Leading Madison Fiscal Conservative Endorses Cieslewicz for Mayor

Madison – Ald. Zach Brandon, the Madison Common Council’s leading fiscal conservative, today endorsed Mayor Dave Cieslewicz for re-election.


 


“Mayor Cieslewicz has a solid record of meeting the needs of a growing community, while also showing fiscal restraint,” said Brandon. “He has a track record of crafting responsible budgets that invest in public safety and basic services. The Mayor also has a strong vision for economic development, and is committed to building our economy and creating jobs.”


 


The Mayor’s challenger, Ray Allen, has proposed at least $16 million in new spending without detailing what he would cut or which taxes he would increase to pay for it. If all Allen’s new spending were put on the property tax levy, taxes on the average home would go up $200, before he would add a single new police officer. 


 


“I am grateful for the support of Zach Brandon, the most passionate voice for taxpayers and economic development on the City Council,” said Mayor Cieslewicz. “Over the past four years, we have worked together to make real progress on these issues, and I look forward to continuing our partnership.”


 


Some of the major issues Mayor Cieslewicz and Ald. Brandon have worked together to advance include:


 


·               Pension Refinancing: Cieslewicz and Brandon crafted a proposal to invest $5 million from Madison’s fund balance to refinance the city’s pension debt, saving taxpayers thousands of dollars a year in lower interest costs.


·               Tomotherapy: Cieslewicz and Brandon, working with business leaders, the Economic Development Commission and others, helped this high-tech leader expand in Madison with a loan from the city’s Capital Revolving Fund, creating good-paying jobs and growing Madison’s tax base. Ray Allen opposes the loan, and has not said what he would have done to keep Tomotherapy in Madison.


·               Reducing Debt: Cieslewicz has strongly supported Brandon’s initiative to move short-term spending from the city’s capital budget to the operating budget, so taxpayers don’t have to pay interest on that spending.


·               Best Value Contracting: Cieslewicz and Brandon co-authored Best Value Contracting, which requires contractors who do business with the city to provide apprenticeship programs and training, giving more Madisonians opportunities to obtain family-supported skilled labor jobs.


 


Ald. Brandon joins a diverse group of community leaders from across the political spectrum who are supporting Mayor Cieslewicz for re-election on April 3. For a complete list, visit www.daveformadison.com.