Chris Taylor's Campaign Announcement

Here is the unedited text of Chris Taylor's announcement of her candidacy for the 48th Assembly District.

For Immediate Release Contact: Chris Taylor


April 7, 2011 608-886-2490

CHRIS TAYLOR ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR THE 48TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Progressive Champion and Life-long Advocate Will Fight for Workers, Women and Children

MADISON –Chris Taylor, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Public Policy Director and
life-long advocate for progressive issues, announced that she will run as a Democrat in the special election for the 48th assembly district. The 48th assembly district includes portions of Madison’s east side, Monona, McFarland, the Town of Blooming Grove and the Town of Dunn.

“I’m running for state assembly because the issues I have fought for my entire life are under attack like never before,” said Taylor. “The people of Assembly District 48 deserve a progressive champion like me who has experience in advancing progressive causes that help working people and families in these extremely challenging times. That is what I have done my entire career and what I will continue to do as state representative.”

As the Public Policy Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin for the last eight years,
Chris has been an advocate for women and their families. She has tirelessly and successfully worked to advance landmark legislation to protect women’s health, including the 2007-2008 passage of the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act through the then Republican controlled state assembly. This
law now ensures that rape survivors have access to Emergency Contraception to prevent pregnancy in all hospital emergency rooms.

As a state representative, Chris will:

• Protect all working families by fighting to restore and safeguard worker’s rights and creating living
wage jobs;

• Defend and expand women’s rights to access critical health care, such as breast and cervical cancer screenings and ensure fair treatment in insurance plan coverage;

• Stand up for our children’s future by fighting for good public schools, clean drinking water and safe lakes to swim in.

“As a mom, the daughter of a public school elementary teacher and as a human rights advocate, I will not accept Governor Walker and the Republican leadership’s war on working families, women and
children,” said Taylor. “The people of Assembly District 48 deserve better and I will fight every day to protect our values, make our voices heard and move a progressive agenda forward.”

Prior to joining Planned Parenthood, Chris was in private law practice for six years, advocating on a variety of issues affecting employees, women and children. Chris and her husband, Jim Feldman, a professor in the UW system in environmental studies, are raising their two childchildren on Madison’s east side, where they are long-time residents.

# # #

Monona City Council Report - April 18, 2011

A brief report of the Monona City Council meeting of last evening. The meeting was especially noteworthy because it marked Robb Kahl's last meeting as Mayor of Monona. Around 5:45 PM this afternoon, Robb goes into emeritus status when Bob Miller is sworn in (swearing at to follow) as the city's new Mayor.

The council passed several measures, but tabled and referred to committee the 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Plan as discussed in my preview.

Two of the items approved by the council reflected one of Robb's major initiatives and accomplishments. During his 8 years on the council, the Mayor proposed and the council approved and adhered to policies that tripled the city's cash reserve. As I recall it, in Robb's first budget he proposed and the council adopted a policy to retain cash reserves at 15%-20%. I believe it took two or three years to reach 15% because we started with cash reserves at about 7%.

So what? The council approved the Issuance and Sale of $1,785,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes. The city received (maintained) its AA bond rating, which I believe is the highest in the state for a small city. This kind of rating is just about a 180 degree turnaround from the way the city's finances were seen by outside rating agencies in 2003. The high rating saves us large dollars by lowering the interest rate we pay to attract buyers (who benefit by taking on less risk).

The second most surprising moment of the evening occurred during the clsoing remarks of the members. Council President Jeff Wiswell, Sr. announced that he would put my name in nomination for council president at today's organizational meeting. It appears that we will avoid last year's brief tied votes. I am grateful to Jeff for this statement of public support.

The evening's most surprising moment happened just moments later when alder Dennis Kugle told us that Alderman Wiswell had indicated to him that he would support Kugle for council president. I think he was kidding, but that wasn't entirely apparent at the time. Anyway, Dennis was smiling when he said it.

The council heard a report from Darren Marsh regarding the Dane County Open Space Plan and Yahara Recreational Trail. Good news for us dog owners: among other things, the County plans to establish a new dog park near Lake Farm Park in the Capitol Springs Recreation area.

