Madison Mayor Targets Green Alder Brenda Konkel
Madison’s so called “progressive” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has had his issues with popular Common Councilor Brenda Konkel, and this year he sought to recruit a candidate to run against her. Brenda Konkel is involved with both the Green Party and the local party Progressive Dane. Konkel, who has run unopposed for the last two terms, faces four challengers and a February 17 primary. From the Wisconsin State Journal:
“I’ve been somewhat disappointed with Brenda and her approach to issues,” Cieslewicz said. “I’m just looking for some different leadership there.”
The mayor, Konkel said, got active in her district because she stands up on issues and demands transparency when the system is designed to cut deals behind the scenes.
“He felt because I bring things up at the council, I blindside him,” said Konkel, a leader in the leftist political party Progressive Dane who has focused on housing and social justice issues. “He’s a nice guy but he’s cutthroat when it comes to politics. I guess I’m in his way.”
But Cieslewicz might have been able to stay away.The mayor said he didn’t recruit any of the candidates who emerged to face Konkel — Dennis Denure, Sherman Hackbarth, Bridget Maniaci, a former Cieslewicz intern, and Adam Walsh.
“There are four challengers,” the mayor said. “It indicates the level of dissatisfaction in her district with her leadership.”
Cieslewicz, who faces re-election in 2011, said he might endorse one of the four or candidates in other races.
City Council President Tim Bruer, who said he advised the Cieslewicz administration against becoming involved in races, said the mayor’s actions are the exception but not without precedent.
Konkel welcomed the challenge.
“It’s good for democracy,” she said. “We should have four people running in every race throughout the city.”
Brenda Konkel is considered the favorite to win this race.
If someone else unseats Konkel, will vagrants still be able to legally piss in the parks in front of children?
Mayor Dave had some kind words to say about Stu Seffern:
Madison Mayor Cieslewicz: Statement re: Stuart Seffern
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=144640
Stu, Brenda, and I once helped throw a fundraising party for Kevin Kesterson and Patrick DePula:
Fund-raiser For Kesterson And Depula’s Legal Fees Is Questioned
http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2005/03/09/0503090010.php
Smoke – dumb question.
Rolf – thanks for the links!
Thanks for news about a very important, Green Party elected official. Brenda Konkel is great.
We caught her on videotape at the Presidential Convention, when she introduced speaker Malik Rahim. She is near the beginning of the video here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7226475852159421918
A note about why the Mayor may be running someone against her: It might be partially just logistics and desperation. If he has four challengers, he probably needs someone else to bring in some money and voters. So, maybe he needed someone on his ticket (or someone to stand next to him so he looks electable.)
Hope Brenda can hang in there. Her blog is amazing. Just in the information she posts there, you can see how she involves the community in decision making.
Wonder if Brenda will ever run for Mayor herself. That may be the next step.
I live in her district. If you ever need to ask anything from Brenda you will quickly understand why she needs to go. She is full of promises with no action.
Like what? Did you need something from her and she failed to help you? What did you want from her? A liquor license? Give us some concrete examples please.