By Justin Markofski
Northside Planning Council

This year is a major election year, and the spring primary (Feb. 20) and regular (April 2) elections fast approach. Here at the Northside Planning Council (NPC) and Northside News we have again reached out to local candidates to ask questions and plan a forum so voters can be well informed. You can read their responses here and also find details about an upcoming forum.

There are three Dane County Supervisors whose jurisdictions fall within the NPC service boundaries — Districts 12, 18 and 21. Two of these seats are uncontested with only one candidate running. In District 18, Michele Ritt is running unopposed as the incumbent. In District 21, Jeffrey Kroning is running unopposed in an open seat (the incumbent Andrew Schauer chose not to re-run). Finally, in District 12, there are two candidates — Tommy Rylander and Sean Burke — vying for an open seat (the incumbent Larry Palm chose not to re-run).

Northsiders, ask your questions

We would love to hear from you what Northside issues you are concerned with or care about, as well as specific questions you would like to ask the county supervisor candidates. Please email questions and comments to director@northsideplanningcouncil.org. While not every single question will be asked at the forum due to time constraints, all will be shared with the candidates so they hear what matters most to us on the Northside.

Northside forums

While we hope to see many of you in person at the forum March 13, to make the event more accessible, we will also be live streaming the event on our NPC Facebook page. Please take these opportunities to learn about our candidates before we get out to vote.

Sean Burke – District 12

Greetings! I’m Sean Burke, and I’m honored to be running to represent the people of the 12th District on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. Dane County, and specifically the 12th District, are facing many challenges and opportunities. These require someone of action that will handle each opportunity and challenge with a common-sense approach with the 12th District’s needs in mind. This is why I am running to represent the 12th District on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.

My community activism and business experience offer a fresh perspective needed to meet the district’s needs. It is vitally important that we immediately address the shortage crisis in affordable housing — including addressing the chronic homelessness problem within the county. We must establish trust with the people we represent. I believe a way to earn that trust is to ensure that both Dane County government and its contractors are sharing the same level of commitment, accountability, and transparency.

In addition, I believe our environment needs protection. And the issues surrounding PFAS chemical usage at the Dane County Regional Airport is particularly important. While these issues are going to be my focus there are a few other matters that cannot go unnoticed — an aging Dane County Jail, mental health and substance abuse services, a $100 million budget shortfall resulting from expiring COVID funding, chronic homelessness, and criminal justice reform — that too will require urgent attention and bold solutions.

Bold leadership and action will be needed to rise to these challenges. As your 12th District Supervisor, I want to work with you to meet the many challenges facing the district and the county. It would be my highest honor to represent you. I hope to earn your respect and vote on April 2nd to make the 12th District and Dane County a better place.

Tommy Rylander – District 12

Hi, my name is Tommy Rylander. My family has lived in and around the 12th District for 15 years. I have a history of public service and political activism, through my years as a political organizer, Legislative Aide, and at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. I’d like to serve as your progressive voice on the Dane County Board.

As Supervisor, I’d champion environmental issues such as cleanup of PFAS and other harmful chemicals in our streams and drinking water. The airport is an important asset to the 12th District and our larger community, but I would hold the sources of pollutants and noise accountable for their role in mitigating them.

I would vote in favor of efforts to reduce our County’s carbon emissions. I’d also support continued efforts to clean up, dredge, and maintain our county’s defining waterways and ensure they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

I’d prioritize addressing homelessness and hunger in Dane County. I’d also support the Community Restorative Court and other alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders. These solutions reduce recidivism and overcrowding in Dane County’s jail while increasing racial and social justice.

I’ve been endorsed by over a dozen local elected officials, including County Board Chair Patrick Miles and State Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein. I’ll be walking throughout the district in the coming months, and I hope we get a chance to talk about issues that are important to you. Please come out and support me on April 2nd, I look forward to addressing these issues and many more on behalf of the citizens of the 12th District.

Michele Ritt – District 18

I’ve been in love with the Northside for decades. My family has been in our home over 20 years, but I was a Northside renter before that. I love the people and the beauty here and cannot consider living elsewhere.

I grew up in Iowa and moved to Madison for school. Dad dropped me off at my dorm and told me to call if I needed anything. He also said that if I became a Packer Backer, that I should not come home again. I quickly failed that mandate. We’ve had a wonderfully fun Packer-Bear rivalry ever since.

After college, I served in the Peace Corps. Shortly after my return, I met my husband, and we raised our two children here. I have been a Bilingual Special Education teacher in our public schools for my entire career.

I was born an activist and volunteer, but after the Wisconsin Uprising of 2011, I knew I needed to do more. With support from my family and village, I ran for office.

The most important issues to me are the issues most important to all of you. I welcome your thoughts and input. Much of my time is spent working to protect our environment, assuring we all have clean air, safe water, and plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors. My other priority has been fighting to create and strengthen programs that support our most vulnerable neighbors.

Serving on the Dane County Board is an amazing experience. It is a ton of work, but I love it. I am so grateful and proud to be your representative in District 18. Thank you for putting your trust in me.

Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or issues. I am happy to help. I can be reached at 608-335-6827 or ritt.michele@countyofdane.com.

Jeffrey Kroning – District 21

I am Jeffrey Kroning, and I am running for the Dane County Board, District 21.

My wife Julie and I live in Sun Prairie.

I was raised on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin. After graduating high school, I moved to the Madison area where I took a job at Madison Kipp Corporation where I spent eleven years. I think I did every job on the plant floor, eventually taking a position in the maintenance department. Kipp asked me to take a few courses at Madison College. which were helpful, so I just kept going and eventually earned a degree in Industrial Maintenance.

Soon after finishing my degree, I had the opportunity to join the Electrical Department at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, where I have spent the last 15 years. The district needed added schooling as well so now I am also a Journeyman Industrial Electrician.

If my campaign is successful, I will add my support of affordable housing initiatives, getting funds to local food banks, and the conversion of recent land purchases into assets for the community.

I also support the dredging of local waterways so flood waters can vacate the city faster. Anecdotally, I remember working all night wiring in a portable generator at a large lift station on the isthmus that was in danger of losing power during the flood of 2018.

The biggest challenge I see is adapting future budgets to provide valuable services while servicing larger debt obligations.

I see myself as a deliberate thinker who is willing to listen to all sides of an issue, willing to do my homework, and sensible enough to trust the experts.