The Feb. 18 primary will narrow the pickings for the alder of District 8, the most contested seat on City Council. The six candidates readily voice their opinions on a variety of issues, including tenant rights and alcohol policies.
Candidate Austin King, a UW-Madison senior majoring in Spanish, said increasing the minimum wage to $6 will be on the top of his agenda if elected. King, an advocate for making the use of marijuana legal, said his agenda also includes what he calls a sensible drug and alcohol policy which will limit the ban on drink specials. King said he also hopes to expand downtown entertainment.
\We need to liberalize cabaret licenses,"" King said. ""We need to create more clubs where 20-year-olds and 21-year-olds can hang out together and create a vibrant music scene downtown.""
He also said he will work to protect tenant rights and create affordable housing if elected.
Affordable housing is at the top of candidate Michael Hanson's platform.
""The main thing is, are you getting what you paid for? Rent is high for new housing, but rent is also high for old, beat up housing,"" he said. Hanson also said he will push city inspectors to keep an eye on landlords.
Candidate Nathan A. Naze, a UW-Madison junior majoring in political science, said he will also work to help create new affordable housing for students.
""Because so many people live near the university there is a huge demand [for housing],"" Naze said, ""which means we should try to encourage supply by offering tax incentives for builders who promise to the city to build affordable housing.""
Also working toward creating an incentive-based program is candidate Jeff Erlanger, a graduate from Edgewood College with a degree in political science. He also hopes to get more student voices on the agenda at committee meetings. Erlanger said he will ""bring people together to come up with a common goal, which is something that's now lacking.""
Another candidate, Matt Berry, a UW-Madison senior majoring in political science, said he hopes to restructure the nature of City Council committee meetings.
""After watching local politics, I was unimpressed with the efficiency of the council,"" Berry said. ""If it doesn't apply to the council then it shouldn't be discussed during council time.""
Berry also said he will ensure personal freedoms, especially regarding statutes regarding smoking bans and drink specials.
Candidate Frank Harris, a UW-Madison junior who is majoring in political science, said he will protect individuals freedoms by preserving drink specials and cutting down on the proposed parent role of the university. He said he feels the university often interferes with decisions made by the City Council.
The candidates said they look forward to facing off on the issues before the primary next month.