The new proposed plan: http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/open_space_plan.aspx

The council approved a Compensating Non-Represented Employees for 2011 Wisconsin Retirement System Contributions. The resolution was revised after our previous meeting and was tweaked last night. It will not go into effect until and unless the "Collective Bargaining Kill Bill"is approved.
The council also approved Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1769 Capital Transfer Request for 2011 Winnequah Firemen’s Park Shelter Restroom. Alder Veserat made a valiant last stand, so to speak, and vigorously set forth his opposition but the vote carried 5-1.


Also approved: Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1756 Approval to Purchase Flatbed Truck with Dump Body (Public Works Committee) and Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1773 Amending the Capital Budget for Additional Construction Engineering and Administration Services for 2011 Street and Utility Improvements Project (Public Works Committee).


Closing out the council. Last night was also alder Veserat's last meeting after his electoral defeat this Spring. I did not agree with Mike on many of his more controversial positions, but I enjoyed working with him in committee and (usually) at the council. Lest you think this mere political eyewash, I'm putting my head where my mouth is. Mike's bike shop will be prepping my bike for the season and I'm pretty sure he won't fiddle the brakes (Joke alert). 

Finally, I made my last chicken joke last night by suggesting Robb could now get cracking on that spiffy chicken coop he secretly wanted, but couldn't openly support (Ditto on the joke alert). Alder Munson offered to lend Robb some blueprints.

If you see Robb today, bow down. It's his day. Really. The Governor has declared today Robb B. Kahl Day in the state of Wisconsin. And really, when you see him around, say "Thanks."

Monona City Council Preview - Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19

Here's what's on tap for the last meeting of Mayor Robb Kahl's iron-fisted rule of the city of Monona (Joke Alert, look left):

Appearances.



1. Darren Marsh Regarding Dane County Open Space Plan and Yahara Recreational Trail. The new proposed plan: http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/open_space_plan.aspx
The old worn out plan: http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/planning.aspx#open_space_plans

E. Public Hearing.

1. To Receive Input Regarding the Proposed 2012-2016 Capital Improvements Program.

F. Consent Agenda.

1. Consideration of 2011 Temporary Class “B” Fermented Malt Beverage and “Class B” Wine Retailer’s License Application for Monona Festival, Inc., President James M. Bisbee, 6304 Roselawn Avenue, Monona, Wisconsin 53716, for the Period of July 2–4, 2011.

2. Consideration of 2011 Temporary Class “B” Fermented Malt Beverage Retailer’s License Application for Monona Grove Business Men’s Association, President Craig Hayes, 2140 Colladay Point Drive, Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589, for the Period of October 8, 2011.

G. Council Action Items.

1. Unfinished Business (Approval Requested Unless Otherwise Noted).

a. Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1771 Approval of 2012-2016 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) (Mayor Kahl). It is likely that the updated capital plan will be tabled or referred back to the appropriate committees. With a new mayor and new council member being sworn in on Tuesday, it seems like we should wait. The capital projects proposed for 2012 and 2013 projects are the critical years because the city usually borrows every two years. However, we will not borrow the funds until probably January 2012, so there isn't any urgency at this time.
b. Consideration of Resolution 11-03-1764 Compensating Non-Represented Employees for 2011 Wisconsin Retirement System Contributions (Tabled 4/4/11)(Mayor Kahl). Likely to be tabled pending resolution of the lawsuit challenging the "Collective Bargaining Kill Bill". It might be voted on in such a way that if the law is upheld against the pending court challenges, then this plan is ready to implement.

c. Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1769 Capital Transfer Request for 2011 Winnequah Firemen’s Park Shelter Restroom (Park and Recreation Director).

2. New Business.

a. Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1756 Approval to Purchase Flatbed Truck with Dump Body (Public Works Committee).

b. Consideration of Resolution 11-04-1773 Amending the Capital Budget for Additional Construction Engineering and Administration Services for 2011 Street and Utility Improvements Project (Public Works Committee).

***

On Tuesday, April 19, besides being Robb B. Kahl Day in the state of Wisconsin, the city council will hold its annual organizational meeting to complete the formalities of the election and swear in the new mayor, Bob Miller, and the three council members who were just elected. The council will elect a new Dear Leader (aka, Council President) and vote on the Mayor's committee assignment for the alders.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM at City Hall (Large Conference Room).

The date is also Waco Day and Oklahoma City Bombing Day and Tom Running's birthday.

