City Cast Madison invited all qualified Madison Common Council candidates to complete a short questionnaire to help voters learn more about the people running to represent them in city government. All candidates were sent the same questions, and as you'll see, some questions are more policy-oriented and some are a little more fun!
The unedited responses for District 6 candidate Davy Mayer are below.
Read the rest of the questionnaire responses here.
1. What is the single most pressing issue facing Madison?
Availability and cost of housing.
2. What's the most important issue facing your district and how will you go about addressing it?
Availability and cost of housing. I will work to engage developers to help them with the city process while maintaining neighborhood review. We'll also look at the mayor's proposals to increases ADU size, allow small apartment buildings to be built "by right" and demolition changes.
3. What sets you apart from your competitor or, if running uncontested, what would you like voters to know about you?
(I am running unopposed.) I have a long history of neighborhood activism over twenty years with leadership roles in two neighborhood associations (CNI and SASY). I've served on city committees (including the Downtown Coordinating Committee, responsible for the Flock to State Street trial last summer) and as an election official for 15 years.
4. Did you support the $22 million property tax referendum? Why or why not?
I did. I think it's worth it to maintain city services. There is a glimmer of hope that with the end of gerrymandering, a more balanced legislature might entertain fixing the shared revenue formula to being delivering more state tax revenue back to Madison to help alleviate budget strains.
5. What should Madison look for in its next police chief?
Someone with a commitment to reform, to working with our oversight board and independent monitor.
6. What's something the city currently isn't doing, but could do to help ease our housing crisis?
It's not what the city isn't doing but what it could do better. Our development approval process is not onerous but it could be streamlined. Our zoning isn't restrictive but it could be clarified. Developers should be 95% confident that if they follow zoning guidelines, a proposal will be approved.
7. What's something you wish more residents knew about Common Council/city government?
City staff are hardworking civil servants devoted to the community. Alders work long hours for little pay because they do it to serve the public and make their districts and the city a better place.
8. What's one thing you wish you could change about Madison?
I'd move it about 100 miles south in order to soften the winters.
9. What’s your favorite meal in Madison?
Buraka's Friday fish fry!
10. Anything else you'd like to add?
When I listen to City Cast Madison I end up with Carl's outro theme stuck in my head for hours afterwards.
