On today’s show, Alder Isadore Knox Jr. hosts a roundtable discussion on Black political leadership in Madison. He says that this is a unique time for this conversation given the reduction of Black elected officials on the Madison City Council, from 9 alders to 5 in the current term. He’s joined by Richard V. Brown Sr., Sheri Carter, and Amani Latimer Burris. They talk about their reasons for running for political office as well as their civic accomplishments.

Latimer Burris says that she’s proud of asking tough questions at Council meetings and she’s learned from the formative work of her parents. Carter says that she ran for office in order to change the perspective on South Madison. She’s proud of initiating the Commercial Ownership Assistance Program and renovating Penn Park. Brown says that for a time there weren’t many other Black leaders on the Common Council, and he’s proud of helping support other Black leaders get elected. 

They also talk about what the future holds, as Madison’s population grows and housing becomes even more unaffordable. As housing becomes increasingly more expensive, so does the cost of running a local political campaign, something that gives today’s guests pause for what it means to have everyday people in elected office. Carter says that without more Black members on the council, the city will suffer from less diversity of thought. Latimer Burris reminds listeners that a Black woman hadn’t been elected to the Common Council until 2015.

Ricard V. Brown Sr. is a former Dane County Board Supervisor and Personnel and Finance Chair as well as a mayoral candidate and County Treasurer candidate.

Sheri Carter is a former four-term alder and Council President as well as the first Black woman elected to the Common Council.

Amani Latimer Burris is a former Madison District 12 alder. 

Featured image: photo of today’s guest host, Isadore Knox Jr.

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