Dear fellow Bikies, (Yes, I'm an avid cyclist and a Bike advocate too, always have been, and will always be...there's actually more than one of us in District 5!) The latest post by Mr. Barrett, and Matt's before him, is the another in an increasingly frantic smear campaign to save Robbie's seat. My District, and Madison, does not deserve such invective and unethical lapses in what should be a true campaign based upon issues and the different positions and priorities Robbie and I see for our neighborhood, and for Madison. I pledged to her, and to myself, that it is the only way I will run this campaign and hopefully, win or lose, our neighborhood will be better because of it because whoever wins will have gotten the sense of what is desired, and hopefully represent and advocate with those community driven prioirites in mind. At no time have we ever done anything to misrepresent Robbie's views or opinions on the issues. Her record stands on its own. Robbie's backers however, have gone out of their way to misrepresent my positions on the smoking ban, sick leave, development and a host of other issues. Mike consistently, as has Robbie's lit, uses the "associative principal" to make his point about the smoking ban and questioning my "real" position on it. Well, if you're consistent with that practice, then you must ask yourself Mike why the Head of team for Smoke Free Wisconsin that worked on passing the smoking ban, David Gundersen, was my first endorser, along with his wife, first donor, first volunteer for my campaign??? Has he suddenly flip flopped? No he hasn't. He endorsed Robbie in the last campaign. The Associative principal could get all of us into alot of trouble if it was applied to each of us. We are NOT defined by being exactly like everyone we know is, and believing only in the same things...heck, I play on Andy Heidt's Softball team, the Gearheads...does that make me PD, ultra liberal or just a guy who likes to play mediocre softball (in my cases) and drink beer and eat pizza at the Harmony with friends? What are the odds that we all agree 100% of the time? Nil, even PD recognized that and got rid of the 100% pledge...good move! First and foremost, to say that my out-of-district financing is any greater than hers is completely false. Robbie's january reports shows that 33 of her first 34 contributors were out of district, and her 2nd report isn't much different. Mine on the other hand is in balance with the average alder candidates in competitive races, as is my amount of money raised....nearly $3,000 less than Vicky and Satya, other first time runners that recognize running for a first time needs extra effort and pursuit of resources to spread the word. Having said this, now that I've witnessed the craziness that running for office has become (see yesterday's Cap Times story about how race $$$'s have escalated) I am quickly becoming a fan, not of public financing of campaigns, but capping total funds and allowed donations....not sure what the exact numbers are but let's start the conversation at 80% of the average of competitive race candidates are spending and $100 per individual. The public is not only getting even more turned off by the smear campaigns and mudslinging that is increasing, but also too by the shear volume of literature that they are getting from candidates. Public forums, list serve debates and other ways to spread a message of the "depth" of candidates positions, not just the USA Today/soundbite/misrepresentation/answer only someone else's questions that rules the day now. And oh yes, I am a real estate agent and yes 25% of my donations are from apparently not "Clean" people, of those 24 realtors, I directly work with 17 of them and know the rest, they are fellow people interested in making Madison's quality of life better and support my efforts to do so, I have NO problem with that.....Another Interesting point, Mike B is a landlord, regularly frequents with Developers during his role on the Urban Design Commission, does that make him un"clean" too?) Funny too how on Robbie's lit in her last election, when she ran against another college student, her top community endorser on her lit piece, who gave her money, volunteered along with his wife and has attempted for the last four years to get her to make some of our area's prioirities and needs hers was guess who....Me! And guess what I did for a living? I did the same thing! So, is this "Clean" campaign a consistent value or a simple political ploy to use when the real issues of our neighborhood and Madison aren't good enough. I've also done a lot more grassroots outreach than she has - and to say anything to the contrary is just plain dishonest. She's had three lit drops...that's it. I've done a half-dozen meet & greets, weekly "office hours" over coffee at our new local business, the Froth House (Me? Mr. Big Corporate? I was the president of the Evanston Small Business Association for 5 years and have helped with the Wisconsin Partners for Sustainability Buy Local Campaign since it's inception, ask Lindsey, Sandy, Jim Bradley, Rick Brooks etc etc...Mike, please stop the labeling!, you need to go for a ride and relax!), six literature drops, knocked on over two thousand doors, and made hundreds of personal calls to neighbors to find out what issues are important to them. And mailing literature about my positions on the big issues and my priorities??? Is it not a progressive concept to fully inform the voters so they can make a choice on who to represent them? And speaking of supporters and the bad associative principal rule that Mike cherry picks with ..here are some other supporters of my campaign, besides the lead on the Smoke Free Wisconsin Smoking Ban David Gunderson here Are These People that deserve your Vilification Mike?....AFSCME People Conference, Madison Professional Police Officers Association, Building and Construction Trades Council, IBEW Local 159, Plumbers Local 75, Constuction and General Laborers Local 464, Carpenters Local 314, former Mayor Paul Soglin and the list goes on and on, including a large number of District 5 long time residents and area leaders....to learn more, and see more of my endorsers, go to my website, www.troythiel.com. The push-polling thing is by far the most ridiculous. Volunteers calling to try to identify my supporters and remind them to get out and vote is about the farthest thing possible from a push poll. Of course you'd want to know if