Former Deputy Mayor, MMSD President Gloria Reyes files to run for Mayor

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - With votes in the midterm elections still being counted, the race for mayor of Madison has already begun. Former Deputy Mayor and Madison Metropolitan School Board President Gloria Reyes has officially filed to run for the city’s top job, the City Clerk’s website shows.

According to the candidate filings page, Reyes has filed her declaration of candidacy and campaign registration statement. Hers is the only name that currently appears under the mayoral listing.

Reyes, who held the Deputy Mayor seat from Nov. 2014 to April 2019, publicly announced her decision Thursday afternoon outside of the City-County Building.

“I led our city through some critical times and faced them head on, listening to our community,” Reyes said. “When we experience crisis, we need a leader that leads and listens to our community. I care about this community. This community raised me. You have watched me grow as a student in our public schools, Madison College, UW-Madison and as a professional and as a leader, making mistakes along the way, but also making good ones.”

Current mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway does not appear on the City Clerk’s list. The spokesperson for her campaign, Amy Westra, responded to a question about her running again by saying, “[t]he mayor loves her job and isn’t planning on going anywhere.” Westra added that Rhodes

In 2018, Reyes became the first Latina elected to the MMSD Board. She served on it until April 2021 after opting not seek another term. When announcing she would not stand for reelection, Reyes noted she needed to focus on the role she had recently taken as Executive Director and CEO of Briarpatch Youth Services, explaining, “as a Board member, I have always felt that our MMSD community deserved every ounce of energy I have. I’ve given that.”

Four other candidates have filed for various Common Council races, while a fifth person’s declaration of candidacy has been received by the Clerk’s Office.

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