DECISION 2023: CANDIDATES FOR FITCHBURG MAYOR
QUESTIONS:
- To what extent will people of color be appointed to decision-making positions within your administration and on city committees and boards? What is your track record in this area?
- What initiatives will you undertake to expand the level of the purchasing ofgoods and services of minority business enterprises (MBEs) by private andpublic decision makers?
- What is your definition of full employment for Fitchburg citizens and howwould you lead the city of Fitchburg to a level of full employment?
- How would you describe your leadership style and how will that leadershipstyle be of benefit to the city in today’s political and financial climate?
- What measures can the city of Fitchburg undertake to reduce racial disparitiesin employment, education and the criminal justice system?
- What initiatives and programs would you undertake to ensure that the low-income youth and adults — an area with a large number of Latino and African American residents — of the northern area of Fitchburg as well as the newly annexed portions of the Town of Madison — receive the services they need to advance in their lives?
Julia Arata-Fratta
1.I firmly believe that our council and committee composition should look like the population that it represents. It currently does not and in particular, people of color are not well represented (about 17% of residents are Latinx and 16% are Black). As mayor, I will have decision making power on whom to appoint, and diversifying the committee compositions will be a priority. By bringing residents with a diversity of ideas, skills, perspectives, race, gender, age, and economic background, local governments can become more approachable and socially responsible.
During my tenure at the City Council (eight years), I have encouraged diverse voices to join our committees and commissions. In practice, that means I’ve recruited residents to apply for commissions when they reach out with thoughtful feedback. I’ve also recruited individuals to run for elected office and helped them get elected, including a Latino man and young woman in her thirties. I will continue actively recruiting diverse voices as mayor.
2.Currently, Fitchburg does not have a procurement policy to purchase services and products from MBEs. Instead, we have the policy to acquire services based on the lower bid. I will do my best to promote a purchasing process that guarantees fairness, transparency, and based on quality. I will advocate for MBEs products and services that align with city policies.
3.Full employment for Fitchburg residents means the City retains and attracts employers that provide and offer higher wages with benefits. Accessing a job that covers basic needs like housing, transportation, and food security is vital to foster healthy and safe neighborhoods.
My role as a mayor will be to advocate for inclusive economic development, retain, and attract businesses to move and invest in Fitchburg, and hire our local talent.
4.My leadership style is characterized by honesty, learning, and growth. I am not a leader who claims to have all the answers. I go out of my way to talk to different people - city staff, stakeholders, colleagues, and learn more about their perspectives and make decisions based on what will do the best for the most people. I view my role as a mayor in the community as a person who listens, and that will not change if I am elected mayor.
I will promote civic engagement around projects and be sure that everyone is represented at the decision table. I will bring a style that benefits the city in today's political climate by creating an inclusive attitude and space for new ideas, listening, and working collaboratively with people that think differently than me. I like to surround myself with people who bring new ideas, think outside the box for solutions, and have other perspectives and experiences. At my core, I am a doer. I intend to bring this experience along with my passion for this community to help guide our growing, diverse City into the next ten years.
5.The City can establish and promote policies and practices that intentionally address those issues. Local leaders should build a shared understanding of the scope and drivers of racial disparities among our residents and neighborhoods. Elected officials must listen to the community, be accountable, and introduce changes, for example, by promoting equity policies in city planning, housing policies, etc. Equity should be the center of every decision that the City makes. Another example is housing strategies like a developer allocating a % of units to low-income households (mixed-income approach) while the rest remain at market rate. Or the rent-to-own housing pilot program (currently under development). The City should make sure that every resident, especially those living in underserved areas, has access to resources like affordable housing, schools, childcare centers, health care services, healthy food, and transportation are critical to target racial inequalities.
6.I have supported and championed initiatives like the Healthy Neighborhood Program covering Verona Road West, Belmar/Renaissance on the Park, North Fish Hatchery Road, and Southdale. These are priority neighborhoods with considerable social and economic disparities compared to other areas of the City. This initiative aims to transform and bring more resources to these areas, like equity in accessing opportunities, diversity in land uses and greenspaces, housing choices, and stable and sustainable components, such as public safety, environment, and access to employment. I have been involved in this initiative since its inception. I will continue working on and investing more in this program and collaborating with the nonprofit sector to create partnerships that seek to build and maintain neighborhoods where residents feel safe and have adequate access to opportunities.
