Thanks, Rita

Long-time Monona activist, progressive and community leader Rita Wlodarcyzk passed away over the weekend. The Cap Times ran a very nice story about her on Monday. Kathy Thomas also made some very fine memorial remarks at the beginning of last night's council meeting.

Rita served on the city council from 1977 to 1984 and was a candidate for mayor at least once. She had a local cable TV show back in the 1980' or early '90's where she interviewed local people and displayed her wonderful collection of hats.

Her roots in Monona ran deep. According to the excellent history of Monona, Monona in the Making, she spearheaded the drive to estabslish the first public library in Monona - at Nichols School thus predating even the early library at the Community Center.

As Mark Miller stated in the Cap Times story, Rita was often the first stop for Democrats seeking public office. That was certainly the case when I ran for my first stint on the council in 1989 and I, along with many others over the years, was proud to have her support.

Thanks, Rita, you made Monona a better place to live.