they are strongly supporting you or just leaning toward you! Following up with undecided voters is a substantial part of any legitimate campaign. Here's the REAL definition of Push Polling, for those who trully want to make an informed opinion; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_poll At NO TIME have the voter ID volunteers said anything negative about Robbie/push polled. Only I have ever spoken to people regarding the issues and relating my positions to them. If I draw how we are different out in conversation, that is what people want to know. Mike's said alot more....but I do notice he hasn't criticized by response to the Bicycle Transportation Alliance questionnaire...why? Because if you read it, which I noticed they, unlike literally every other survey group, except for TAA, did for those who wanted to see the other candidate's responses. Well here's mine. If you're into bikes, judge me on this, but also know too, that one of the reason's for running for my district includes attention to our bike needs in our area...Kendall Avenue is in deplorable condition, as is Highland, as is University, our main cycling corridors...and kendall is a posted bike route. Sure, we're finally getting two blocks repaved...that should have happened years ago...AND Eagle Heights doesn't have a bike trail to it, another thing I will work towards with the university if elected. I've participated in Bike to Work Week, and am planning on sponsoring the new West High Cycling Club. I'm mainly a roadie, but commute, do some mounting biking-crash too much and love the roads here. Compared to Chicago this is heaven. The cycling was on the "Move to Madison" side of the ledger when we decided to leave Evanston. Bicycle Transportation Alliance of Dane County Questionnaire Response I definitely support the goals of the City of Madisons Platinum Biking City Planning Committee. Clearly, Madison is already one of the leaders in cycling friendly communities in fact its one of the reasons my family and I moved here. As frequent cyclists who use our bikes to get to work, school, recreation and also for fitness, we enjoy the commitment made by so many in the Madison/Dane County area for cycling advocacy. We have shared in that commitment and have been involved as sponsors for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Rails to Trails and League of American Bicyclists. I have also advocated for increased bike parking in our downtown area under my position as a citizen representative on the Citys Downtown Coordinating Committee. There are many things the City of Madison could do to improve in its goal to be one of the greatest cities in the country for cycling including; -Increasing Bike Parking in the Downtown and Mixed use/Retail/Employment centers throughout the city from 2 bike hitching posts in mid-block locations to larger instillations where feasible. -Installing enclosed bike lockers in strategic spaces, perhaps in the parking garages near the clerks, to enhance security. -Requiring new commercial and residential buildings to plan bike parking in an appropriate ratio to residents or employees and in commercial buildings require a shower and locker component to encourage greater commuter ridership. -Enhance the safety of cycling by adequately maintaining the roads, improving dangerous traffic intersections and pathways so that cyclists feel are safer during their cycling. -Increasing the amount of bike lanes wherever possible and continuing to grow the already great trail system where possible. -Improving the higher profile of cycling through promotion of its importance to our local economy (Examples; Trek, Saris, Pacific Cycle and more) through marketing efforts, as well as creating a Commuter Cyclists of the Week insert program in area media to highlight the ease, benefits and pleasure of commuting to work via bike. With all of our cycling related corporations and supporters, we should also be a stop in the race schedule for the Superweek/International Cycling Classic held every July throughout Southeast Wisconsin. -Creating through stakeholders a Bike Rodeo program to enhance safe cycling for children and build the habit of cycling at a young age. In order to achieve much of the above and more, we must remain constantly involved in adequately and effectively the State of Wisconsin to recognize cycling for its great overall benefits and to appropriately budget for it. I am familiar through my riding with many escape routes out of town Seminole Highway (where I lobbied Arthur Ross for reinstallation of the bike lane heading south over the bridge to make the car/cycle interactions safer), the bridges over the beltline to the south, the Capitol City Trail, Midtown Road, Old Sauk, Century Avenue, the new 12 bike path, Cottage Grove Road to the East and many more I am unfamiliar with any escape routes being closed off but will strongly assists in making sure more arent and if there are some that have been that we can bring back, be an advocate for doing so. Ive been a cyclist all my life, and hope to be for the remainder of it. Madisons legion of cycling advocates have done very well to improve our cycling community and there is always more we can do together. I look forward to continuing to be a part of the team that effectively advocates for improved policies that bring action resulting in our shared goals. Very Best Regards, Troy Thiel Candidate for the 5th District Alder Position, Madison City Council
There you have it, I've "splained" alot about what I think...if you disagree with me, and Robbie's your candidate, than disagree civilly. As Mike and Matt's posts have intentionally attempted at misdirecting the truth you need to understand that such behaviour and strategies will clearly hurt in OUR rational attempts at making advocates for the excellent cause of cyling advocacy heard with respect and a willingness to improve cycling strategies, in Madison and in Wisconsin. Know this, that if I happen to win, you've got an ally in the cause. However, I will only work with those who can collaborate on the issue with the necessary respect and spirit of compromise that is necessary to affect strong and effective cycling advocacy and policy. Regards, Now off to phone calls! Troy Thiel, Candidate for the 5th District, Madison City Council p.s. I cannot wait for Wednesday....3 days of long rides and hikes in the Kettle planned!
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
