Madison Spring Election Guide: District 10

by Safety Connection March 16, 2023

You can impact public safety decisions in Madison with your vote in the Tuesday April 4th spring election in Madison!

Your District 10 candidates are Sheri Carter and Yannette Figueroa Cole.

Our pick: Sheri Carter!

Sheri Carter is one of the first two Black women to serve on the Madison Common Council. Carter is a real leader, role model and a collaborator who gets things done. Under her leadership, the south side of Madison was transformed and lasting bridges were formed.

Sheri Carter:

Will work proactively with all relevant agencies to value and prioritize public safety and healthy communities where all can thrive
Supports body-worn cameras on police for greater transparency and accountability.
Values proactive, problem-solving, community policing
Served as Council President and was a unifying voice in difficult times
Will work to ensure that the voices in District 10 are heard and respected by the city as we face challenges in our rapidly growing community
Voted against zoning changes that will decrease home-ownership opportunities, especially starter homes
Voted against a substantial raise in Alder pay for no corresponding increase in duties
Voted against repealing the curfew on youth 16 and under
Is endorsed by the Madison Professional Police Officers Association

During her term Yannette Figueroa Cole has fought nearly every initiative involving the Madison Police Department. She even sought to take funding from police to fund other city agencies a time of severe staffing shortages. The claim in her campaign mailer, that she is “balanced on public safety,” can easily be disproved by her voting record. “No new funding to the police and maximum funding taken from the police” appears to be her motto.

Yannette Figueroa Cole:

voted no on spending $36,000 for a new roof for a city building which was actively leaking because it housed MPD’s Training Center.
opposed adding additional grant-funded police officers to specifically work with our city’s at-risk youth to build trust and legitimacy
yet voted to accept the city-match portion of the phased-in grant for CARES, despite the CARES team not needing/wanting the money at that time. When that became clear, she tried to reallocate that money to Public Health (who had not even requested it)
voted to remove Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) out from under MPD and into Parking Utility which was vehemently opposed by PEOs for many reasons—many of them safety-related. And it cost you (a city taxpayer) more money. Alders in support of the move urged their colleagues to remember their commitment to “reimagining public safety”
Proposed 2 amendments to the 2022 city operating budget and supported a third that would have removed $795,000 from the police department budget and reduced their new hire academy by 11 positions (the academy is held each year to replace officers who have quit or retired)
voted for extreme zoning changes which will add lots of dense, urban infill with no corresponding increase in police services
voted to increase Alder salaries in spite of voters saying NO in an advisory referendum
voted to repeal the juvenile curfew for youth 16 and under.
is endorsed by the Progressive Dane PAC and will therefore serve their agenda instead of serving with a district-oriented mindset. She will be held accountable for every vote by this political action committee which has endorsed her, as evidenced by this statement on their website, among other things: “We make no apologies for expecting endorsed candidates to remain accountable to their campaign promises and to our progressive program. They are recruited to work with each other and Progressive Dane on a regular basis.”