THE ISSUES WE STAND FOR
Most Americans will encounter the effects of local government malfeasance, neglect, or incompetence at some point, whether through a city council, school board, or county government.
Madison, the local school districts, and Dane County are at a pivotal moment. Public trust in local elected officials is eroding as taxpayer dollars are spent with limited transparency and disclosure. When residents begin to ask questions, officials often respond, but by then key decisions and contracts may already be finalized behind closed doors.
Without clear financial transparency and proper public notice, insiders are able to shape outcomes before the public is even aware. Government contracts with corporations and nonprofits are too often negotiated privately, creating opportunities for influence and favoritism that undermine public confidence.
Ethical laws exist to prevent conflicts of interest and stop special interests from influencing elected officials. In Madison and Dane County, those safeguards have weakened and are too frequently ignored. Each year, millions of dollars in public contracts are awarded to nonprofits, developers, and vendors who also support the re-election campaigns of the very officials approving those deals.
Outside political action committees and dark-money groups funnel large sums into local races, reinforcing a culture of pay-to-play politics that damages trust and accountability.
Smart Growth Madison stands for government integrity, financial transparency, and real consequences for unethical or illegal conduct. That is why we are calling for independent forensic audits and comprehensive contract reviews to expose insider dealings and restore honesty to local decision-making.
Citizen action matters, and urgency matters.
The Spring 2026 elections will determine whether this pattern continues or whether Dane County demands clean government and true accountability. Here are a few of the issues we are focused on and will ensure our candidates and elected officials are held accountable for:
Government Transparency & Accountability
• Demand open, honest decision-making
• End backroom deals and special-interest influence
• Require full financial transparency in all city and county agencies
Meaningful Citizen Participation
• Ensure residents have a real voice in local planning and the annual budget process
• Promote early, informed public engagement—not decisions made behind closed doors
• Uphold the Governmental AICP Code of Ethics for ethical, inclusive planning and accountability
Fiscal Responsibility
• Support cost-effective public services and programs with measured outcomes
• Prioritize transparent and fiscally responsible budgeting and oversight of taxpayer dollars
• Combat mission creep, government waste, consolidate Madison & County Administrative Services and duplicate bureaucracy
Sustainable Environmental Planning
• Protect our natural resources, improve the water quality of our lakes, rivers & waterways
• Encourage smart growth development that’s economically & environmentally sustainable development
• Engage best practices, clean energy programs, drinking water protection & cost-effective climate mitigation
Economic Opportunity & Smart Growth
• Strengthen small businesses development, create living wage jobs, and international partnerships
• Promote balanced single-family residential development with multi-family home ownership
• Create public-private economic development partnerships with UW-Madison Researchers
• Expand affordable homeownership and housing options for first-time home-buyers
Safe Public Schools and Connected Neighborhoods
• Improve congested road infrastructure, public safety, and public transportation options
• Support collaboration initiative with community leaders, law enforcement and first responders
• Build environmentally sustainable neighborhoods where families, seniors, and employees work together
A Government That Works for Everyone
• Ensure all 60 municipalities and local school districts engage in open government and financial transparency
• Create policies based on community needs – not by special interest groups, and modernize community infrastructure
• Put our youth, elderly, and disabled citizens first and always, including them in the decision-making process & planning