Nestled between Lake Wingra and Monona Bay, District 13 covers a compact yet diverse section of south Madison. Its borders run from the shady lawns of the Vilas neighborhood, to the student and medical bustle in the Greenbush, to fast-growing Bay Creek, to one of Madison's earliest African-American neighborhoods, Bram's Addition.
With the retirement of single-term Ald. Isadore Knox, Jr., two candidates are vying to take the seat: Julia Kerr and Duane Steinhauer.
Moving to Madison in 1965 and subsequently graduating from the UW with a degree in education, Duane Steinhauer has lived in the district for 33 years. Describing himself as "59-years-young," he is a landlord with properties in and out of the district. Steinhauer has served on multiple neighborhood organizations, including the South Metropolitan Planning Council and the Broadway and Allied Drive neighborhood organizations.
Julia Kerr, 43, received degrees in government and English literature from Beloit College in 1987 and a masters in planning from the University of Virginia in 1994. Since moving to Madison (and to the district) four years ago, she has been a stay-at-home mom and served as the president of the Vilas Neighborhood Association. She is also a board member for the Bayview Foundation and serves on the Neighborhood House finance committee.
The Daily Page conducted an email Q&A with each candidate. Their responses follow.
Julia Kerr
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.
I have talked to hundreds of district residents since I began campaigning, and key issues that I hope to work on as alder are pedestrian safety, lake water quality, public safety particularly in our parks, redevelopment pressures, city service delivery, and affordable housing.
What's one thing the city can do to address criticisms of its business climate?
I hope that the reorganization of the Department of Planning will address some of these issues, but we need to move beyond the business versus neighborhoods rhetoric. Successful cities need effective economic development strategies and must support healthy neighborhoods. I am especially interested in supporting small businesses and job creation on the south side.
Two wheels, four wheels and rails. Where should the city go?
I have heard a lot of concerns about traffic and we need to look at all options to address congestion as the city grows. I am very sensitive to any changes to Metro because so many district residents depend on the bus. I will also support a referendum on trolleys once the routes and tax impact impacts are known. The public should have a direct voice in this important decision.
What one thing can the city do that it's not currently doing to increase the availability of affordable housing?
The city should support the start-up of community development corporations, which have been successful in building affordable housing in some Madison neighborhoods and many other cities.
The city's Community Development Authority (CDA), which provides housing for Madison's lowest income residents, has not built a unit in a generation. I would hope that city leaders would make construction of new units by the CDA a higher priority.
List three things you think the city should spend less money on, and three things on which it should spend more.
Less
- Gasoline: Consider hybrids when replacing municipal cars.
- Halloween: Let's enjoy the night without a massive police presence.
- Code Enforcement: City staff works hard to enforce the building code. Unfortunately, a handful of landlords can't seem to follow the law. It is too bad that taxpayers have to foot the bill for inspectors to write citations to get a few owners to comply.
More: traffic enforcement, child care for low-income families, drinking water.
Do you foresee a situation where you might vote contrary to the express wishes of your constituents?
Having been a neighborhood association president taught me that people will have a range of opinions on any topic. An alder's job is to listen to all constituents, carefully sift through the issues and positions, make the best decision possible and clearly communicate the basis for votes.
Name the thing you like least about Madison
The entire month of February, but I just try to remember what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Who is your favorite ex-mayor?
Paul Soglin, because I like his intensity and devotion to the city.
Do you think rates for parking tickets are too high or too low?
Way too high if you get one, but just fine if you don't.
How often do you take Metro?
Not often as often as I would like because I am usually picking up or dropping off our daughter.
Wisconsin State Journal or The Capital Times?
I am a news junkie and read the two Madison papers, Isthmus, TDP, and the New York Times (when I get a chance).
Madison Mallards or Mad Rollin' Dolls?
Both are cool, but you are way more likely to see me analyzing the box scores of the latest Red Sox game.
Would you rather spend Halloween with the crowds or cops?
You will find me in a costume and trick or treating with our daughter.
Name the most botched public issue in town.
Inclusionary zoning
Duane Steinhauer
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.
Safety for our citizens is the most important issue in my district. We need to feel safe in our homes and on our streets. In our neighborhood, this is not the case anymore. Daylight robberies, burglaries and personal physical attacks are weekly occurrences. This must stop.
What's one thing the city can do to address criticisms of its business climate?
City government needs to get out of the way of progress. We live in a very creative city and there is no lack of good ideas. If we can establish some general parameters and locations, we should let people make investments in their own visions and dreams. A prosperous and healthy city is constantly evolving and having a 'plan' in place is very shortsighted. Such a plan can only limit the real possibilities for improvement.
Two wheels, four wheels and rails. Where should the city go?
An efficient, comprehensive public transit is a must. In our geography and climate, buses and maybe some trains along with cabs are the only viable solutions available now. The trolley cannot be useful in our climate, though perhaps in a southern climate it might work. The cost to build it here is astronomical. My vision gets cloudy when the price tag is over a half billion dollars, especially when the project is clearly nonsense.
What one thing can the city do that it's not currently doing to increase the availability of affordable housing?
The city should provide financing help for people to buy existing housing. Building "new" housing and calling it "affordable" is so preposterous as to be laughable. Here's why: the $150,000 used to build one affordable unit could be down payment loans on five existing houses. As the down payment loans are repaid, the funds can be recycled to allow more purchases. This is so simple and easy, even I could administer this program.
List three things you think the city should spend less money on, and three things on which it should spend more.
Spend less: Buying property and taking it off the tax roll, studies and consultants, and tax giveaways like TIF projects.
As to spending more, I cannot think of any, since we must work mightily to get the budget back to reality.
Do you foresee a situation where you might vote contrary to the express wishes of your constituents?
I cannot imagine such a situation. There can be no good reason to harm any part of our great city.
Name the thing you like least about Madison.
I do not like the attitude of some public servants that leads them to believe that they know better than property owners how to care for the owner's property and lives.
Who is your favorite ex-mayor?
Bill Dyke, the playwright.
Do you think that rates for parking tickets are too high or too low?
Too high, especially for residential parking.
How often do you take Metro?
Seldom, since the hubs make any travel very time consuming and take you to places we don't need to go.
Wisconsin State Journal or The Capital Times?
Most days, both.
Madison Mallards or Mad Rollin' Dolls?
Both are great additions to our city and provide the eclectic atmosphere that makes us all want to be here.
Would you rather spend Halloween with the crowds or cops?
If I could stay awake that late, the crowd is much more fun than the cops.
Name the most botched public issue in town.
Our city government has revealed its misplaced priorities in terms or spending; therefore we must provide for city services and be cost conscious with every taxpayer dollar that we collect.
