Robert W. McPherson (Waunakee Village President, Wisconsin, candidate 2025)

Robert W. McPherson

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Waunakee Village President

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 1, 2025

Personal

Birthplace

Frederick, Md.

Profession

Risk manager

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Robert W. McPherson ran for election to the Waunakee Village President in Wisconsin. He was on the ballot in the general election on April 1, 2025.

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

Biography

Robert W. McPherson provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on March 20, 2025:

• Birth place: Frederick, Maryland
• High school: Governor Thomas Johnson High
• Bachelor's: The University of Tampa, 2003
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Risk Manager
• Prior offices held:
  • Waunakee Village Trustee (2023-Prsnt)
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Getting us the "stuff" we need in Waunakee!
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Waunakee Village President

Robert W. McPherson and Kristin Runge ran in the general election for Waunakee Village President on April 1, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Robert W. McPherson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Kristin Runge (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

McPherson received the following endorsements. To view a full list of McPherson's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

• Democratic Party of Dane County (WI)

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Robert W. McPherson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McPherson'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.

Originally from rural Maryland, I moved to Waunakee in 2012 knowing that it had one of the best school districts in Wisconsin and would be a great place to start a family. Over time I became more active in the community, participating with local non-profits and then serving on the village's Housing Task Force in 2018-2019 trying to help look for solutions to our housing problem (which is now a crisis in Dane County). After a few attempts, I was elected to a trustee position in 2023 and I am now running for village president.

As a trustee I have used my position to advocate on multiple issues for residents, leading on and writing successfully passed legislation in areas such as housing choice (accessory dwelling units), funding for early child care programs, and the keeping of chickens within the village. I have been a steadfast champion of ensuring public funds are used to the best benefit of all residents of the village, and looking for solutions where everyone can benefit, rather than a select few.

As village president I would lead on introducing new voices to our committees and commissions, continuing to advocate for resident needs, and continuing to see Waunakee progress forward to a successful future.

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?

• We must look at doing what we can to attract a second grocer to the village. There is research based evidence that shows when dollars are spent in a community, many of those dollars stay in the community. It is not acceptable to tell residents to leave Waunakee to buy groceries (and other services) when we are fully capable of having them in the village. It is a win for everyone to buy in Waunakee if you live in Waunakee.
• With the village's continued growth, we must make sure that our emergency services are treated well and funded correctly. The village is currently in a transition process with our fire department and district, and it is vital that we respect our volunteer firefighter model as we form our own fire department. I have been one of the key leaders on beginning the transition process, and if elected would continue to see it through in a way that honors those that have served, and will serve in the future.
• We must increase our housing choice, and to do that we must make sure we make bold decisions with our comprehensive plan, which will be reviewed in 2025-2026. I have been a tireless advocate as a trustee on this issue, successfully writing and passing an ordinance on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that was one of the most progressive in Dane County. We must continue to do more, and I would look to push for "incremental development", which would allow single family homes to go to duplexes, duplexes to triplexes, and so forth, without a lengthy legal approval process, but "by right" for the owner of the property.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am very passionate about zoning and how it impacts the development of our community. Much of our zoning code is almost 30 years old, and the needs of our village have changed to the point that the existing zoning is forcing us to only develop by building new, expensive housing, with little other choices for housing. Updating our zoning to meet the needs of the modern era will unlock many solutions for the village, such as a increased housing choices (starter, senior, etc.), and attract new businesses we need, like a second grocery store.

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

I believe any elected official must be transparent in their actions and accountable to their constituents. As a politician I have always strove to ensure that I explain my votes, and do not give any appearances of a conflict of interest. Too many elected officials seemingly use their position for personal career advancement, to benefit those that they know, or worse just benefit themselves. If you make an action as an elected official that you are uncomfortable being accountable for, or unwilling to tell your constituents why you took that action, then you are doing a disservice to your citizens.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of helping Waunakee on its next "act" as a municipality. With the village embarking on a process to overhaul its zoning code for the first time since the 90s, it will greatly influence how the future grows over the next decades. It would be exciting to know that the next generations after me would be a beneficiary of the reforms we do now, even if I am not around to see it.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Many residents do not know that the Village President is the one who makes selections for all village committees and commissions. While these appointments must be approved by the village board in a vote, this often occurs in a "consent agenda" item, that is, it is usually voted on with no discussion. Who sits on these committees and commissions is important, because they can set the tone for the items that eventually make it to the full village board for action. If a Village President places citizens on these committees and commissions that are not serving the best interests of the village, it can lead to halted progress, and cause long-term harm to the village.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Democratic Party of Dane County

State Senator Dianne Hesselbein
State Rep. Alex Joers
Dane County Supervisor David Boetcher

Waunakee Village Trustee Nila Frye

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.

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Candidate

Waunakee Village President

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