Arnold for Alder

55 years old, resident of Fitchburg 10 years, resident of Dane County 21 years. Married to Nancy Arnold for 33 years. Two grown daughters and a grandson, all living in Madison.

BA in Natural Sciences, the Johns Hopkins University, 1971; MA in Environmental Engineering, the Johns Hopkins University, 1972; Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, 1978.

Taught fresh-water ecology and statistics at the State University of New York, four years. Developed Minitab statistical software for Penn State University, two years. Networking software product manager and consultant, eight years. Self-employed consultant on electronic mail, thirteen years (http://Arnold.com). Details at http://Arnold.US.

Commissioner, Fitchburg Transportation and Transit Commission; member, Dane County Council of Governments working group; leader, Dane County United Land Use Action Team; Vice President, Byrnewood Neighborhood Association Vice President; member, Grassroots Fitchburg

I most admire Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who I heard at the March on Washington in 1963 and met in June 1964. He never wavered from his non-violent methods to stop racial discrimination. Less well known was his opposition to the Vietnam war, against which he was mobilizing at the time of his assassination.

I least admire Assembly Speaker John Gard. He has hamstrung the legislature with distractions like the Marriage Discrimination Amendment and permitting concealed weapons, while ignoring deep concerns of Wisconsin citizens about public education funding and campaign finance reform.

In my search for ways to meaningfully contribute to my community, country, and the world, I have resolved to work to make Fitchburg ever more beautiful, liveable, and sustainable for all residents, now and in the future. My concerns about sprawl first led me to participate in the Plan Commission, but with no vacancies in that body, I applied for and was appointed to the Transportation and Transit Commission. If elected to the Common Council, I will be able to bring my energy, knowledge, and concern to a wider array of local issues.

Our land use policies must preserve significant land for agriculture and open space and mandate compact development that is less expensive than sprawl to service. Proper land use policies reduce both tax rates and traffic, while the wrong policies will saddle both us and future generations with spiraling increases in both.

Public safety includes emergency services, health and building code enforcement, environmental protection, and housing. Fitchburg must have the resources to protect us from fire and crime and to cope with medical emergencies. Our housing stock must be safe and not divide us into pockets of poverty and affluence.

As I canvas the district, I note voters interested in serving the city, for future openings on committees and commissions. I will regularly publish an electronic mail newletter for District 4, to announce progress on issues, neighborhood meetings, and opportunities for citizen input. E-mail can be frequent, and invites two-way communication. (To subscribe, send e-mail to Steve.Arnold@Fitchburg.WI.US. Paper versions will also be available.) I will encourage neighborhood associations and see how city government can better support them. I will continue to seek new and more effective ways to involve citizens in city government.