Statement from Mayor Rhodes-Conway

"Domestic abuse and sexual harassment are serious issues that affect too many lives in our community. The effects are both immediate and enduring, and we must do all that we can to prevent abuse and harassment and to respond fully when it occurs. The City supports survivors and spares no effort to hold accountable anyone found to have violated the law.

 

While the City has high standards for our employees and has an established process for addressing abusive or harassing behavior, City administration does not have similar jurisdiction over independent elected officials. In that case, the recourse is with the public and the political process.

 

No one who harasses or abuses women should be in a leadership position at any level of government. While such behavior may be normalized elsewhere, I would hope that in Madison we have higher standards."