Brad Hinkfuss
Brad Hinkfuss ran for election to the Madison Common Council to represent District 15 in Wisconsin. He lost in the general election on April 4, 2023.
Hinkfuss completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2023
See also: City elections in Madison, Wisconsin (2023)
General election
General election for Madison Common Council District 15
Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford defeated Brad Hinkfuss in the general election for Madison Common Council District 15 on April 4, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (Nonpartisan) | 50.1 | 3,609 | |
 | Brad Hinkfuss (Nonpartisan)  | 49.3 | 3,555 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 43 | ||
| Total votes: 7,207 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Brad Hinkfuss and Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford advanced from the primary for Madison Common Council District 15.
Endorsements
Hinkfuss received the following endorsements.
- Dane County Supervisor Yogesh Chawla (Nonpartisan)
- Alderman Grant Foster (Nonpartisan)
- Dane County Supervisor Dana Pellebon (Nonpartisan)
- Dane County, Wisc., Democratic Party
- 350 Wisconsin Action
- Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
- Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brad Hinkfuss completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hinkfuss' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Much of my professional career has involved working with vulnerable populations such as the homeless, the abused, and the mentally ill. Through this work I have developed a strong sense of the value of every member in our community, as well as the ability to work with a diverse range of people. Most of my days are spent seeking better, more equitable, and more lasting solutions to challenging problems.
When I am not at work, I bring balance to my life by building things, exercising, reading, and spending time with friends. Every day I get up early because there is so much that I want to do. I bring this sense of service to the alder position.- Thoughtful Development: Development in D15 must be well considered and resident-informed. There are things that will change and there are other things that should not. I have deep experience in navigating city process while representing local interests. For example, I was deeply involved in advocating for the outcomes that is the Garver Feed Mill today. On other fronts, I have developed affordable housing projects and, for market rate projects, negotiated changes that benefited the surrounding community.
- Green and Safe Neighborhoods: Creating green and safe neighborhoods is essential to the health and well-being of our community. I am committed to improving transportation options in District 15, promoting traffic calming measures and safe streets for all residents. I am passionate about protecting our lakes and ensuring that our community has access to clean water and safe swimming areas. Additionally, I am dedicated to preserving our natural environment by expanding access to nature, trails, parks, and open spaces.
- Fiscal Responsibility: As a community, we have many needs. We need to be fiscally responsible while still addressing these important issues. I am committed to finding smart solutions that balance the needs of our community with responsible spending. I understand that as the city budget is increased, property taxes go up on our aging homeowners, young families, and everyone in between. As Alder, I will work to find solutions that are fiscally responsible while still addressing the important issues facing our community.
Resident involvement starts with a commitment to listening. Active listening. It also means creating space and opportunities to do that listening. I have an extensive history of doing just that through over 20 years of neighborhood engagement around public/private issues that impacted residents of the east side.
My only plans for infrastructure are general. Each area of public infrastructure must be evaluated in its own context and on its own merits. We will achieve the best results by strengthening the connection between the people using that infrastructure and the design of the that infrastructure.
Housing presents one of the most compelling issues facing the City of Madison. A combination of population growth that has fueled demand, combined with a surge in construction costs, and further complicated by rising interest rates, has put viable housing options beyond the reach of many people. I believe that if a person works here, they should also be able to afford to live here. The disconnect between longtime residents, new residents, and viable housing options must be addressed.
Transportation also plays an outsized role in determining how the city grows, the cost of living, and impacts on our environment. This is also fundamentally an equity issue as the costs and means of transportation play major roles in deterring what employment and service opportunities are available to people.
Environmental sustainability confronts the city on many fronts, perhaps none so obviously as water. We face real threats of well contamination from past industrial uses and spills. PFAS contamination also runs straight through D15 in Starkweather Creek. Finally - as every resident knows - our lakes become unusable every year as toxic algae blooms.
At the same time, I have worked successfully with government officials, developers, and private interests to craft projects and policies that truly serve the community as a whole.
1. Represent the interests of the residents of District 15 before the Common Council and the City of Madison.
2. Represent the people of Madison as whole before other government entities and interests.
3. Participate in and approve the City of Madison Capital and Operating budgets.
4. Share information on city policy and events with constituents on a regular and ongoing basis
5. Remain available and receptive to constituent concerns and interests.
6. Meaningfully participate in select city committees to advance work in areas more specific than just the Common Council.
To typify the work just as hard and ongoing falls short of a full appreciation of what happens on farms. They are also places of building community among other farmers, customers, vendors, neighbors, and the animals themselves. Working on farm did not just teach me how to work hard. It also informed my understanding of the connection between people, the food we eat, and the places that produce that food.
On this front, I have a long history of engagement with the city and east side neighborhoods around issues that matter to everyone. Sometimes this engagement has been around particular places, such as Union Corners, Olbrich Park, or a new development. At other times I organized engagement between the residents and the city around land use policy, zoning definitions, and public safety.
The clerk examined the paper and politely told the dog, "There are only nine words here. You could send another 'Woof' for the same price."
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
350 Wisconsin Action
Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin
Alder Grant Foster - current Alder of District 15
Former D6 Alder Marsha Rummel - current candidate for D6 Alder
Yogesh Chawla - Dane County Supervisor, District 6
Dana Pellebon - Dane County Supervisor, District 33
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See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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