Former Monona Alder Kristie Goforth announced in a Facebook post over the weekend that she’ll seek to become the city’s mayor in the spring election.
Goforth ran for the office in 2021, earning over 42 percent of the vote against incumbent Mary O’Connor.
A member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Goforth could become Wisconsin’s first Indigenous mayor. She is the executive director of the nonprofit organization Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison.
In her announcement post, Goforth wrote, “People often ask why I would want such a thankless job. But public service has never been thankless for me. Having an opportunity to help so many people is rare and I embrace it wholeheartedly. I am being called to lead to ensure that we plan for the future and leave our city in the best possible condition for our children and grandchildren.”
The post said she already had 100 endorsements from local residents and area community leaders.
Goforth is the third woman of color to announce a mayoral campaign in Dane County this year, following Julia Arata-Fratta in Fitchburg and Gloria Reyes in Madison.
