Alder Yannette Figueroa Cole (District 10) was selected by her peers to serve as the new president of the Madison Common Council on Tuesday night making history as the first Latina in Madison history to hold that position.
Figueroa Cole, who grew up in Puerto Rico, has served as council vice president for the past year. She has been an alder since 2021.
“My decision to seek this seat is not rooted in the Council’s tradition of moving the VP to President, nor is it based on any sense of entitlement due to my current position. Rather, it is driven by my unwavering belief in continuity and my confidence in my ability to tackle process improvement and complex issues such as the budget,” Alder Figueroa Cole said during her nomination acceptance speech.
Alder John W. Duncan (District 1), who was first elected to the Common Council in April 2023, was selected as the new vice president.
“Our constituents need leaders who are willing to set aside personal agendas and work together to address the pressing challenges facing our city,” Duncan said. “Through collaboration, we can develop innovative solutions to our most pressing problems and move our council forward in a spirit of unity and progress. Together, let’s build a brighter future for our city, where all voices are heard, all perspectives are valued, and all members of our community have the opportunity to thrive.”
