Borough Council - Bob McDowell

My late wife and I chose Madison 24 years ago. We raised our three children here and they all graduated from Madison schools. I love this town. I have also watched the current majority on the Borough Council in action and I know we can do a lot better. That’s why I want to bring business skills honed over decades to Borough government, particularly my economic and management skills.  

Experience

I developed my business skills in the banking industry and retired as Vice President – Senior Marketing and Product Manager with JP Morgan Chase. My career provided me with significant experience in financial planning, product management, product delivery and customer service.  I am an experienced team leader and have delivered major new and innovative products across the globe.  I have an extensive economics background and was named a National Science Foundation scholar. I am also a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for achievment in business and economic study.

Fiscal Responsibility

My experience in finance convinces me we can bring greater discipline, transparency and accountability to the way the Borough spends our money. You do not buy luxuries, no matter how desirable, before you pay for necessities. You don’t borrow $3.4 million for turf fields when you don’t have money to pave roads, when you are cutting vital services like leaf and garbage collection and when you’re thinking about reneging on commitments to the library. It’s irresponsible.

Team Work

You don’t build a team with a steam roller. A team works best on respect. A community works best with civility. Anyone with the stomach to follow our Council meetings knows how polarized and unpleasant they have become. Now in particular, when we face real economic challenges, we cannot afford undisciplined public attacks on residents, volunteers and Council members who disagree with us. It’s unprofessional.

Consensus Building

When you have to answer to colleagues who are all concentrating on the same high-stakes financial goals, you learn how to set priorities, present your ideas with clarity, and how to give and take. Working internationally has taught me how to produce results across cultural, political and personal differences to achieve greater goals. These are valuable skills to bring to government.