Nick Hart
Isthmus sent email questionnaires to each candidate for Madison mayor. Here is what they had to say about themselves, why they're running and what they hope to achieve.
Nick Hart
Age: 31
Current employment: Stand-up comedian
Campaign website: nickhartformayor.com
Relevant experience (in 75 words or less): In order to save space, Nick Hart has no relevant experience other than the fact that he is not a greedy scumbag. We believe that is a relevant qualification.
Please answer the following questions in 100 words or less.
1. Why are you running?
To confirm the notion that we should never pass up an opportunity. It is also a civic exercise in municipal politics. Thank you!
2. What do you think is the single most important issue facing the city of Madison?
Spending. Surely, there are ways to both conserve and redistribute municipal funds to more worthwhile investments such as paying teachers higher salaries. (Enter your own political rhetoric here.)
3. Name an official recently elected in Wisconsin whom you admire? Why?
Bridget Maniaci, because she is good at what she does.
4. Can you name two specific areas in which you think city spending could be cut?
Public transportation and Early Childhood Education. Just kidding. When an economy, be it local, state, or federal level, is struggling, more law enforcement officers are hired to generate revenue by issuing more tickets. Instead of that model and way of thinking, we could collectively and responsibly discuss changes in local law enforcement procedure (i.e. cost of fueling patrol cars vs. issuing citizens traffic violations). In other words police operating more along the lines of the fire department in which they remain at a designated station and leave only when called upon.
5. Identify one or two areas in which the city could raise new revenue.
Legalization, licensing, and regulation of both hemp and cannabis. Either the citizens of Madison want to be progressive, or they just want to claim that they are. The taxes collected alone could finance many social programs in dire need of funding, such as the symptom of homelessness and proper rehabilitation for substance abusers. The benefits of hemp alone are substantial enough to merit serious consideration.
6. Name an initiative or program that you would launch?
See answer to question #5. Enjoy!
7. If you were forced to drop out of the race unexpectedly, which of the remaining candidates would you vote for and why?
Is that a threat? Who would be forcing a candidate out of the race? Personally as someone running for office, I would honestly have to say I would still vote for myself even if I was "forced" to withdrawal from the race. If I did not vote for myself, I would certainly write-in a dear friend and fellow comedian and campaign manager Stefan Davis because I trust his judgement based solely on the decisions I have seen him make.
