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 12 candidate Julia Matthews are below.
Read the rest of the questionnaire responses here.
1. What is the single most pressing issue facing Madison?
Housing shortage and affordability!
2. What's the most important issue facing your district and how will you go about addressing it?
The rapid growth from new apartment buildings and making sure there is infrastructure in place so those new residents feel like part of the community. Madison needs so much new housing to keep up with the projected growth for the city, but we also need to make sure other investments are being made to support a healthy community!
3. What sets you apart from your competitor or, if running uncontested, what would you like voters to know about you?
I am committed to doing proactive outreach and engaging with folks from all around the district. Also I am very interested in collaboration and have been getting to know Alder’s in neighboring districts so we can work together to help the whole community thrive.
4. Did you support the $22 million property tax referendum? Why or why not?
Yes, I registered in support and made public comment at common council. I started following budget meetings in February of 2024, and the data and timeline of past city efforts to cut costs made it clear that the referendum was the best path to buy some time for the city to find other revenue sources without having catastrophic cuts in service and city staff.
5. What should Madison look for in its next police chief?
We should look for someone who is data driven and interested in building transparency and continuing the more open and regular sharing of data with the public.
6. What's something the city currently isn't doing, but could do to help ease our housing crisis?
One thing that was brought up in the city’s housing strategy committee, which I served on, is streamlining some of the administrative parts of the development process as well as looking into creating some templates and resources which will empower smaller/nonprofit developers to participate in the Madison housing market.
7. What's something you wish more residents knew about Common Council/city government?
How impactful it can be as just a community member to go to meetings and make public comments or send email feedback.
8. What's one thing you wish you could change about Madison?
I wish there wasn’t as much seaweed and blue-green algae in the lakes.
9. What’s your favorite meal in Madison?
All the delicious baked goods and fresh bread from the many bakeries we have throughout the city.
10. Anything else you'd like to add?
With the incoming population growth of the city, we have to be intentional to avoid making existing disparities worse and put in true work to decrease those disparities and make Madison work for everyone.