New Math

Ever notice the low percentages in reports of Monona aldermanic election results? The winners are reported as getting 25% of the vote or so. This year,the Dane County Clerk's website  shows a range from about 21% to 29%.

Every April, I can pretty much count on being asked by a co-worker, "Why does Monona elect alders with only 25% of the vote? How does that happen? Don't youse people vote or what?"

Those low percentages are arrived at dividing each candidate's vote total by the total votes received by all of the aldermanic candidates. This year, for example, Jim Busse received 2056 votes. The four candidates received a total of 8138 votes. So the standard calculation shows that Jim Busse received just 25.26% of the votes. Gee, this is discouraging. Jim sure seems more popular than that!

Get that dobber up, Jim! The percentages are so low because each voter gets to cast up to three votes. But what we really want to know is what percent of the voters cast a ballot for a particular candidate. (Al right, maybe by today - Friday - nobody is all interested in this question any more, but let's pretend, OK?)

Each voter gets only one ballot, so a much better way to calculate the percent is to divide a candidate's votes by the total number of ballots rather than votes cast in Monona.

There were 3940 ballots cast in Monona. A few voters didn't vote for either of the Supreme court candidates (Kloppenprosser received 3890 votes).

To refine it a bit further, I'll use the number of votes cast in the mayoral race - 3754. It's hard to imagine many voters cast their ballot in the myoral race without voting for at least one of the alders. Divide Jim's 2056 vote total by 3754 and - voila - we now know that Jim got a vote from 54.77% of "Monona-interested" voters.

Calculated in this manner, the percentage for each alder candidate:

Doug Wood 62.63%
Jim Busse 54.77%
Chad Speight 53.44%
Mike Veserat 45.95%


It's not perfect by any means, but it gives us a better feel for the results.

I suggested this method to Adam Mella and he says he may include it in a election recap story. But his big news is Adams's pending departure from the Herald Independent after five years of service. In my opinion, he has been the best editor since I started reading in 1985-ish. He really raised the level of reporting and commentary. He will be missed.

Mad Dog on the Loose

A certain State Rep named Steve N**s has launched an attack on an attorney at the state DOJ because the attorney sent an email to one of the Wisconsin 14. From his own computer. From his own home. On his own time.

I won't spell out the state rep's full name (see, Google News Alerts), but it rhymes with crass, lass, and large-mouth bass, but not Baba Ram Dass.

Pure and simple, this is an attempt to chill the freedom of expression.

The attorney's employer rejected the Assemblyperson's call for the attorney's resignation and an even wilder assertion that this attorney's views could undermine the DOJ's defense of the anti-collective bargaining law (even though this attorney isn't working on that case). Chalk one up for JB Van Hollen (ooh, that left a funny taste in  my mouth).

What horrible things did the attorney say? According to this account, he "warned the Democrats that they could be arrested, even hiding out in Illinois, and suggested they seek legal advice."

So, suggesting that the Senate Democrats should seek legal advice might undermine the DOJ's defense of anti-union law???

Pony Up - Update: Or Maybe Not

UPDATE: Pending the discovery of more ballots, it appears that the margin is still less than one-half of one percent and thus the taxpayers would (properly, in my opinion) pay the cost of the recount.

And we are lucky that we have Kevin Kennedy as our state elections chief. As noted in this article, Kennedy wants to ensure both an accurate count and transparency to ensure voter confidence in the credibility of the results.

It would also appear that we can put away the conspiracy theories on this error (I refuse to call it a 'flub' as the MJS did in its top of the fold, front page headline this morning. A flub is booting an easy ground ball in an over 40 softball league.) Adding these ballots brings the Waukesha totals more in line with overall voter turnout in the area, whereas it had been low before.) Keep those theories handy, however, because we ain't done counting - or not counting - yet.

Now if Eileen Bruskewitz gains 69,130 votes and beats Joe Parisi by one vote, then get out the pitchforks, warm up the tar and gather the feathers.



[END OF UPDATE]

The mess in Waukesha County has put Prosser almost exactly far enough in the lead that the Kloppenburg will have to pay for a recount. They are now accepting donations. Go here.

