Eric Hovde behind âSave Madisonâ billboards Progressive Dane alders targeted for stance on police funding Eric Hovde owns several commercial and residential properties in downtown Madison. Former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde says he saw âcrime escalatingâ in Madison and decided to do something about it. Just not publicly. This summer the downtown Madison property owner quietly spearheaded an effort, dubbed âSave Madison,â aimed at alders who, he claims, want to âdefund the police.â âIn the last few years, public safety has really...