Monona City Council Campaign That Wasn't

Note: I am re-posting this post and will continue to do so periodically until the election.

What promised to be an interesting and highly competitive race among five candidates for three seats became decidedly less interesting and less competitive in recent weeks with the withdrawal of alders Dennis Kugle and Jeff Wiswell from the race. Dennis announced his decision at the end of the council meeting on February 6, while alder Wiswell released a statement to the Herald Independent shortly thereafter. Their decisions left former alder Kathy Thomas, long-time Library Board President Mary O'Connor, and newcomer Brian Holmquist in the race.

However, and it is a significant 'however', both Kugle and Wiswell will still be on the ballot. When then-alder Bob Miller withdrew form the 2009 aldermanic contest, he made repeated emphatic announcements to that effect and still received almost 600 votes. It's not hard to imagine Kugle or Wiswell garnering at least that many votes despite withdrawing from the race.

The race is over before it started - probably.