Dennis de Nure
Isthmus sent email questionnaires to each candidate for Madison mayor. Here is what they had to say about themselves, why they're running and what they hope to achieve.
Dennis Amadeus de Nure
Age: 54
Campaign website: museummile.wordpress.com
Current employment: I write about the plan at MuseumMile.WordPress.com. Essentially, I am homeless but I don't look homeless because my brother Chip has been lending me $200 a month for the last few years. I value exercise so I go to Capital Fitness. I have other blessings which allow me to stay organized in my writing. I am blessed to learn WordPress from UW-Platteville computer whiz Dan Frommelt. Working at the downtown library is another blessing.
Relevant experience (in 75 words or less): I've spent many years developing the ideas inside the MuseumMile Plans. This is a branding plan-marketing mousetrap. It's also a job creating development plan. Questions arise: Does Madison have its own historical museum? Do you like the location of the UW-Geology Museum? Can you see "Main Street Programs" evolving into Wisconsin Museum Miles? Are other cities using the words Museum and Mile? Does Wisconsin have an official dairy museum?
Please answer the following questions in 100 words or less.
1. Why are you running?
This campaign is called "What about Museum Mile?" For this election, I am "Mayor Jim." (Think of Jim as Bob Wiley in the movie What About Bob?) This movie metaphor is saying to Isthmus readers that I am not a serious candidate; however, I continue to use the political arena as an opportunity for promoting the idea of branding downtown Madison as Downtown's MuseumMile, and/or Madison's Museum Mile. I believe the plans are bigger than the sum of its parts. The economic and spiritual synergy is "fun" for our inner isthmus child. Vote Mayor Jim. Win with Jim!
2. What do you think is the single most important issue facing the city of Madison?
Happiness. Now back to the museum plan. The plan advocates the Madison Cultural Arts District evolves into the MuseumMile Governing Board-Madison. We copy the Denver model (scfd.org). Mayor Jim advocates a "MuseumMile Culture Tax" in the support counties of 10 cents on ten $10. (MuseumMile Fund) Downtown Madison Incorporated evolves into MMM-Good Incorporated. THRIVE evolves into the MuseumMile Business Council. Wisconsin's Main Street Program evolves into Wisconsin Museum Miles. Wisconsin brands itself: MuseumMile State Extends the Classroom through Our Museums. The plans' focuses are a paradigm shift for responsibility, simplicity and change.
3. Name an official recently elected in Wisconsin whom you admire? Why?
Mayor Jim says -- Bo Ryan. Please dream... This is the Wisconsin MuseumMile Camp Dream. We're in 5th grade and we'll spend one week in the Capital City learning at these educational institutions: Wisconsin Dairy Museum, Wisconsin Indian Museum, Overture, Capitol, Chazen Museum, Monona Terrace, Veterans & Historical, Wisconsin Women's Museum, Trek Bicycle Museum of Wisconsin, Downtown's MuseumMile Library, Madison Jewish Museum, Madison Golf Museum, Earth Day Museum, National Gay & Lesbian Museum, MuseMax 3D Theater, American Museum (A great trademark!), UW Teaching museums.
4. Can you name two specific areas in which you think city spending could be cut?
Mayor Jim continues to call for an expanded and improved Dane County Farmers Market. See: ImproveTheMarket.WordPress.com. Jim advocates a lakeshore path between the Wisconsin Union Terraces and James Madison Park. This path changes the Edgewater Hotel discussion. Mayor Jim applauds the Thiel/Peters horizontal idea! Jim asks, "A Madison Golf Museum inside?" It is Mayor Jim's job to ask: How can we build the MuseumMile brand? Jim still wants Amtrak at Olin Terrace along with the Trek Bicycle Museum of Wisconsin on top of the underground parking ramp George Austin is detailing.
5. Identify one or two areas in which the city could raise new revenue.
Mayor Jim believes we cannot do justice to both a sales tax for a commuter rail project, and an arts and entertainment district of the MuseumMile Magnitude, at the same time. Mayor Jim applauds Dick Wagner and the RTA Board for their work on the 10 Point Transit Plans goals of:
- Express bus service,
- Park-and-ride lots,
- Specialized service for the disabled and elderly.
Perhaps after the community has established the branding/building museum plan, we should go forward with a commuter rail project? Mayor Jim thinks priority should be on meaningful job creation in now time first.
6. Name an initiative or program that you would launch?
Mayor Jim loves the idea of the Wisconsin MuseumMile Camp Dream having the MuseDorms and the dining hall out at the old Garver Feed Mill. It is this lucid dream that sees the symbol of the yellow school bus as focal point for the various plans and answers the question: Why build MuseumMile? Jim also is intrigued by the idea of a Wisconsin Dairy Museum at the old Don Miller lot on East Washington Avenue. To quote Mayor Jim: "If we baby step by asking some fun questions, we might understand that to err is human but to moo bovine."
7. If you were forced to drop out of the race unexpectedly, which of the remaining candidates would you vote for and why?
Mayor Jim does a write-in vote: "Russ Feingold for Mayor."