Scott Munson Joins Monona City Council Race - Parvin Out

UPDATE 12/30/2009: Scooped by Sunny: She reports that Randy Parvin has deiced not run for city council. So, right now there are three candidates for three seats. Not good.


Monona native and rocket scientist Scott Munson has decided to jump into the race for the Monona city council. Munson, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom identifies fiscal responsibility, lake quality and access, maintaing our parks, and sustainability as top priorities. 

Incumbents Jeff Wiswell and Dennis Kugle are running for reelection. Randy Parvin had previously also taken out papers. Word now has it that longtime alder Paul Ament has also picked up the necessary papers.

Nomination papers for local offices must be turned into the city clerk by 5 pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. (School board candidates file papers with the school distric clerk.)

Here is Scott Munson's press release:

Scott Munson has announced his candidacy for the Monona City Council. Munson is a young progressive candidate that hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the council.

In announcing his candidacy, Munson said, “This is an exciting time to live in Monona, and I believe that we have exceptional promise as a community. We must maintain and develop those attributes that make us attractive to young families. I am passionate about securing Monona's future by encouraging sustainable living, ensuring quality education, and practicing fiscal responsibility.

"We are on the cusp of a very dramatic demographic change. Young families are looking at Monona in a new light and are increasingly attracted to the city by its high-quality school system, extensive park system, and an increasing number of starter homes that are emerging on the housing market. Once completed, the Monona Drive revitalization effort will also give folks cause to take a second look at the city. This is an important time in Monona's history; if we do not capitalize on these developments now, we could miss an exciting opportunity to rejuvenate the city."

The Munson family's involvement in The Natural Step Monona is part of a commitment to sustainable living practices that he feels will become increasingly important as we look towards the future. “As individuals, we can make a significant impact on our environment and our energy independence. However, when we work together as a community, that impact is multiplied by orders of magnitude.”

As part of this philosophy, he is committed to maintaining our parks and public lake access to ensure that the benefits of living in Monona are preserved. “The water quality of Lake Monona has deteriorated significantly since I was growing up here, and it is regrettable to see how much it impacts the perceived benefit of living on this beautiful lake. We must work with other communities and regulatory bodies in the watershed to ensure that the quality and safety of our lakes are maintained into the future.”

Raised in Monona, Munson is a product of the Monona Grove school system from nursery school through high school. He lives near his parents with his wife Erica and their son Murphy. The Munsons are expecting their second child on election day, April 6, 2010. Said Munson, “I was raised in Monona, graduated from MG, and moved back to the city to raise my kids because I know this is a supportive community that places a high priority on education.”

Munson is a rocket propulsion engineer at Orbital Technologies Corporation and has extensive experience in project management, with project budgets as high as $1.25 million. He has a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Munson was also a sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard with the 147th Aviation Battalion. During his eight years in the National Guard, Sergeant Munson was a squad leader in a combat engineer battalion, a combat lifesaver, and a member of a Quick Response Force on convoy operations in Iraq.