David Handowski

David Handowski

Education

High school

Thomas Jefferson High School

Bachelor's

University of Texas, San Antonio

Personal

Profession

Technical solutions manager

Contact

Personal website

David Handowski was a candidate for District 1 representative on the Madison Common Council in Wisconsin. He was defeated in the general election on April 4, 2017.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Handowski earned a B.B.A. from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

As of his 2017 run for common council, Handowski was retired. Prior to his retirement, he worked for Sears from 1987 to 1994 and as a technical solutions manager for IBM Global Solutions from 1994 to 2012. Handowski has served as the co-founder and vice president of the Madison West Neighborhood Association, a committee chair for the High Point-Raymond Development Plan, and the president of the High Point Estates Homeowners Association.

Elections

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Madison, Wisconsin (2017)

The city of Madison, Wisconsin, held an election for common council on April 4, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was January 3, 2017.

All 20 common council seats were up for election in 2017. Incumbents ran for re-election in 19 of the 20 districts. They were unopposed in 15 of those races. Incumbent Barbara Harrington-McKinney defeated David Handowski in the general election for the District 1 seat on the Madison Common Council.

Madison Common Council, District 1 General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Barbara Harrington-McKinney Incumbent	60.23%	1,133
David Handowski	39.61%	745
Write-in votes	0.16%	3
Total Votes		1,881
Source: Dane County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election," accessed May 4, 2017

Campaign themes

2017

Handowski's 2017 campaign website listed the following priorities:

“	I will support the Madison Police Department for a safer Madison Supporting our Madison Police Department is more than voting on a budget. The actions and words, or lack thereof, by Common Council to date are significant contributors to the friction, distrust and animosity between residents and our police. I fully support staffing increases to the MPD, which will result in faster response times and help reduce growing drug and gun crimes I will advocate for the implementation of body cameras I believe the Midtown Station should be kept on schedule to help make the entire West side safer, and reduce inefficiencies and overcrowding at the West station I am steadfastly against any initiative that authorizes any political body, bureaucracy, or our Common Council to change or dictate terms of local police “use of force” doctrine I was against the $400K Police Procedures and Policy review. This was funding that could have been invested directly into neighborhoods or youth programs (ie: Restorative Justice, “15 Point Plan”) I support an effective solution for panhandling, relieving local west side businesses and employees from having to manage this safety issue on their own ​I support a balanced, practical approach to residential and economic development that builds on the quality of far Westside neighborhoods ​Obsolete City of Madison development plans created decades ago do not reflect current residents’ needs or priorities. Successful cities grow, and I support such growth on the southwest side. However, growth should be planned with order and priorities that consider the opinions of current residents. I chair a residential Ad Hoc Committee which created 8 specific recommendations to update our neighborhood plan, and I presented these to City Planning, Plan Commission and Long Range Transportation Committee. Recommendations covered priorities for road infrastructure investment, densities of development, and plans for open and park space I was firm in my position to eliminate the Jeffy Trail Extension which would have destroyed a neighborhoods most valued asset. The incumbent Alder was non-responsive and uncommitted to the neighborhood A long term vision for economic development for District 1 has been absent for years. I want to focus on investment and building opportunities for commercial and business growth that will bring more jobs to the west side. We need a focused plan to develop the Rayovac property Coordination should be taking place with neighboring developments (UW Research Park) and city districts to drive the economy on the southwest side Budgets are not sustainable - I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY NO! Madison spending and debt continues to go up--year over year over year. This year alone we will spend $44 million just to pay our annual debt obligation. This is $44M that could have been invested in our neighborhoods, city infrastructure, or economic development and jobs. Madison increases in spending and debt are just not sustainable. Madison residents contribute 73% of all revenue to the City, up from 53% just 10 years ago. The growing public burden is fundamentally because more businesses are exiting Madison, leaving residents to pay more. Common Council needs to encourage more economic development. Not only will this generate new city revenues, but will also address affordable housing by adding higher wage jobs, close the racial disparity gap, and support the city amenities we all enjoy The current budget includes over $30M (and growing) cost to renovate the Madison Municipal Building when we should evaluate city employees working from home. This would not only save money by reducing government facilities, but promotes a greener Madison, and increases employees’ disposable income and their job satisfaction The Common Council needs updated thinking to avoid spending more year after year on the same budget line items	”
—David Handowski's campaign website, (2017)

Endorsements

2017

Handowski received endorsements from the following in 2017:

• Wisconsin State Journal
• Madison Professional Police Officers Association
• Madison Alder Paul Skidmore
• Former Madison Alder Jed Sanborn
• Dane County Supervisor Ronn Ferrell

See also

Madison, Wisconsin	Wisconsin	Municipal government	Other local coverage

External links

Suggest a link

• Madison Common Council
• Campaign website
• Social media
  • Facebook