Issues Summary

Read the Wisconsin State Journal's summary of the District 4 matchup

Budget Priorities

In 2003, I joined the County Executive and the vast majority of the board to fund vital programs to make up for the $8 million in state and federal funding cuts, mostly to senior, family and child services. I made the motions to restore $100,000 for these programs in the budget on the Personnel and Finance Committee.

I am working to reduce the impact of state cuts by making efficiency improvements like working with County Purchase of Service agencies to pool health care purchases to improve coverage and contain costs; cut county energy costs; refinance retirement to save more than $23 million in coming years to protect these vital programs and taxpayers.

Regional Planning

The Dane County Regional Planning Commission is slated to go out of business Oct. 1, 2004. I am a long time supporter of and have voted for regional government and will continue to do so. That is the best way to provide a forum for communities to work together, provide cost-effective services and water quality planning.

The DNR has said they do not have the staff or money to do the quality planning needed to protect our rivers, lakes, and drinking water, which is very important to the constituents in my district. Should the RPC lapse without a replacement, the county should take over the water quality planning function.

Jail Crowding

We are making progress to reduce jail crowding thanks to the state taking 47 probation and parole holds prisoners, an effort that I led for the past five years on the board. This will not only reduce crowding, but save county property taxpayers more than $300,000 each year.

I support building a new secure treatment facility for inmates with drug and alcohol abuse issues, at least 1/3 in jail have those problems, to relieve jail crowding and reduce repeat offenses. I also support Drug Court as a way to divert non-violent prisoners from our jail and get them the treatment they need.

North Mendota Parkway and Development

Traffic and clean water are important issues for my district, which is why I supported putting the planning in place north of the lake while improving the road system north of the lake. I supported getting the EPA grant to do the planning, supported $6 million for immediate safety improvements such as the light at Highway Q and K, and supported expanding existing roadways to relieve traffic and safety problems.

The plan I co-sponsored recently passed the county board and I am happy we are moving forward to make the road safer and plan better development in this area.

Vehicle Registration Fee

After speaking with many of my constituents on this matter, I voted against increasing the vehicle registration fee last year. Many constituents felt this tax was too regressive and excessive. We must look elsewhere for revenues to meet our upcoming budget challenges.

Vital Issues Ahead

My citizen surveys show that safer streets, smarter growth, cleaner lakes, and holding the line on tax growth are top issues. Here is what I have done and what I plan to do in the future.

Safer Streets

• I secured a $50,000 grant to help build sidewalks for University Avenue to make walking safer;
• Sponsored a measure to require traffic impact analysis on new county development;
• Supported moving forward on a county public transportation system to reduce traffic growth and increase travel choices, like better clean bus service.

Next steps- Continue highway safety improvements, promote Smart Growth to direct growth downtown to reduce traffic through our neighborhoods.

Promote Smarter Growth

• Chaired the Strategic Growth Committee and co-chaired the Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee where three workgroups are helping plan our future. To get involved, see www.daneplan.org.
• Restored money for the County Conservation Fund to protect critical habitat and parkland and keep our promise to taxpayers;
• Authored a resolution to help farmers protect county farmland;

Next steps- Move forward with the Smart Growth planning process, enact the Council of Government to promote regional cooperation.

Protecting our Lakes

• Co-sponsored Wisconsin's first county stormwater ordinance and phosphorous phaseout to control polluted runoff, Lake Mendota's worst water pollution source;
• Co-sponsored Take a Stake in the Lakes Week and co-hosted the Better Lawns raingarden tour to show the public how to create one. Stop by and check it out!
• Secured more funding for clean water education, weed removal, and rescue boat upgrades as chair of the Lake and Watersheds Commission Budget Committee.

Next step- phase out phosphorous use to reduce algae in our lakes, and fully implement our storwater rules to reduce polluted runoff.

Join Us to Re-elect Brett Hulsey on April 1st:

• Democratic Party of Dane County
• County Executive Kathleen Falk
• Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
• Sheriff Dave Mahoney
• Senator Fred and Nancy Risser
• Representative Spencer Black and Pam Fornell
• Representative Terese Berceau
• County Board Chair Scott McDonnell and 20 county Supervisors
• Former Supervisor Steve and Jen Braunginn
• Former Supervisor Shary and Gerry Bisgard
• City Alder Mark and Janet Clear
• Former Alder Noel and Kassie Radomski
• South Central Federation of Labor
• Building Trades Council
• Sierra Club
• AFSCME People