Carmella Glenn

Carmella Glenn is a member of the Madison Common Council in Wisconsin, representing District 18. She assumed office on April 15, 2025. Her current term ends on April 21, 2026.

Glenn ran for election to the Madison Common Council to represent District 18 in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 1, 2025.

Glenn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Carmella Glenn was born in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended East High School and La Follette High School. Glenn also earned an associate degree from Madison College in 2002 and attended Upper Iowa University. Her career experience includes working as a public servant.^[1]

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Madison Common Council District 18

Carmella Glenn defeated Kevin Monroe in the general election for Madison Common Council District 18 on April 1, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carmella Glenn (Nonpartisan)	73.9	4,077
	Submit photo	Kevin Monroe (Nonpartisan)	25.8	1,424
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	18

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,519
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

The primary election was canceled. Carmella Glenn and Kevin Monroe advanced from the primary for Madison Common Council District 18.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Anthony McNally (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Glenn received the following endorsements.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

Carmella Glenn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Glenn's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have spent most of my life living on or deeply connected to the northside of Madison. My spouse also grew up here, and we decided to purchase a home here because it already felt like our community. I am also an MMSD parent, with ties to northside schools and East High School. I have two children (one adult and one still in high school) two (adult) bonus children, and grandchildren. I identify as a black woman, am a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and use she/her pronouns. I am also a survivor of intimate partner violence and witness to domestic violence in the home. My personal and professional journey has been fueled by a deep commitment to fostering environments for individuals trapped in a system that denies them the opportunity for redemption. Community ownership drives my desire to bring my authentic self to run a campaign for the people of District 18, and to ultimately work for the people of District 18. I strive to inspire hope and resilience, helping others rediscover their worth and potential beyond societal judgment.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Engagement/partnerships I have spent my career working in fields that require partnerships and working collaboratively. Finding common ground is something I have done and will continue to do as an alder. I am dedicated to creating a safer community through proactive education, empowerment, and strong community connections. By collaborating, we will develop practical, community-driven solutions to tackle the social issues that impact all of us.
Housing District 18 is unique in that it is nearly all residential. We have done housing well here– and have set a blueprint for other areas in the city. Being housed and/or obtaining permanent housing is a part of violence prevention, and yet has been made difficult to attain or impossible to attain for some of our residents. Citywide, our process in creating and maintaining housing hasn’t always worked well, and we need to be innovative and act quickly. The best way to do this is to see where communities have had success. I believe that we cannot just “check boxes” and say that we’ve done enough for future residents. The good news is, there are some neighborhoods who have gotten in right, and we have a lot to learn from them.
Workforce development and youth opportunity A community cannot thrive without good paying jobs, and job training. Youth training is a great way to start from the bottom up, and give opportunities for learning and growth within things like trades and entrepreneurship. Providing more community opportunities for youth to earn income while building skills within a career field can point them to a more stable future. We can also ensure quality construction, good property maintenance, and job security by demanding union labor be used on any city-funded developments, and beyond.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Planning-We need to be creative, innovative and act quickly to address the immediate need for

housing for our most vulnerable populations. Housing is vital for individual safety and
wellness and community safety and wellness. We can’t build housing without
considering these aspects as well. I will support initiatives to change zoning to make
housing more attainable. I also believe that we can use TIF funding and the affordable

housing fund to get closer to building the housing we need, if done wisely.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe elected officials should hold values of integrity and transparency. Residents want to trust that those they elect to office are working in our best interests. It is a priority to me to gain a deep understanding of our community’s unique needs, interests, and demographics to create highly effective services and drive resources to the north side.The most important thing an alder can do is to know their constituents and be proactive with clear, consistent communication about upcoming projects. I have seen that the Northside has often been left out of conversations. As I make my way door-to-door talking with you all, I encourage you to share what you’d like to see from the city, and your representation.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy for my children to be that I broke the chains. As a child of parents that struggled with mental health and addiction my home was often a violent scary place to be. I felt silenced by the fear of anyone finding out, that I too found addiction and violence in my personal relationships. I now have 22 years in recovery have broken the chains that hold so many locked in a perpetual cycle of violence.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was 13 and was a dishwasher at a restaurant where my mother was a waitress. I was there for about a years and when I left I had been promoted to said girl. It was an Italian restaurant so salad girl was an important role.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Warmth of other sons.The book explores the journeys of African Americans during the Great Migration as they sought refuge from the racial segregation and violence of the American South, searching for a more secure and welcoming environment in the North. Human Connection: "Warmth" conveys the idea of human connection and belonging.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

South Central Federation of Labor. Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Progressive Dane, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, MOMS Demand Action, Four Lakes Green Party, AFSCME People.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

External links

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Candidate

Madison Common Council District 18

Website

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Officeholder

Madison Common Council District 18

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 2, 2025

Political offices
Preceded by Charles Myadze	Madison Common Council District 18 2025-Present	Succeeded by -

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 2, 2025

[1]

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Carmella Glenn

Contents

Biography

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Madison Common Council District 18

Nonpartisan primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

Information for candidates

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