Madison residents want safe neighborhoods, effective public safety, and a government that treats everyone fairly. I also recognize that our community has different perspectives about policing. Some residents want stronger accountability and greater oversight of law enforcement, while others are concerned about crime and believe police need greater resources to protect families and neighborhoods. 

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As mayor, I will work to build a Madison where residents don't have to choose between public safety and social justice — because we deserve both.

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As an alder, I advocated for body-worn cameras for Madison police officers for many years. I believe transparency protects residents and police officers alike. As mayor, I will make implementing and maintaining a strong body-worn camera program a priority.

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I will also work with the Common Council to ensure that independent police oversight is properly funded and has the independence and resources necessary to do its job.

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Invest in Prevention, Not Just Response

Public safety cannot be measured only by how many calls police respond to. We should also measure how many young people we help before they ever enter the criminal justice system.

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As mayor, I will strengthen Madison's Community Intervention Program and improve coordination through the Mayor's Office, while maintaining strong partnerships with community organizations and service providers.

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I want to create a system where police, community organizations and service providers can work from the same information and identify problems earlier, together. 

 

With appropriate privacy protections and clear rules for sharing information, the City should regularly use data to identify:

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• Young people at risk of repeated contact with law enforcement

• Patterns of repeat interactions with police

• Gaps in youth services and intervention

• Neighborhoods where additional prevention resources are needed

• Opportunities to connect young people and families with services before a crisis occurs

 

The goal is not to create a bigger system of surveillance. 

 

The goal is to reduce the number of times a young person needs to interact with the police in the first place.

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When a young person repeatedly comes into contact with law enforcement, we should ask: 

 

"What can we do differently to prevent the next interaction?" 

 

That may mean connecting a young person with a mentor, employment opportunity, mental-health services, substance-use support, education, recreation or another trusted community resource.

 

My Approach to Public Safety

Community intervention when intervention can prevent a crisis, services when services are what a person needs, and police when police are needed.

 

We must support public safety while demanding transparency from the (Police) Department, and accountability from Police officers and staff.

 

We must invest in violence prevention while making sure residents are protected. 

 

And we must give our young people opportunities before the criminal justice system becomes their pathway.

 

My Commitment

Safe neighborhoods. Accountable policing. Stronger prevention. Equal treatment under the law.

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Environmental Justice: Standing With Our Communities

Madison's environmental policy must begin with a simple principle: every neighborhood deserves clean air, clean water, and a meaningful voice in decisions that affect its health and quality of life.

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As an alder, I stood with residents who raised concerns about the deployment of F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field and the impact of increased military aircraft activity on our North and East Side neighborhoods. As mayor, I will continue standing with our community and work to introduce a Common Council resolution opposing the deployment or expansion of F-35 operations at Truax Field.

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But environmental justice is about more than aircraft.

 

Madison has also faced serious environmental challenges, including PFAS contamination concerns and the legacy of contamination around the Oscar Mayer site and other parts of our community. Residents should not have to navigate these challenges alone. 

 

As mayor, I will work with affected residents, neighborhood organizations, environmental experts, state and federal agencies, and responsible parties to make sure contamination is identified, communicated transparently, and addressed. We need to make sure residents have access to accurate information, and that cleanup and remediation efforts protect public health.

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Environmental justice also means addressing the everyday issues that affect our quality of life from clean water and air to noise pollution, climate resilience, transportation and healthy neighborhoods. 

 

No Madison neighborhood should bear a disproportionate share of environmental burdens simply because its residents have less political power.