Monday Catch Up: The Deer Win

A lot to catch up on this week. Let’s get started.

If at first you don’t succeed, bid again. Dane County Exec Joe Parisi suggested last week that the county go out for new bids on its jail project, after only receiving one bid — that was $27 million over budget — in the previous round. Probably makes sense. Not much to lose, I guess. But I would have gone with a recommendation by county staff to move borrowing from other things, mostly environmental and road project. It’s not like those things won’t get done, they’ll just get done later. The jail debate has gone on way too long. Hard choices need to made so that the county can close down the awful facility in the City County Building once and for all and move on from a debate that has been a distraction.

Who will succeed Joe? Speaking of the county, candidates are starting line up to replace Parisi after he resigns in May. Actually, the County Board Chair will select an interim exec who will serve until an election is held in November, on the same day as the presidential contest. Two candidates have already announced, Madison Alder Regina Vidaver and Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard. I’m also hearing that former Alder Sheri Carter is looking at it. Those would be three good choices right off the bat. A crowded race would be great. It’s an important job that doesn’t often get the attention it deserves.

School board needs challengers. Incumbent Madison School Board members Savion Castro and Maia Pearson have announced that they’re running for reelection in April. I have deep concerns about the direction of this Board. So, I hope candidates will step forward to challenge them with a fresh and practical vision.

Newsom v. DeSantis. In a smart move for both men — that still won’t amount to much — California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom took on his Republican counterpart from Florida, Ron DeSantis, in a debate last week. It made DeSantis look like the lone alternative to Trump (which he isn’t) and it made Newsom look like the heir apparent to Joe Biden should he change his mind about running for reelection, but certainly for 2028. It was pretty much the barroom brawl that these things have become, but it was also a chance to see two very different visions of the future (or in DeSantis’ case, the past) from two men who will have a lot to say about that. As a Democrat, I’m not wild about the idea of the party’s mantel being carried by anybody from California because they’ll have to defend everything about that state and nobody outside of California likes California. Actually, a lot Californians don’t like California. Still, Newsom is an articulate and dynamic guy. I’d be looking for somebody else, but he’s certainly a palatable alternative if he’s all we’ve got.

Deer kill down. The deer harvest from the traditional nine-day Wisconsin gun season was down by 18% from last year. DNR experts are blaming me for missing the season. In my heart I know they’re right.