Attorney Jason Gonzalez was the first Latino elected to the Fitchburg Common Council in 2013. He’s never shied away from conflict, nearly resigning at his first Council meeting, but has built a solid base of support for his current bid to become the city’s first Latino mayor, finishing ahead of incumbent Steve Arnold in the February primary.

Rank your Top 5 MCs. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Lil Wayne, & the Weeknd

Which motivates you more: doubters or supporters? Doubters. Doubters fuel me to work as hard as I can and overcome their doubt and prove to them that I should not have been doubted, to begin with.

Why do you live in Fitchburg? I live in Fitchburg because I love how close it is to downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (10 minute drive), its suburban yet urban yet rural feel, and its diversity (most diverse city per capita in Dane County).

What three leaders in Dane County under 50 have impressed you the most? Given you asked for three and limited the age range, I would say Julia Arata-Fratta, Shawn Pfaff, and Mahlon Mitchell. There are so many more that have mentored me or provided me advice along the way such as Dan Carpenter, Dan Bahr, and Tony Hartmann, that I will be forever indebted to.

What’s the biggest stumbling block in Fitchburg to turning the corner on our racial disparities? Our biggest stumbling block has been the lack of diversity in our city departments, in particular in police, fire, EMS, parks, and library.

What are your top three priorities at this point in your life? My family, my career, and my community.

You are the first Latino to become an alder for Fitchburg. Why is having diversity in political office important? Diversity in political office is important because it brings life experiences and perspectives that are different than the majority. Currently, over one-third of our city is Latino or African American. As the Mayor of Fitchburg, I look forward to being a unifying voice for our growing diverse community. I will works towards address equitable and accessible city services, increasing participation on city committees and commissions, and continue to work with our faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and city stakeholders to address our disparities.

You graduated from Edgewood High School and UW-Madison. Both schools have had some challenges racial conflict within their student bodies. What suggestions would you give both institutions on how to make all students feel included? Be more welcoming and strive to have a student body that reflects the demographics of the city and state.

Name 3 people you wanted to be like when you were a child. I never really decided on a particular person; I more thought of jobs or positions I would want to do such as firefighter, police officer, or fire chief.

Why did you decide to become an attorney? I decided to become an attorney because having a law degree gives you the ability to make change in an area which is limited to many, the courts. I currently own my own practice specializing in criminal defense.

What is your favorite meal to make? I hardly ever cook as up until December when I got engaged I was a bachelor. But I do like to make chili.

What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?

  • The Love of My Life, Santa Ft. Dave Matthews
  • Believe, Mumford & Sons
  • Maria Maria, Santa Ft. The Product G&B
  • Wilder Mind, Mumford & Sons
  • Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson