Madison Common Council accepts applications for District 1 Alder vacancy | The Locally Times
District 1 residents must submit applications by August 4 to fill a seat vacant until April 2027.
District 1 residents have until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to apply for the interim Alder position on the Madison Common Council. The appointee will serve the remainder of the term, which ends April 20, 2027. ## Application Requirements Applicants must email a formal package to ccec@cityofmadison.com. The July 20, 2026, city announcement requires the submission to include the candidate’s name, address, telephone number, and email address. Candidates must also attach a resume detailing their education, work history, neighborhood involvement, and civic experience. Each applicant must submit three written statements: reasons for seeking the office, goals for the term, and intent to run for the seat in the spring 2027 election. The city classifies all submitted applications as public records available for community review. ## Selection Timeline The Common Council Executive Committee (CCEC), the body responsible for committee assignments and council operations, will manage the selection. The CCEC scheduled in-person interviews for Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Following these interviews, the committee will recommend a candidate to the full Council. The Council set the final appointment for the meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The appointee will take office immediately. Madison General Ordinance 2.03 and Wisconsin State Statute 17.23(1)(a), which govern the process for filling municipal vacancies, dictate the legal framework for this appointment. ## Council Impact The interim Alder will hold a vote on all ordinances and budget matters brought before the Common Council for nine months. This includes decisions regarding neighborhood infrastructure, traffic safety, and the allocation of city resources that affect local property taxes and school district funding. The records do not specify the reason for the District 1 vacancy or why the city chose an appointment process over a special election. Residents may use the city’s online address-lookup tool to confirm their eligibility before the August 4 deadline. ## Key Questions **What is the deadline to apply for the interim Alder seat?** Applications must be submitted via email to ccec@cityofmadison.com no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. **When will the new Alder be selected?** The Common Council is scheduled to vote on the appointment during its meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. **Will my application be kept private?** No. The city states that all candidate applications are public records and will be made available to the public.