Madison Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, announced Wednesday his campaign for reelection to Common Council, setting up a contested election between he and Christian Hansen.
The district encompasses a majority of campus and the incumbent alder said he is excited to potentially serve his constituents for a second term.
“I absolutely have a great time talking about local issues which students sometimes are facing, very serious issues, for the first time,” Resnick said. “I saw no reason to leave the district, I’m just enjoying the job so I realized it was worth it to put my name back in for round two.”
Resnick said a second term would allow him to build on the improvements he was able to make throughout his two-year tenure such as campus safety.
“I’m really proud of my record on campus safety, I was able to champion in a lot of the new lighting projects that have gone in around the campus at a time when I didn’t hear support from the city,” Resnick said. “Coming into next year, we’re going to have similar conversations, and I feel like I’m the best applicant for those issues.”
Resnick said his platform relies on his three goals for the future: increasing campus safety, improving housing practices and empowering students by encouraging them to serve in city leadership positions.
“One of the biggest differences from when I entered Council to right now is we had almost no students serving on any city committees,” Resnick said. “We’re getting close to having a dozen students on city committees including two that are in leadership roles.”
Resnick’s challenger, Hansen, will be running for a position on city council for the first time and currently serves as a member on the Madison Community Cooperative Board.
Hansen chose to run because he has been involved in organizing events around Madison and is committed to fulfilling his community’s goals, according to a press release.
“I will continue to dedicate myself to promoting and facilitating the goals of others, both in my district and beyond," Hansen said in the statement.
Hansen has participated in the local political landscape previously with Wisconsin Wave and the Solidarity Movement, and would like to advocate for student issues.
"If elected to the council I will make social justice, workers rights and student needs a lasting part of every decision I make,” Hansen said. “As I personally attend community and student meetings I will ask, 'What can Madison do for you?'”
The general election will take place April 2.
