Madison Spring Election 2023: District 20 Candidates

by Safety Connection

YOU have a chance to impact public safety in Madison with your vote!

Here is more information about the candidates that will appear on your District 20 primary ballot on Tuesday, February 21st, plus our public safety candidate pick!

UPDATE 2-22-23: Matt Phair and Barbara Harrington-McKinney advanced to the general election that will take place on Tuesday, April 4

District 20 Candidates

Barbara Harrington-McKinney

Aslam Rakhangi

Matt Phair

Sami Khilji

The Madison Area Safety Connection heartily recommends Barbara Harrington-McKinney for District 20. She was first elected in 2015 as one of the first African American women on the Council (along with Sheri Carter). McKinney believes everyone should feel safe in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods and will prioritize public safety. She is committed to helping the city deliver high-quality City services at a price we can afford. And she is committed to equity and access, believing our City and its government must be more transparent, accessible, and welcoming to all. McKinney supports body-worn cameras on police officers and increased staffing to allow for more proactive, community-oriented policing. She is endorsed by the Madison Professional Police Officers Association. 

The worst choice would likely be Matt Phair. We expect him to follow in Keith Furman’s footsteps. Although Furman was not endorsed by Progressive Dane, he usually went along with their platform each time, especially on matters of public safety and policing. Phair has been very back and forth on body cameras, having voted against them in the past. He suggests that now might be the time to move forward, but he is very non-committal. He is for a “professional” Council and was a sponsor of a resolution to significantly increase Alder salaries after a spring referendum showed this was not popular and at a time when many city employees and average residents are struggling. McKinney, on the other hand, voted no on Phair’s resolution to raise Alder pay without a referendum. 

If you want an Alder who represents YOUR interests and YOUR district’s interests, vote for Barbara Harrington-McKinney! 

Read More about the Candidates: Read – Listen – Watch

Barbara Harrington-McKinney

Candidate Website

Know Your Candidate

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

Aslam Rakhangi

Candidate Website

Know Your Candidate

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

WORT Interview

Matt Phair

Candidate Website

Know Your Candidate

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

WORT Interview

Sami Khilji

Know Your Candidate

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

Click here to return to the Madison spring primary page!

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