City Cast Madison invited all qualified Madison Common Council candidates to complete a short questionnaire to help voters learn more about the people running to represent them in city government. All candidates were sent the same questions, and as you'll see, some questions are more policy-oriented and some are a little more fun!
The unedited responses for District 4 candidate Eli Tsarovsky are below.
Read the rest of the questionnaire responses here.
1. What is the single most pressing issue facing Madison?
Madison’s most pressing issue is our growth. We must be adaptive to our growing city and plan for our bigger future. I will prioritize making it more affordable for people to live and open up a business in District 4. I will make sure we keep the affordable housing fund healthy to encourage the development of affordable housing in Madison. I will work with small businesses to improve opportunities for first-time and underrepresented entrepreneurs downtown. I will need to work swiftly to successfully implement the new men’s shelter and ease demands on The Beacon and other service providers.
2. What's the most important issue facing your district and how will you go about addressing it?
The most important issue is the cost of living, specifically the rising cost of housing in the District. I will address the cost of housing by engaging fellow alders and Madison residents to identify opportunities across the city where we can build missing middle housing and ease the competition to return power to renters in Madison. This will build on the work for zoning reform to address the housing crisis in Madison. I will work with the people of my District and Madison to identify opportunities to build more housing and more quality, affordable housing.
3. What sets you apart from your competitor or, if running uncontested, what would you like voters to know about you?
As a community leader, I led efforts that increased affordable housing stock, deepened community coalitions for a safer downtown, and empowered advocacy to protect our environment. As a neighborhood association president, I led community action for the additional story bonus for low-cost housing in Madison. I led a community petition to increase the height allowed on a vacant parking lot to expand housing options and lower pressures on historic buildings. My opponent voted against the petition. As an alder, I will champion housing and community solutions to plan for Madison’s growth.
4. Did you support the $22 million property tax referendum? Why or why not?
Yes, I supported and voted for the adoption of the 2024 referendum that enabled city departments to function without significant cuts. The alternative budget released in the scenario that the referendum did not pass included the reduction of essential programs, various staff cuts, and hiring freezes that would have a serious negative impact on the community. The state of politics, unfortunately, does not make me hopeful for an increase in state or federal funding. However, I will fight hard to do what I can to improve our city’s state aid.
5. What should Madison look for in its next police chief?
The next Madison police chief should proactively engage with the community and build trust and collaboration through transparency. We need a police chief who agrees to work with the civilian oversight board and the Independent Police Monitor to ensure consistent community representation and advocacy and give people purview over how their community is policed. We also need to ensure that the next police chief will protect and support our immigrant neighbors in Madison. Like other cities, this means reducing any compliance with ICE raids.
6. What's something the city currently isn't doing, but could do to help ease our housing crisis?
Madison's workforce housing landscape urgently needs improvement. The city should reassess its Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy and explore ways to attract more types of housing through strategic Tax Increment Districts (TIDs) citywide. Additionally, we need to evaluate economic development opportunities by exploring opportunities in our zoning regulations to promote workforce housing, “missing middle” housing, and necessary density in suitable areas. This will help create opportunities for peoples’ progress toward ownership and developing generational wealth.
7. What's something you wish more residents knew about Common Council/city government?
City government is all about making things happen in your community, and it touches your life every day. City government has the ability to protect the rights of its residents. I recognize the importance of local elected leaders strengthening tenant protection, union protection, human rights protection, and other rights. As an alder, I will advocate for tenants' rights, unions' rights, and human rights. Madison is a leader in reproductive freedoms, and as an alder, I will continue to uphold those values and work within different government and community contexts to protect people's rights.
8. What's one thing you wish you could change about Madison?
In my work, I continue to hear from multi-generational and multi-racial communities across Madison that they still do not feel welcome and a part of the city - this is a problem. I want downtown Madison to be a place where people can live, work, and play as their authentic selves. As a community organizer in downtown Madison, I worked tirelessly to build community, lower rent, improve safety in downtown Madison, and protect our environment. My team and I are bringing our CARES Platform to Madison to show that people can care about each other through local policy and community investment.
9. What’s your favorite meal in Madison?
I love the gyoza and the spicy TK miso ramen from Tavernakaya! The people there are lovely. They care for their customers, and the vibes are awesome for a beautiful evening on the square.
10. Anything else you'd like to add?
As an elected official, the public should not be surprised on what their representatives vote on. If elected, I am committed to having a regular blog so you know what I am voting on and how to make an impact in Madison that week. The April 1 election will be transformational for our city and our state. In the 2025 Spring Election, I plan to vote for Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge, Jill Underly for Wisconsin Superintendent, and Melissa Agard for Dane County Executive. Please make sure you and everyone in your life who can vote has a plan, too.