From a madison.com story by JESSICA VANEGEREN AND STEVEN ELBOW:

The Brookfield votes give Prosser a roughly 7,500 vote lead, though certification of votes by county officials around the state will continue Friday and likely through next week.


That lead, if it holds, could be a significant number. While Wisconsin does not have a law that automatically triggers a recount in slim victories, candidates do not have to pay for the recount themselves if the margin of victory is less than one half of 1 percent of the total votes cast. In the Supreme Court race, where 1.5 million votes were cast, less than 7,500 votes would have to separate the two candidates for the state to pick up the tab for the recount. Otherwise, there is a $5 per ward fee.

At least it's good to know that high-powered lawyers from DC will cash in on our $#@%&*@#-up election. Think of the money they will spend at our local restaurants!! This is all part of the Governor's savvy plan to add 250,000 restaurant workers to Wisconsin's work force.

Ballots, Ballots, Where Are the Ballots? Or " I Was Lost But Now Am Found"

With the Kloppenprosser race bouncing back and forth by the hour and - eh, hmm - missing votes being found here and there and everywhere, I found myself where do missing ballots go before they are found?

Down the rabbit hole?

The memory hole?

Where would you go if you were a lost ballot? Waukesha County, perhaps.

"Waukesha — Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus' decision to go it alone in how she collects and maintains election results has some county officials raising a red flag about the integrity of the system."


Guess what? That story was published on August 10, 2010.
But, hey, at least they know where Wisconsin is now....

http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=9b5b2d5e2b3cdf6ac9db08568976f960

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wisconsin-election-20110408,0,5633870.story

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/04/07/135224999/wisconsin-supreme-ct-shocker-error-fix-gives-gop-judge-big-lead

***

Where else might Nickolaus have misplaced votes? Some possibilities:
This pamphlet has some excellent ideas for building your own secret hiding places. These folks have some nifty ideas too. Stuff your ballots in a PVC tube and bury them in the garden, wait for spring, harvest the ballots at the appropriate moment.

And way back when - after Luther nailed his ideas up - there was a need for "Priest Holes" to, yep, hide priests.

These folks suggest hiding stuff in a Tampon box. Nah, you really couldn't hide that many ballots in a tampon box.

By now, bad faith is presumed all around. Let's hope it's just incompetence. But maybe they took a page out of LBJ's 1948 Brazos election. First, you wait until the votes are counted so you can figure out how many votes short you are and then you 'discover' a box full of just enough ballots to win! This plan was so obvious that even the New York Times figured it out - in 1990.

Are election officials more honest in 2011 than 1948? I really do hope so.

But this count/recount/de-count is getting off to a Florida-like start rather than a Minnesota-like start.

Anybody want to bet that this Brookfield thing is the last episode? Not me. Out of the 1850 towns, villages, and cities in Wisconsin that handle the election duties, there are going to be at least a few more oopsies.

***

For the young'uns, LBJ was Lyndon Baines Johnson, President of the United States of America, who could've been one of the greatest Presidents of all time except for a place and a war called Vietnam. (Sort of like Clinton, except Bill's problem was a little - well, we know what his problem was and it wasn't as deadly as LBJ's.)

***

(I'd swear "I'se lost before I'se found" was a lyric on on the great Circle album, but can't track it down. Oh, duh, try Amazing Grace "I once was lost but now am found").

97% and counting

And finally it's a lamb slide with a 204 vote margarine!!

RESULTS as of Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 07:35 am CDT


Wow, a 585 vote margin.

Election Home

Supreme Court REPORTING 99%

David Prosser (inc) 733,074
50%

Joanne Kloppenburg 732,489
50%







RESULTS as of Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 12:36 am CDT


And say good night Gracie.Election Home


Supreme Court REPORTING 97%


David Prosser (inc) 726,750


50%


Joanne Kloppenburg 724,651


50%



RESULTS as of Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 12:17 am CDT


Election Home

Supreme Court REPORTING 97%

David Prosser (inc) 724,859

50%

Joanne Kloppenburg 723,175

50%


RESULTS as of Wednesday, Apr 06, 2011 at 12:08 am CDT



Election Home


Supreme Court REPORTING 97%


David Prosser (inc) 724,355

50%
Joanne Kloppenburg 722,518
50%

Lead is back up to 4000.


