being proposed by the Greater Willy St. Business Association
where they are creating a graffiti removal task force that has researched the
paint colors for buildings in the area and arranged to get paint to help with
quick removal. They are also working on getting graffiti removal tools for
brick building. I also support additional lighting for problem areas and
temporarily, strategically placed video cameras. (Can you believe I said that?)
5) Do you think it's
appropriate for the common council to take
positions on national affairs? Why?
Yes, because national issues affect each and every one of us.
Additionally, it’s relatively difficult for individuals to be heard on
national policies.
Madison has a long tradition of assisting local residents in
making their voices heard to the national government. I don’t view the
votes on the Common Council as the opinions of 20 elected officials, but hope
that the elected officials vote reflects those of their districts, though I am
not foolish enough to believe that my colleagues on the Council vote that way.
I also believe the power of hundreds of cities passing similar
resolutions has an impact. Additionally, many national issues, have local
implications. If you read most of the resolutions closely, you will see that in
addition to making a statement on a national issue, we include directions for
local staff or departments.
Finally, these items do not take as much time as portrayed in the
local media. Often, the resolutions would pass without comment from the
council, except for the fact that my colleagues ramble on about how we
shouldn’t be wasting time on national issues, which is what we spend the
majority of our time debating on these resolutions.
6) Is there anything
else you would like to say?
I hope the residents of the 2nd district look closely at our
records of community involvement and involvement with the City government. I
believe I have the experience and vision to best represent the second district.
I will continue to fight to make sure the 2nd district gets our
fair share of city services, including police services, street resurfacing and
reconstruction and attention to our parks. I will continue working to make our
bus system one which works for working people, runs at reasonable times and
goes where we need it to go. I will continue to be vigilant in reviewing
development projects in the second district and citywide. I will fight to
preserve the character and historic integrity of our neighborhoods. I will
continue to champion issues that make it easier for citizens to give input and
work to make sure information about meetings and what will be discussed at them
more accessible and understandable to the public.
I support instant run-off voting, public financing of campaigns and
I will not accept any contribution over $100 (the legal limit is $250) from
individuals and reject any Political Action Committee (PAC) or conduit money. I
will continue to fight to create sensible alcohol and drug policies and
reasonable standards for reviewing alcohol licenses. Finally, I will continue
to fight for tenant rights, fair and affordable housing for everyone in our
city.
For further information about my positions on specific issues, you
can check out my website at brendakonkel.com. I am endorsed by South
Central Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, Affordable Housing Action Alliance, Four
Lakes Sierra Club, Progressive Dane, Four Lakes Greens and the Wisconsin Green
Party. I also have been endorsed by numerous elected officials including Representatives
Mark Pocan, Terese Berceau and Mark Miller. My colleagues Todd Jarrell, Jean
MacCubbin, Andy Olsen, Judy Olson, Tom Powell, Gary Poulson, Matt Sloan and
Mike Verveer from the Common Council have endorsed me. I’m also endorsed
by five out of the seven School Board Members including Carol Carstensen, Bill
Clingan, Bill Keys, Juan Jose Lopez and Schwaw Vang. I am endorsed by County
Board Supervisors Judy Wilcox, John Hendrick, Chuck Erickson, Brett Hulsey, Al
Matano, Scott McDonell, Kyle Richmond and Echnaton Vedder.
Even more importantly, I am pleased to be endorsed by many of your
neighbors, a complete list of which is too large to mention here and can be
found on my website at brendakonkel.org.
I have enjoyed getting to know many of you through my campaign two
years ago and over the past two years I have spent representing the 2nd
district. I appreciate that some of you who were at one point skeptical of how
I would represent the 2nd district are now my supporters. I hope that you are
pleased with my representation and am always looking for feedback on how to
better represent the 2nd district.
Finally, if you would like to reach me to talk about any of the
issues I have mentioned, or anything else, please feel free to contact me at
345-8720 or brenda@brendakonkel.org.
–Brenda Konkel