Members of Madison's Progressive Dane party are looking to a promising future after all of its candidates advanced in the Feb. 15 primary.
Progressive Dane candidates for City Council Brian Benford, Sarah King, Lisa Subeck and Ald. Austin King, District 8, received the votes needed to move on to the April 5 general elections. Benford, Sarah King and Subeck are running in Districts 12, 13 and 1, respectively.
Michael Jacob, Progressive Dane Elections Committee Chair, describes the appeal of the party.
\We're talking about things that people want out of this city, and we're doing it on a personal level through our work and the candidates we're supporting,"" Jacob said.
The leftist party, which took roots in Madison 12 years ago, has grown to a formidable size with party members occupying the positions of mayor, city council president, and nearly half the city council members.
According to a Wisconsin State Journal interview with Matt Rothschild, editor of The Progressive magazine, ""Progressive Dane is one of the most successful grass-roots, left-wing movements in America.""
King said Progressive Dane's success comes from its local focus.
""Our party works for Madison. We're set on improving Madison's neighborhoods, and I think people appreciate that we're working at a local level,"" said King. ""It's great to be involved with a group that is so dedicated to the issues and actually accomplishes things.""
""We have four or five hundred people working hard to make a difference,"" he added.
According to the party's official website, its projects focus on tax justice, public transportation, affordable housing, and social services. Opponents to Progressive Dane criticize representational and economical aspects of these programs.
Chair of College Republicans and UW junior, Nicole Marklein, feels the party does not give voice to the majority of Madison's population.
""I really don't think they represent the views of most people in Madison,"" Marklein said. ""It's a novelty right now, but I think its popularity is going to plateau.""
She also feels Progressive Dane's programs are financially unrealistic.
""A lot of what the party stands for is OK in theory, but when you get down to the nuts and bolts of things, it's impossible to pay for what they're promoting,"" she said.
Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said ""Their program makes Madison an economic island in a larger region.""
Despite criticism, Jacob and other party members remain positive about the future of Progressive Dane.
""We've grown in size and in passion. I think we're going to build support from a broad range of groups,"" Jacob said. ""We'll keep appealing to people's appreciation for having a great place to live and work.\