Milwaukee JS RESULTS as of Tuesday, Apr 05, 2011 at 11:58 pm CDT
Election Home
Supreme Court REPORTING 97%

David Prosser (inc) 720,760
50%
Joanne Kloppenburg 716,089
50%


Prosser's lead is shrinking; down to less than 1200 votes.


Supreme Court REPORTING 97%


David Prosser (inc) 704,507
50%


Joanne Kloppenburg 703,324
50%

Update: I may have called the Supreme Court race prematurely; in the move from 94% to 97% of the votes Kloppenburg shaved over 4000 votes off of a 6,000 vote lead:


Milwaukee JS RESULTS as of Tuesday, Apr 05, 2011 at 11:44 pm CDT
Election Home
Supreme Court REPORTING 97%
David Prosser (inc) 703,675
50%
Joanne Kloppenburg 701,760
50%

Apparently the MJS has two three four five six 97%'s:

Monona Election Results

Some local results. Winners in italics.


Mayor of Monona
Bob Miller 2393 
Jeff Wiswell, Sr. 1361.


Monona Alder (top 3 win)
Doug Wood 2351
Jim Busse 2056 
Chad Speight 2006 
Mike Veserat 1725.


Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all the candidates.


You can see more results on Adam Mella's liveblog on the Herald.


The turnout was phenomenal in Monona.


More numbers from Monona-only:


Supreme Court Justice
Kloppenburg 2916
Prosser 974


Dane County Executive
Parisi 2843
Bruskewitz 906


Some other area leaders were shown the door by the voters, including Fitchburg Mayor Jay Allen and CG Village President Mike Mikalsen. And some old guy named Soglin knocked off Mayor Dave (and we never even learned to spell his name).

UPDATE:

Looks like Prosser is going to squeak by; extremely close by trending slightly in his favor with very few votes left to count. The Milwaukee JS reports:

Supreme Court REPORTING 94%



David Prosser (inc) 698,973


50%


Joanne Kloppenburg 692,463


50%

Monona Turnout High

At 4:30-ish, turnout in Monona had passed 45%. In the 2009 Spring general leection, turnout was 40% when the polls closed. Possibly headed for a record Spring turnout. The city clerk Joan Andrusz wisely ordered many extra ballots and is still in good shape.

Political Lit - Fair?

The Rag has a discussion going about Chad Speight's lit piece and his criticism of alder Mike Veserat - fair or fowl? I don't get over to the Rag very often (mostly just due to time constraints), but here's my response to that discussion (I also, posted it there, but this post is vastly improved.).

For what’s it’s worth – probably not much at the 11th hour (literally) – alder Veserat proposed to cut a half position out of the Mayor’s proposed budget, which had increased the staffing by a half-position. So Mike’s proposed amendment was in a sense status quo, but budgets are all about setting priorities and the proposed amendment showed where Mike's priorities were. Jake Anderson had increased the Rec Programming revenue. He withdrew the amendment without even offering it only after a pretty significant amount of public opposition (very rare in budget hearings). It was clearly not going to pass and might not have even gotten a second. Chad’s criticism is fair, in my eyes.


Chad's point about the Transit Committee not meeting is accurate; whether you think it was a big deal or not, again I think it showed priorities. Chad thinks transit is more important than Mike does. If you agree with Chad, then that’s a reason to vote for him.

Kloppenburg Responds to the B.S. and the Baloney

I got the email below from the Kloppenburg campaign. It responds to some of the stupider charges being made against her. (If you beleive the attacks, lawyers can put people in jail! Crap, I never knew that and I've let all that power go to waste for the last 29 years.)

[Kloppenburg campaign email begins]

Dear Friends,


Third party groups are pouring money into very misleading, negative ads against JoAnne.

They can’t win this campaign on the facts so they resort to disrespectful and deceitful ad campaigns.

Let’s set the record straight on a couple of their most outrageous allegations:

Fiction: JoAnne put an 80-year-old farmer in jail for not planting native grasses on a field.