Also, I supported the Teen Center, which will focus on bringing programs and services to our youth. We must invest in projects aiming for long-term solutions and tackling the roots of issues affecting our community. There is a need for safe, positive community spaces and activities in the western part of the City, which lacks any amenities for the youth. Building a center like this will provide engagement opportunities and programming space for our teens to participate in activities that keep them out of trouble when not in school. Communities cannot thrive without spaces like this. Teens need constructive activities to keep themselves on track. The teen center is an investment in the health and well-being of youth and our community. In 2019, in collaboration with Fitchburg FACTv and Lupita Montoto, I launched a Spanish tv show called "Descubriendo Contigo" to reach out to the Latino community in Fitchburg by providing city news in their language.
Randy Udell
1.I am committed to ensuring Fitchburg is an inclusive City where all our residents thrive. When there were long lines at polling places during the November Election, I immediately asked City Staff to propose solutions to reduce those lines in future elections. Long waits to vote disenfranchise voters. As Mayor, I will create an office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity within the City Government. I will continue to support bilingual options in City Government, such as the bilingual premium pay for staff. And we must increase outreach to all residents including providing materials in multiple languages. I will initiate additional communication channels for Alders and the Mayor (blogs, emails) so we reach out more easily and often to those we serve.
2.The first thing I will do is to gather and share data about current practices, policies, outreach, and metrics involving purchasing by the city from MBEs. I will work with City Staff to identify improvements or changes to ensure we are doing all we can to encourage and involve minority owned businesses in City purchasing. Our Economic Development Team is focused on assisting entrepreneurs as well as existing businesses that want to locate or re-locate in the City. Strong private-public partnerships are essential to a strong economy and a strong economy enables us to fund budget priorities that help all residents thrive. Obviously, the Mayor does not have control over what private decision makers do, but I will set a strong example when it comes to bolstering MBEs and I will continue to prioritize opportunities to work collaboratively with the Latino Chamber of Commerce, the Black Chamber of Commerce and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
3.Full employment means support for anyone who wants a job in Fitchburg. We must continue to bring good paying jobs to Fitchburg through our economic development efforts and partnerships with the private sector. That is why, unlike my opponent, I supported Meijer Groceries when that business wanted to build in Fitchburg. The store would have been within walking distance for many residents and would have provided a living wage and benefits. It would have been a win-win for the neighborhood, for workers, and for Fitchburg.
4.My deeply held belief, and my experience as City Council President, is that we must bring people together to solve tough problems. My service as an elected leader, my experience in business and finance, and my volunteer work make me uniquely qualified to be the inclusive, collaborative leader Fitchburg needs in these challenging times. I love Fitchburg. My husband and I cannot imagine living anywhere other than this City filled with caring neighbors who are actively engaged in the community. My priorities will be to ensure Fitchburg grows responsibly; to make every neighborhood safe and welcoming; to deliver the services our residents expect and deserve; to protect our environment; to support inclusion and diversity; and to provide strong, fiscal management.
5.As Mayor, I will continue to implement and support initiatives to create more housing that is affordable, accessible and safe. As Chair of the Finance Committee, I supported extending the Tax Increment District (TID) by a year to capture $4.8 million for affordable housing. Fitchburg needs to have a variety of housing options to meet the needs of all families. I will continue to advocate for family supporting policies including paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, strong labor unions and workers’ rights. I have stood with workers seeking to organize in Fitchburg (Noble Knight which is now a unionized workforce) and have worked, as a leader in the State Democratic Party, to support and advocate for working families. The Federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. In Wisconsin, we lag behind Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan in our current minimum wage. I believe it is way past time to raise the minimum wage in Wisconsin to at least $15/hour.
6.I will continue to support Fitchburg’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative including completing the North Fish Hatchery Road neighborhood HUB and future Teen Center. I have voted consistently for funding the studies necessary to keep the Teen Center project alive. I will continue to support the Neighborhood Navigator program bringing Fitchburg’s Government to underserved neighborhoods, and connecting residents with resources.
