District 20 is the quintessential westside transitional district, involving development issues at the University Research Park, to crime in Orchard Ridge south of the Beltline. The two candidates vying to replace retiring four-term Ald. Cindy Thomas are Thuy Pham-Remmele and Gary Poulson.
A resident of the district for 22 years, Poulson served three terms on the council from 1997 through 2003. He is 58-years old, has a law degree from UW-Madison, and works as an assistant reviser of statutes for the state. Poulson has been a member of his neighborhood association board for two decades. His community experience includes serving on the boards of four public library organizations, as the chairman of the Joint TIF Review Board, and as a member of the Tobacco Free Dane County Coalition.
Pham-Remmele, 58, has lived in the district for 26 years. After graduating from Saigon University in 1970, she was a Fulbright scholar in English at UW-Madison, and subsequently worked for 28 years as an English-as-a-Second-Language teacher in the Madison schools, retiring in 2003. Her volunteer work has spanned social-service, education, art, senior-care, and gardening organizations. Her candidacy has been endorsed by Thomas.
The Daily Page conducted an email Q&A with Pham-Remmele and Poulson. Their responses follow.
Thuy Pham-Remmele
The Daily Page: Please identify what you consider to be the most important issue in your district and what you are going to do about it.
Pham-Remmele: I'll strongly advocate for public safety. Voters here feel our needs are neglected and we haven't received our fair share of quality city services. Residents want more police presence, especially a neighborhood officer. We must assess our strengths and challenges, build a stronger sense of community, and encourage more involvement to advocate on our own behalf. My district must communicate with the mayor's office more effectively. I will make sure District 20's needs are better served.
What's one thing the city can do to address criticisms of its business climate?
Many of the ordinances enacted by council are issues that would be better handled at the state level, instead of creating an island effect in Madison. The city should refrain from mandating restrictive regulations on business that benefit the economic development of the surrounding areas more than they do the city itself. It helps to open the line of communication with business community to dispel negative feelings and to build bridges for the good of our city.
Two wheels, four wheels and rails. Where should the city go?
It's great that Madison is a biker-friendly city in fair weather. District 20 families cannot rely on bikes to go to work or accomplish year-round, daily chores. Buses are still the least expensive mass transportation to keep cars off city streets during rush hours. However, schedules, routes, and transfer points must be geared to encourage more riders. Trolleys are an expensive project that won't serve needs in my district.
What one thing can the city do that it's not currently doing to increase the availability of affordable housing?
Get rid of the failed IZ program and provide more direct mortgage assistance to first time low-income homeowners so they can choose where to live. Madison does have affordable older homes for sale in many neighborhoods.
List three things you think the city should spend less money on, and three things on which it should spend more.
Madison should apply zero-based budgeting to eliminate: studies/task forces that go nowhere, redundant paperwork among departments, and projects that have no accountability.
More city money should be spent on basic services of: police staffing, street maintenance (snow plowing and pot-hole repair), and care of city infrastructure such as clean water to every home.
Do you foresee a situation where you might vote contrary to the express wishes of your constituents?
As an independent candidate, I don't promote any personal agenda or that of any special interest group or political party. As an alderperson, my foremost duty is to be a representative of my district on the city council. I cannot foresee any situation where the benefits to the city would be so great that I might vote contrary to the expressed wishes of my constituents.
Name the thing you like least about Madison
Long, cold winters
Who is your favorite ex-mayor?
None so far, but I'm forever hopeful.
Do you think rates for parking tickets are too high or too low?
I've never received a parking ticket, and hope to keep it that way.
How often do you take Metro?
When I started teaching for the Madison Metropolitan School District in 1975, I took it at least four times a day, five days a week to make it to 17 schools all over Madison; now I take it whenever I have meetings downtown.
Wisconsin State Journal or The Capital Times?
The WSJ because I want the paper in the morning, and The Cap Times when headlines interest me
Madison Mallards or Mad Rollin' Dolls?
The Mallards, to see some players from my husband's University of Wisconsin-Whitewater team play at the Duck Pond.
Would you rather spend Halloween with the crowds or cops?
At home to hand out treats to neighborhood children.
Name the most botched public issue in town.
The misconduct allegations about Bob D'Angelo, former president of the Overture Center
Gary Poulson
The Daily Page: Please identify what you consider to be the most important issue in your district and what you are going to do about it.
Poulson: The issue that concerns the most people in District 20 is public safety. The West Police District needs to add additional officers to cover the largest and most populous policing area in the city. The district also needs neighborhood officers to work with residents and property owners in its most troubled areas.
What's one thing the city can do to address criticisms of its business climate?
I think part of the problem is perception. I believe that having a designated business liaison in the new Department of Planning who reports directly to the mayor would provide a critical communication link. With improved communication, the anti-business perception will diminish and people will realize that Madison is actually a great place for business.
Two wheels, four wheels and rails. Where should the city go?
The city needs to consider several options for its future transportation challenges. Metro should continue to reach out to other municipalities for extended bus service. Establishing these multi-municipal relationships now will make it easier to work with these communities if commuter rail becomes a reality. At some point we need to establish a regional transportation authority because the problems and solutions are regional. The city also needs to continue to link its many bike paths.
What one thing can the city do that it's not currently doing to increase the availability of affordable housing?
The city needs to work with the county, developers, realtors, housing providers and affordable housing advocates to come up with viable ideas. The city's Community Development Authority (CDA) should be encouraged to build additional units throughout the city. The CDA should use its financing tools to assist in providing affordable housing.
List three things you think the city should spend less money on, and three things on which it should spend more.
I am troubled by the number and cost of the bus shelters on the Square. I know that to advocate for increases in some programs, I would scrutinize an agency's budget to see if there are offsets to accomplish increases. Improving public safety will require an increase in the police budget for additional personnel. I would also look to increase expenditures for public-transit operations and community-service programs for children.
Do you foresee a situation where you might vote contrary to the express wishes of your constituents?
It has been my experience that an alder views most decisions with the thought of, "How does this impact my district?" Most experienced alders also take into account what the impact is to the city as a whole. Sometimes the city's interests and the district's interests are not compatible, and sometimes what is best for the city should supersede the interests of the district. Most alders will face this dilemma during their tenure.
Name the thing you like least about Madison.
Dangerous driving behavior, e.g. speeding and running red lights
Who is your favorite ex-mayor?
Otto Festge, a true leader and gentleman
Do you think that rates for parking tickets are too high or too low?
They seem to be at the right level.
How often do you take Metro?
I take Metro three to four times a week during mid-November through mid-March, and one or two times a week the rest of the year.
Wisconsin State Journal or The Capital Times?
Until Doug Moe and George Hesselberg write for the same paper, I will subscribe to and read both.
Madison Mallards or Mad Rollin' Dolls?
No contest, Mallards
Would you rather spend Halloween with the crowds or cops?
I'd rather hand out candy to neighborhood kids but given the choice: the crowds before bar time and the cops after bar time.
Name the most botched public issue in town.
The deteriorating state of one of our precious natural resources: our lakes.