Fact: A farmer named Wayne Hensler in Jefferson County was ordered by the State of Wisconsin to take action to stop pollution from run-off from his farm going into Rock Lake. Mr. Hensler refused to do the work but finally agreed to pay to have others do the remediation work. Then he refused to pay the money he’d agreed to pay. Jefferson County Judge Randy Koschnick (who you may remember ran against Shirley Abrahamson) ordered Mr. Hensler to pay what he owed. He would not. Finally, another Judge in Jefferson County, John Ullsvik, found Hensler in contempt and put him in jail for a few days. Two facts are pertinent here: no attorney can put anyone in jail. Only a Judge can do that. Secondly, the farmer was jailed for contempt of court for refusing to pay money he had been repeatedly ordered to pay, not for “refusing to plant a field.”



Big money being used to try to mislead you: Our research shows that the “Citizens for a Stronger America” is spending about $526,000 on this TV ad.



Fiction: JoAnne is unqualified for the Court because she has never been a judge and because in the past she has applied for open judgeships for which others were chosen.



Fact: JoAnne is a graduate of Yale, Princeton and the UW Law School. She has been a prosecutor for 21 years. Her legal experience is broad and deep and she has tried numerous cases in Wisconsin Circuit Courts, the Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. JoAnne has earned the endorsement of sitting Judges who know best what what it takes to do the job.



It is not unusual for attorneys who aren’t judges to be elected or appointed as a judge and many legal experts say it is healthy that judges come from a variety of backgrounds. David Prosser was not a judge when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. Nor was Shirley Abrahamson. One of the Supreme Court Justices David Prosser says he admires most, Justice Rehnquist was not a judge before being appointed to the United States Supreme Court.



It is also not unusual for attorneys to apply for open judgeships and JoAnne has applied for open seats. Those openings usually attract long lists of very qualified applicants and only one can be chosen. Some of those applicants end up not being selected for the judgeship and running for office. For example, Brian Blanchard applied to be an appeals court judge. He was not selected. He then ran for the Court and was elected handily.



Big money being used to try to mislead you: Our research shows that "Americans for Prosperity" and the Tea Party are spending about $45,000 on radio and TV ads with this fiction in it. It is also in the Citizens for a Stronger America ad.

We're counting on your help to get the facts out. With only five days before the election, quickly setting the record straight is crucial -- because spreading untrue statements about JoAnne is all that our opponents have left.

Sincerely,



Melissa Mulliken

Campaign Manager

[Kloppenburg campaign email ends]

Monona Mayoral Campiagn Lit

Here's some lit from Jeff Wiswell and Bob Miller.

Campaign Lit - Updated

Samples from the campaign trail in Monona. I have added a piece from Jim Busse.

It was a lovely Spring day in Wisconsin for campaigning today. Thirty degrees, some snow flurries, a little bit sunny, and some wind.

Here's aquestion: When people have a "No Soliciting" sign, is it still OK to just leave a piece of campaign lit without knocking? Or do you think they mean none whatsoever of any kind? There a couple houses with "No Tresspassing" signs posted (which removes any ambiguity, but does it make for good neighbors?).

My yard signs are proving that I am the most frugal and environmentally sensitive candidate. They are rapidly decomposing in place. I have been doing sign repairs and even dug out a couple of vintage signs from my 1989 campaign (I was on the council from 1989-1993 before running again in 2003.). Next is sign triage.

Monona Forums on MononaTv

The mayoral and aldermanic candidate forums are on the city's website at the links below.

Mayoral Candidates Forum 3/16/11

Council Candidates Forum 3/13/11

Monona City Council Forum - Sunday, March 13, 2011

City Council Candidates Forum


Date: Sun - 03/13/2011


Time: 2:00 PM


Location: Monona Public Libary, 1000 Nichols Rd., Community Media Room

Monona Community Cable will sponsor this forum for the Monona City Council candidates from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Monona Public Library. The forum is open to all members of the public. Questions can be submitted at the forum, and they can also be phoned in (a number to call will be shown on screen). Candidates Chad Speight, James Busse, Doug Wood, and Mike Veserat are competing for three Council seats.

Mayoral forum: MCC will also sponsor a forum for the Monona mayoral candidates, Jeffrey Wiswell, Sr. and Bob Miller, on Wednesday, March 16, at 7:00 pm at the Monona Public Library. This forum is also open the public, and questions can be submitted as with the City Council forum above.

Both forums will be moderated by the League of Women Voters, and copies of the forums will be available online or at the library a few days later.

Monona Community Cable can be viewed on channel 990 (digital) or 98 (analog).