Holcombe, Ondocsin Potter nix re-election bids

Tim Holcombe. CONTRIBUTED

Ronica Ondocsin. CONTRIBUTED

Mike Potter. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Tim Holcombe, Ronica Ondocsin and Mike Potter will not seek re-election to Madison City Council in the upcoming municipal election. They announced their decisions in a joint press release on May 31.

Their press release follows, in its entirety:

Tim Holcombe, representing District 1, is President of the City Council, was elected in 2008 and has served two terms. “I am proud of our accomplishments during the past eight years,” Holcombe said.

“Council was instrumental in passing two separate half cent sales taxes, the first to fund a new high school and a subsequent increase to fund city infrastructure improvements. We were successful in recruiting many new businesses, to include a new Target and Kroger. A new fire station, the Madison Hospital, the Hogan YMCA, the I-565 interchange at County Line Road and the Bradford Creek and Mill Creek Greenways, as well as the dog park were all completed during the previous administration. Madison Town Center has begun, and other projects are in the works,” Holcombe commented.

“Unfortunately, this administration’s lack of engagement, communication with Council and leadership has frustrated Council members and caused much division in the ranks, as evidenced by our top two public safety department heads currently on administrative leave. I am hopeful fresh personnel can revive the vibrancy of our great city,” Holcombe concluded. Mr. Holcombe intends to remain active in community affairs.

Ronica Ondocsin, representing District 7, who has served six years, is Chairman of the city’s Human Resources Committee and liaison to the Madison City School System. Having been appointed for a two-year term in January 2011 to replace Bill Holtzclaw and elected in 2012 to serve a four-year term, she is Chairman of the city’s Human Resources Committee and sits on the Finance Committee.

“I could not be prouder of the work and progress that has been accomplished in the City of Madison during the last several years. I have been fortunate to work with and learn from some of the most dedicated people I have ever been associated with,” she said. Ms. Ondocsin says that knowing the City is financially strong and that revenue streams have been put in place to fund more infrastructure and road work makes this a good time to transition to a new District 7 representative.

“The decision to not seek another term on the City Council was not an easy one, as I have come to think of my fellow Council members, Department Heads, and City staff as my extended family, but the passion and energy that was abundant for so many years for this job has been stifled by the inability of the current administration to communicate with and work with the Council as a team with a shared strategic vision and voice,” Ondocsin said.

Ronica says she will remain active in community affairs and hopes to serve the City in other ways.

Mike Potter, representing District 4, was elected in 2012, and is the Council’s appointed member to the Planning Commission. Potter served 8 years on the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Citizen Advisory Committee; 8 years on the City’s Planning Commission, and has served as District 4’s representative for 4 years.

Potter is most proud of the communications he established with citizens via mike4madison.com, advocating for the neighborhood street and collector road repaving programs.

“I believe this Council has established strong fiscal management, focused on revitalizing our infrastructure, improved our environmental management, created and sowed the seeds for new retail and improved the quality of life for Madison citizens. I will miss the close association with Council, our Department Heads and many of our employees,” Potter said.

“However, I have spoken publicly of the communication problems we have between Council and the Mayor. It has not improved and only become more strained. At 68, I cannot envision tilting at windmills for another four years will be good for the City I love or my family,” Potter said.