(You may email candidates directly for more specifics on their positions on local issues.)
Sarah Bahauddin - sarahbahauddin@gmail.com
My name is Sarah Bahauddin and I live at 2006 Jefferson St. I have lived here since 2013 with my husband Mark; children Amina (13) and Albie (10); dog Zipper (5 years old); 4 chickens, and 2 gerbils. I am originally from Minnesota but moved to Madison after 15 years of living in Seattle, where I worked as a musician, playing and teaching the oboe. Now, mostly I am a stay-at-home parent but lately I have been teaching some oboe lessons on Zoom. This fall, I became an election worker and worked at the polls for the first time.
I have been on the VNA council since 2019 and have been president during 2020. While serving my term, I have been on the Edgewood Liaison Committee and the District 13 Alliance. My main goal has always been and will continue to be to listen to neighbors and hear their concerns to figure out how to best represent the diverse opinions we have here. I'll continue to search for ways for us to come together (a difficult task during the pandemic) as well as ways for our neighborhood to reach out to others in our wider community.
Ben Biltz bpbiltz@uwalumni.com
I’ve lived in the Vilas Neighborhood for seven years on the 1500 Block of Adams Street. Before that I lived in the Greenbush Neighborhood. I originally came to Madison to attend UW – Madison and decided to stay after graduating.
I’ve been on the Vilas Neighborhood Association Board since 2016 and am the one of the co-chairs of the Zoning Committee. I’m interested in working on how the Vilas neighborhood can thrive in a growing and changing Madison. If you ever would like to discuss a neighborhood issue or concern, please feel free to reach out.
Shawn Doherty ShawnD7777@aol.com
My name is Shawn Doherty. I have lived at 2121 Adams for 20 years and raised two daughters here. In addition to being a mom, I have worked as a journalist covering local and national politics for Newsweek, the LA Times, and the Capital Times. Currently I am a special education assistant in the Madison public schools (including Franklin, where I've taught a few of your children!) I have been a member of the Yahara House Friends Board (a clubhouse for people with mental illnesses); a volunteer for Literacy Network; and am currently on the ESEA-MTI Board of Directors for the Madison Teacher's union.
Over the past year I have been a member of the Edgewood Liaison Committee. I am running for the Board because I want to make sure that all views and voices are heard, and to do my part in finding common ground. I will work hard to listen and balance change and growth with the preservation of the unique character of this neighborhood and the natural and recreational treasures that are a part of it, including Lake Wingra and Vilas Park. I am excited by the potential to connect with and support sister neighborhoods including South Park, Greenbush, and Dudgeon Monroe. Together, we are stronger...and happier.
Bonnie Gruber bonniegruber@mac.com
I have lived at 1430 Drake Street for 58 years. I was president of what was then the 13th Aldermanic District Neighborhood Association in 1975-76 and represented the district on the Madison City Council from 1977 to 1979 and 1981 to 1985. After that I worked in various parks and recreation jobs for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for 26 years.
I hope to live here many more years and then hand the home over to my children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. I want to help preserve the neighborhood as a good place to live.
Lee Lazar cyborglenis@yahoo.com
Lee Lazar is the current social chair and co-election chair for the Vilas Neighborhood Association. He has served in these committee roles for three years and prior to that was a member of the VNA council for one two-year term. He lives at 1906 Vilas Ave. with his wife, Dr. Mona Lazar, and their three daughters. With regard to neighborhood issues, Lee holds the following positions:
1) He is in favor of the Edgewood Stadium project.
2) Lee supports expansive development on Monroe and Regent streets.
3) New liquor licenses should be approved without conditions for new bars and restaurants that help make our corner of Madison a vibrant place to live.
4) Vilas Park Drive and all other roads that were closed unnecessarily during the pandemic (like Shore Drive across Park St and Mifflin near Breese Stevens on the East Side) need to be re-opened.
Pat Scheckel
My wife Dana and I have lived at 1915 Jefferson Street since 2005. Our daughter Marit, is a senior at Madison West. Our son Teddy graduated from West in 2018 and is a junior at UW.
I’ve served on the VNA council since 2014, as treasurer. Since 2016, I’ve been one of the primary organizers of the neighborhood block party, held every non-pandemic June on the 1900 block of Jefferson. For the past two years, I’ve served as the editor of the Vilas Ink newsletter.
I work at Singlewire, a maker of mass notification software, where I’m responsible for product management and marketing. I enjoy cross country skiing, bicycling and chasing after two misbehaving pug-mix dogs.
I hope to see you around the neighborhood!