Madison Alder District 16
Two-year term Vote for one
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Sean O'Brien
(NON)
1. How would you evaluate your city’s current efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing? Are there additional steps the city should take to address this issue?
2. How should your city balance the need for development with other concerns, such as public safety, traffic, historic preservation, and conservation of natural areas?
3. What do you see as the top priorities your constituents have for the city council and how would you address them?
4. Describe your specific experience (educational, occupational, civic, and community) that prepares you to effectively address your priorities.
Home municipality
Madison
Home ZIP code
53718
Preferred pronouns
he/him/his
Madison is making progress, but we still have work to do. I have sponsored reforms to make it easier to build housing of all types. I supported investing $14 million into our city's affordable housing fund and continuing down payment assistance programs that help seniors stay in housing. I voted for our largest-ever investment in homelessness services, including the funding of Madison’s first purpose-built, permanent shelter. We must streamline the development review process and lobby the state to return local control to Madison so we can build housing that meets the needs of our residents.
As our state's fastest growing city we must handle growth responsibly and ensure that neighborhoods have a voice in development decisions that affect them. I’m committed to making sure everyone has access to affordable housing, reliable city services, economic opportunity, and efficient public transportation that connects the entire city. Our city needs options for future funding that do not further raise the cost of living or cut essential services. These goals are not mutually exclusive. I will continue working to secure a fairer shared revenue deal & bring more state funds back to Madison.
As costs continue to rise, we have to use tax dollars responsibly and advocate for different sources of funding that do not rely on raising property taxes. We must continue to tackle the affordability crisis head-on and address Madison's housing shortage. Additionally, the city is in the final steps of developing the Southeast Area Plan, which will shape the future of Southeast Madison over the next decade. Strong local leadership has never been more important. Cities like Madison need to be the backstop, protecting our communities from federal overreach and standing up for all our neighbors.
I am a lifelong Madisonian, Eagle Scout, and proud product of our public schools. I graduated from Edgewood University in 2020 and bought my first home in the Richmond Hill Neighborhood. I have spent nearly a decade working in and around government in Wisconsin. I currently work as the Policy Director for Fair Wisconsin, our state’s LGBTQ+ civil rights and political advocacy organization. Since being elected in 2025, I have hosted more than a dozen office hours to hear directly from constituents and communicate frequently through blog posts, social media, and in-person events across District 16. I also serve on the Transportation Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, and the Sustainable Madison Committee.
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