Political opponents unite in defeat
Voters take down two fighters on Madison city council
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Incumbent Alds. Rebecca Kemble and Paul Skidmore both lost to challengers in the April 6 election.
The city councilâs staunchest backer of the police was defeated in the April 6 election. So was one of the cityâs most progressive reformers.Â
Political newcomer Nikki Conklin ousted 10-term incumbent Paul Skidmore with 56 percent of the vote in a contentious and expensive race on the cityâs far west side. Skidmore was strongly backed by the Madison police union which in a February press release called him âthe undisputed leaderâ on the council for âworking to meet the needs of public safety in Madison.â Skidmore leaned hard into a pro-police message in his campaign literature; one piece features a quote from former Madison police Chief Mike Koval â âDefunding the Police Plans are putting you and me in dangerâ â and a photo of a
Skidmore survives
Nikki Conklin finished ahead of veteran Ald. Paul Skidmore in the Feb. 16 primary.
Embattled Ald. Paul Skidmore survived his first challenge since 2013, but just barely, coming in second in the Feb. 16 primary to first-time candidate Nikki Conklin, receiving 651 votes to Conklinâs 701. Nino Amato, a former alder who has been active in city and state politics for 40 years, finished a close third with 626 votes. Democratic Party of Wisconsin operative and legislative aide Doug Hyant came in fourth with 301 votes.
âDistrict 9 voters have shown that we have a shared vision for a community focused on equity and justice, quality affordable housing, and safety for all,â Conklin, a communications consultant, tells