11:08 PM: Cieslewicz Cruises to Re-Election as Madison Mayor
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz told a crowd of supporters tonight during his victory speech that the city needs to manage its success.
"We can grow better and healthier," Cieslewicz told the crowd at the High Noon Saloon.
With 99 percent of the vote in, Ciezlewicz had 62 percent of the vote, compared to 38 percent for challenger Ray Allen.
Cieslewicz ticked off a list of successes from his first term, including a new recycling program and a public smoking ban that includes bars and restaurants, which was met with mostly cheers and a scattering of boos.
"At least I thought it was successful," Cieslewicz said.
Allen conceded his defeat before supporters at the Avenue Bar, saying that his campaign "ran a race about the people of Madison."
"We ran a race about real issues. We ran a race about poverty. We ran a race about crime. We ran a race about public safety. We talked about our schools and our children," Allen said. "We have nothing to be ashamed of here tonight."
Allen said he would continue to be involved in fixing the issues facing the city.
"Although I lost tonight, we won tonight," Allen said. "We'll continue, and I'll continue to fight for the people of this city."
When asked why his message did not resonate with the voters as well as he might have hoped, Allen said that poverty needed to become more of an issue in the city.
"In Madison, people don't recognize the poverty issue," Allen said. "They need to be educated about the people in their community."
-- By Matt Dolbey and Jeff Rumage
Labels: 2007 spring election