Bridget Maniaci announces run for Madison mayor

Soglin plans to run for reelection

MADISON, Wis. — Former Madison city alder Bridget Maniaci said Wednesday she’s officially in the race for the mayor of Madison.

The 30-year-old served four years on the Madison Common Council representing the 2nd District which includes the east side of the isthmus. She served a year in the Mayor’s Office in 2006 and 2007 under Dave Cieslewicz while attending the University of Wisconsin.

“I’m ready. I’m fired up. I took a year off to really make sure that I had everything I needed to come back and really be in a position to run the city. I’m passionate about this. I’ve had four years on the council, a year working in the mayor’s office, I’ve seen the day-to-day of the job, and I want to keep doing this,” Maniaci said.

In her campaign announcement, she cited her work as an alder on tenants’ rights, building inspection improvement and citizen voting access.

“The question is what’s the vision for the city, how are we going to move forward? We have a number of issues, whether it’s with homelessness, whether it’s with poverty, whether it’s with housing prices, and we don’t have solutions on the table,” Maniaci said. “I think it’s time to step up and get involved and roll up my sleeves and come down to city hall and work with all the folks in the city that want a seat at the table to make the city a great place.”

Mayor Paul Soglin has already announced his intention to run for reelection. Melissa Mulliken is managing Soglin’s mayoral campaign.

“We look forward to the campaign and comparing what Paul Soglin has accomplished as mayor, his passion for the city’s future and his ability to stand up for Madison and our taxpayers with Bridget’s record,” Mulliken said.

Maniaci said she is completing a degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on urban and regional economic development.

Maniaci said she’s a fifth-generation Madisonian and lives on Gorham Street.

She will announce the members of her campaign in the fall.