Wyndham Manning is the best candidate to succeed Ashok Kumar as the Dane County District 5 Supervisor. He is neither a great candidate nor the lesser of two evils, but rather the better of two mediocres.
District 5 deserves a realistic candidate whose goals align with those of its constituents. Although both candidates buzz with eagerness to “improve safety,” “support regional transit” and “protect the earth,” Manning augments his passion with substance.
At the outset of the campaign, opponent Conor O’Hagan’s safety platform rested on his design to expand the SAFEride program and shift the cost to the city. Shortly thereafter, O’Hagan rescinded this stance and proposed a new late-night cab service.
Both proposals are seriously flawed: If Dane County residents financed SAFEride, they would unjustly pay for services used exclusively by students. If O’Hagan launched a free late-night cab service, it would render SAFEride obsolete and produce the same result: Dane County residents would pick up the tab for a student service.
On the issue of transportation, both candidates support the creation of a Regional Transit Authority. O’Hagan demonstrates weak knowledge about the history and logistics of the issue—particularly on the difference between streetcars and commuter rail.
Considering the streetcar controversy provoked one of the most venomous debates this county has experienced in recent years, it is alarming that O’Hagan addresses the issue with chipper naiveté.
Unlike O’Hagan, Manning has knowledge of the past and designs for the future. He knows the nuances of the Mayor’s trolley plans and exactly how he would fund the RTA—a half-cent tax increase.
Manning’s commitment to the environment—particularly city lakes—also has substance. Manning recognizes the past research of the Community Manure Feasibility Study Committee and can use it to support his advocacy of technologies that convert waste to fuel and prevent phosphorus and pathogens from leaking into city lakes.
O’Hagan, on the other hand, proposes that Dane County simply remove existing pollutants and adopt other counties’ lake preservation models. How will the county remove the pollutants? Do other counties face the same chemical predicaments as Dane? O’Hagan has not sufficiently answered these questions over the course of his campaign, exposing yet another weakness in his platform.
In short, O’Hagan has not lived in Madison long enough to develop a comprehensive knowledge of district or constituent issues. As a result, Manning outshines O’Hagan on many issues, despite having weaknesses of his own.
If Manning can serve as an ambassador for his constituents rather than an advocate of his personal interests, he will reform the precedent set by Ashok and build a more congenial rapport with his district. On the condition that he turns his ears to constituents and open his eyes to his own faults, we endorse Wyndham Manning.
