Madison District 5 Ald. Regina Vidaver announced on Tuesday she is running for county executive in a special election to replace current Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, who will step down from the position in May 2024.
The county will hold a special election after Parisi announced his departure earlier this month. Parisi’s replacement will serve as county executive through the end of the term in April 2025.
Vidaver’s current district, which she has represented since 2021, encompasses neighborhoods directly west of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus on Madison’s near west side. She also oversees statewide cancer prevention and chronic disease programs at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Vidaver said in a press release she will prioritize expanding affordable housing access and behavioral health care in the county. She also announced intentions to continue Parisi’s climate change and sustainability initiatives.
“Throughout my career, I've seen the positive impact that local policies can have when they are rooted in community insights and a genuine desire to uplift everyone,” Vidaver said. “Taking on this challenge is a continuation of my life’s work to make Dane County a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
To promote the construction of more housing in the county, Vidaver told The Daily Cardinal in an email she will create a countywide affordable housing plan and explore potential land banking programs.
“Some municipalities have done the work to build more housing, but the county needs to take a leadership role in helping communities identify opportunities for funding more affordable housing units and exploring more land banking," Vidaver said.
Vidaver also expressed support for Parisi’s proposed countywide expansion of Madison’s Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) program, which dispatches mental health professionals to behavioral health emergencies as an alternative to law enforcement. She said she intends to “create and implement regional solutions to behavioral health" to further expand access to behavioral health resources.
"I commend County Executive Parisi for prioritizing the expansion of Madison's CARES program in his budget, and I'm hopeful the County Board [of Supervisors] will approve the expansion as well. Unfortunately, those services will only be able to reach a 20-mile radius outside of Madison,” Vidaver said. "The county needs to be a convener for municipalities, community organizations and educational institutions to find regional solutions to behavioral health care, especially in Dane County's more rural areas."
As an alder, Vidaver supported the construction of large-scale, multi-family housing developments, city energy-saving programs in commercial buildings and a pilot program for body cameras on Madison Police Department officers.
The county has not yet announced the date for the 2024 special election. The date will depend on the specific date Parisi retires, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell previously told The Daily Cardinal, because the Dane County Clerk cannot schedule a special election until Parisi steps down.
Vidaver told The Daily Cardinal she will seek a full term in 2025 if elected.
This article was updated at 5:18 p.m.
Francesca Pica is the editor-in-chief for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as the city news editor. She has covered multiple municipal elections, state politics and is a leading reporter on Madison labor issues. She served as an intern for The Capital Times, currently serves as a WisPolitics intern and will also intern with the Wisconsin State Journal this summer.
