Two candidates emerged from six-way mayoral primary Feb. 18 receiving approximately the same number of votes. Dave Cieslewicz came out ahead with 14,326 votes followed by Paul Soglin with 14,144 votes.
Cieslewicz and Soglin have had more than a month to convince Madison citizens which candidate should come out on top in the general election.
With less than a day away from the election, some critics say neither candidate has proved themselves better and both have spent their time trying to \out-progressive"" each other.
Soglin, who has served six terms as mayor of Madison from 1973 to 1979 and from 1989 to 1997, has criticized Cieslewicz for his lack of city government experience. Cieslewicz is the co-founder and co-director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, a statewide organization that works to reduce urban sprawl and strengthen communities, and has served on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
""I think the fact that I haven't been on the city council, that is an advantage in the sense that it gives me a fresh perspective on things. I can come in without any preconceived notions about how things have been done in the past,"" Cieslewicz said.
In the past few weeks, the candidates have turned to negative campaigning.
In early March, Cieslewicz criticized Soglin's current budget plan, saying that it was the same plan that caused residential property taxes to increase by 69 percent in his previous terms as mayor, a clear violation of promises he made in his 1989 campaign.
On March 28, Soglin held a press conference presenting Wisconsin State Journal articles refuting the accusation made by Cieslewicz.
""I pledged to Madison taxpayers that I would hold city tax increases to the rate of inflation,"" Soglin told the State Journal in 1990. ""I'm very proud that this 1991 operating budget beats that pledge by 50 percent.""
Aside from experience and negative campaigning, some voters are still confused as to where the candidates differ on the issues.
Both have plans to revamp Madison Metro and improve conditions for walkers and bikers, to incorporate affordable housing in the city and to recover from shared revenue budget cuts.
Perhaps the best way to decide between the candidates is to have each define their vision for the mayor of Madison.
Cieslewicz said his role as mayor would emphasize the importance of both the people within the city and outside of it in order to, for example, create a county-wide affordable housing system.
""Madison makes up slightly less than half of the county's population. I think increasingly the mayor's job is to be concerned about the health of the region and not just the city,"" Cieslewicz said.
On the other hand, Soglin has put a priority on Madison and its budgetary concerns.
""I think the first and primary concern for the mayor is that the city get through the upcoming budget crisis in decent shape. Without that, the other things on the agenda we won't be able to do. [We won't be able to do] affordable housing. We won't be able to do health systems. We won't be able have a decent transit system,"" Soglin said.
