Preceded by Susan Bauman Spouse Dianne Cieslewicz Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party | Name Dave Cieslewicz Succeeded by Paul Soglin Role American Politician | |
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Born February 17, 1959 (age 65)
West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S. ( 1959-02-17 ) Alma mater University of Wisconsin, Madison Education University of Wisconsin-Madison | ||
Bicycles are a vehicle for social change dave cieslewicz tedxmadison
David J. Cieslewicz (; [t͡ɕɛɕˈlevit͡ʂ]; born February 17, 1959) is an American politician who was mayor of Madison, Wisconsin from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
- Bicycles are a vehicle for social change dave cieslewicz tedxmadison
- Mayor dave cieslewicz s farewell speech to the common council
- Personal life and early career
- Election
- Accomplishments in office
- Political activity
- Criticism
- References
Mayor dave cieslewicz s farewell speech to the common council
Personal life and early career
Cieslewicz was born and grew up in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, and came to Madison as a student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is of Polish descent and was raised in what he identified as a Polish neighborhood. His wife is Dianne Cieslewicz, chief of staff to state Senator Fred Risser, and they reside in the Regent Street neighborhood on Madison's near-west side.
Prior to seeking the mayor's office, Cieslewicz was executive director of "1000 Friends of Wisconsin", a land use advocacy organization that lobbied for Wisconsin's Smart Growth planning law. He was also a staffer in the Wisconsin State Legislature, a lobbyist for the Nature Conservancy, and an elected member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors. He lost a state Assembly race in 1992 to Tammy Baldwin, now representing Wisconsin in the United States Senate.
Election
Cieslewicz replaced Susan Bauman as mayor of Madison in 2003, after defeating activist and former mayor Paul Soglin in a close contest. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2007, defeating Republican businessman Ray Allen. In 2011, Cieslewicz ran for a third term as mayor losing in a tight race to opponent, former Mayor Paul Soglin, whom he had defeated in 2003.
Accomplishments in office
Political activity
In the 2004 presidential election, Cieslewicz endorsed John Edwards the week before the Wisconsin presidential primary. Edwards finished second, behind Sen. John Kerry.
Cieslewicz endorsed Edwards again in the 2008 campaign. When Edwards withdrew from the race, Cieslewicz endorsed Barack Obama.
Criticism
Cieslewicz was criticized for firing city employees through budget reshuffling; he eliminated a job through budget cuts, but then created a similar job with a different title. Madison's bicycle-pedestrian safety coordinator, Arthur Ross was fired in this way, in a move supported by the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation. Cieslewicz became executive director of Wisconsin Bicycle Federation after his 2011 mayoral defeat.
A gag rule used by Madison's Parks Department to limit employees' access to the press and to alders was compared to a practice used by Cieslewicz's own office. Former alderman Ken Golden accused Cieslewicz of being a bully towards his staff and city employees.
Madison's regulatory climate has been called difficult for businesses, and critics saw Cieslewicz as keeping with that tradition. In response to those critics, Cieslewicz unveiled in December 2004 a vision for economic development with support from the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Commission, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and other business organizations.