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| CRBJ Home > January 2007 | |||||
April 3 elections key for businessBy Delora Newton
Unfortunately, voter turnout in spring elections is usually quite low. In April 2005, the last Madison City Council election, only 17 percent of the eligible voters in Madison cast ballots. County-wide turnout fared slightly better at 18.7 percent. This means less than 1 in 5 eligible voters selected the public officials who currently decide property tax levy rates and policies which may encourage job growth or force businesses to close their doors. On April 3, 2007, Madison residents will elect a mayor and city council members. Since April 2005, Madison has debated key issues that impact economic development and the general business climate, such as the lobbying ordinance, mandatory paid sick leave, and a revision to the city's inclusionary zoning law. With the help of member volunteers, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce has been successful in reducing negative impacts of excessive regulation on business or defeated the ordinances altogether. The business community can continue to expend considerable time and money reacting to proposals that over-regulate them. Or, they can take a pro-active approach and work toward election of a mayor and city council members who understand that public policies that encourage local job growth and retention will improve the city's tax base and quality of life for all residents. For the first time in our 55-year history, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce will endorse candidates for Madison City Council races. This is an important step to help inform voters which candidates support a political and regulatory environment that will enhance economic development throughout greater Madison. At a minimum, your participation is imperative on primary election day -- February 20, and general election day -- April 3. To make an even greater difference, contact the aldermanic candidates in the district where you work and live and ask to meet with them. Find out where they stand on issues important to you as a business owner, manager, employee, customer or client. Explain how mandatory paid sick leave and similar employee benefits mandates would impact workers in your company and encourage the candidate not to support such measures. Finally, consider active support of your preferred candidate via such means as yard signs, political contributions, endorsements and volunteer labor on his or her campaign. The business community can either continue to react to legislation introduced by alderpersons who don't understand what it takes to promote job growth, or elect city council members who do. The choice is yours, but only if you vote on April 3. Delora Newton is the Director of Public Policy at the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
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