The
1989 Madison mayoral election saw the election of
Joseph Sensenbrenner. Both Sensenbrenner and his general election opponent, Robert "Toby" Reynolds, were lawyers. Sensenbrenner was a deputy attorney general of Wisconsin, and also formerly worked as an aide to
Patrick J. Lucey during Lucey's governorship. Both Sensenbrenner and Reynolds were considered to be
liberal members of the
Democratic Party. The election was considered the most major local election held in the state in 1983. It coincided on the ballot with the
1983 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. In December 1982, incumbent Madison Mayor
Joel Skornicka announced he would not run for a third term. Two weeks later, Sensenbrenner announced his candidacy. Sensenbrenner quickly earned the endorsement of the outgoing Mayor and inherited many of his campaign supporters and staff. Sensenbrenner's campaign emphasized his experience in state government and management skills, and, in the crowded 8-person nonpartisan
primary, he came in a close second to former alderman and past mayoral candidate Robert Reynolds. Reynolds and Sensenbrenner faced off in the April election, with both running on a liberal Democratic platform. Sensenbrenner continued to emphasize his managerial acumen, while Reynolds focused more on his desire to lead and motivate the city's various constituencies. Sensenbrenner prevailed with 53% of the vote in the April general election. ==1985==