JANESVILLE — After years of civic involvement and vocal advocacy on local issues, longtime city resident Cassandra Pope has officially launched her campaign for Janesville City Council.
Pope, who has lived in the city for 17 years and lived in Beloit before that, said her decision to run stems from a desire to restore trust in city government.
Other candidates
There are three seats open in the April 7 Janesville City Council election that are currently held by Paul Williams, Larry Squire and Aaron Burdick. All three seats are at-large, meaning council members represent the entire city rather than an aldermanic ward.
Shane Seeman and incumbent Paul Williams, both Janesville natives, have announced they’re running.
Pope
Pope currently serves as vice chair of the Sustainable Janesville Committee, an officer for the Green-Rock Audubon Society, an organizer for the No Janesville Data Center group and a volunteer with SNOW Janesville, which focuses on Southside community development.
Her involvement in local government began, she said, when she noticed what she viewed as a “lack of transparency and responsibility” in a city project.
“I quickly started speaking out on behalf of our community and the environment,” Pope said. “In my time living and working here, and through my community involvement, I have grown to care very deeply for Janesville, particularly for small businesses, our parks and natural assets, and the underserved in our community.”
Pope said she believes many of the city’s biggest challenges point back to three missing elements: accountability, trust and unity.
“As a council member, I will make the following issues my priorities: restoring accountability in our leaders, restoring community trust and restoring unity across all sections of our city,” she said.
Pope said that her motivation to run is tied to residents feeling unheard, particularly on major development decisions. She cited the ongoing debate over the proposed data center project, which she opposes.
“I decided to run because I feel like our community deserves better. Councilmembers are not ‘leaders,’ they are public servants,” she said, adding that if someone supports her in an election it’s her duty to serve them. “I have worked in many roles from business owner down to a janitor, and I have to say, the far most valuable and rewarding jobs I have ever had have been service, and I have made service a priority in every role I have ever been in.”
She said in recent years the council has moved too quickly through major developments without much input from the community and she hopes she can help with this.
“For years, people, including myself, have been asking the council to slow down and listen and engage with the citizens before moving forward on projects,” Pope said. “For years they have ignored those requests. Thousands of people in our community are asking, telling, literally begging our council to vote ‘no’ on this data center, yet it keeps moving forward.”
Pope said she views council members not as decision-makers acting above the public, but as individuals who should serve directly alongside residents.
“I believe the council should not only work for the community but with the community. That is not happening right now,” she said.
Pope said she believes her strengths in communication, patience, empathy and a willingness to listen would help to fill gaps she sees in the current city government.
“I have integrity, I am honest, and I am trustworthy, which are characteristics the citizens of our city have clearly stated are needed in our government,” she said, referencing results from the city’s most recent National Community Survey.
If elected, Pope says she intends to continue learning as she goes and to make sure that community members feel heard.
“I promise to keep learning and growing, and to keep an open mind and a listening ear,” she said. “I intend to take my current knowledge in government economics, my experience in service and community engagement, and the people I’ve surrounded myself with for support and expertise and use them all to bring positive change to our Council and city.”
