Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and mayoral candidate Paul Soglin participated in a lighthearted debate Monday night at the Bolz Auditorium on South Brooks Street.
Community members filled the theater to question Cieslewicz and Soglin on current city problems, budget concerns and policy approaches.
""The neighborhoods are the building blocks of our community,"" Soglin said. ""What it's about is the city, county and school district working together with the state in critical areas like education and job training.""
Both candidates emphasized the importance of education, calling for greater awareness of citywide poverty. Soglin focused his opening remarks on those issues.
""The number of children below the poverty line is rising. We know we have a very difficult challenge,"" Soglin said. ""There is nothing as important as what the school district does.""
The incumbent Cieslewicz said he was confident in his accomplishments as mayor and felt he would be well prepared to handle the city's future.
""Why should you keep me in this job? Experience and optimism,"" Cieslewicz said. ""I possess a great optimism for the future of Madison. This community is strong and we will prevail.""
Cieslewicz said he is concerned about what cuts to transit funding in Gov. Scott Walker's budget will mean for the city, and said Madison must work together to solve the problem. Soglin agreed with that sentiment.
Cieslewicz also said campus drinking and student-generated disturbances will require action to maintain order in the city, and that Madison's Alcohol License Density Ordinance has taken steps towards that goal.
""We have ALDO [and] are working to put a cap on this problem,"" Cieslewicz said. ""It's a tremendously difficult problem.""
Soglin agreed on the importance of the issue for the mayor's office.
""The major problem is with private parties and the private consumption of alcohol,"" Soglin said. ""I would like to focus on shutting down the over-the-top parties with underage drinkers.""
The candidates will participate in another debate Wednesday at the Dane Dems Mayoral Forum at the Concourse Hotel.
