Campaign For Re-election

Vote Emily Kuhn for Mayor, 4/7/26!

Experience in Leading People and Projects

Paid for by the Friends of Emily Kuhn

If re-elected Mayor, I will continue building on our progress with a focus on:

Jobs
- Strengthening partnerships with large and small businesses to sustain a robust local economy.
- Collaborating with nonprofits and service organizations to help residents access job opportunities right here in Middleton.

Housing
- Advancing Middleton’s nationally recognized housing transformation.
- Continuing the shift, achieved under my leadership, from approving just 10 single-family homes a year to more than 200 annually through a data-driven, streamlined, and collaborative approach.

Environment
- Protecting and expanding our conservancy and park spaces.
- Preparing our community for future flooding through proactive planning and infrastructure improvements.
- Enhancing walkability and bikeability to ensure safe, accessible transportation options for all.

Public Safety
- Supporting and investing in our firefighters, EMS personnel, and local police.
- Successfully welcoming and onboarding our new Police Chief.
- Sharing Middleton’s leadership statewide, recently presenting to the State Fire Chiefs Conference on our adoption of innovative technology.

Emily Kuhn For WI Middleton Mayor My name is Emily Kuhn and I am the Mayor of the City of Middleton. I serve because I care about our neighbors that live and work in the city. As Mayor, I routinely work with directors on a breadth and depth of topics from emergency responders, to water towers, road updates, sewers, and snowplowing, as well as golf operations, tourism, and the parks and conservancy. It is an honor to lead and serve in the Good Neighbor City. With the Mayor position being a part-time position, I continue to work as a federal employee as a Project Manager, in which I protect 1200 federal facilities nationally and protect the over 60,000 federal employees in my agency. I routinely train thousands of management staff nationally on de-escalation skills and interagency communications with local police, state, and federal partners. I have over 20 years of federal budget experience and have managed both people and projects for decades. Previously, I served as a City Councilwoman for District 4 - Lakeview Park area. I moved to Middleton with my husband, Sam, to raise our children, Tom and Annika.

The Committees that I serve on include the Stormwater Utility Board, Commission on Aging, Personnel Committee, Finance Committee, and Public Safety Committee; previously I chaired the Public Safety Committee. I have also served on the Arts Committee and Workforce Housing.

My volunteer work includes

Treasurer of the Sauk Trail PTO,
A Sunday School Teacher at Middleton Community Church,
A member of the Chamber of Commerce,
A volunteer at arts events in the city.

Emily Kuhn is endorsed by

State Senator Dianne Hesselbein
State Representative Alex Joers
State Representative Mike Bare
County Executive Melissa Agard
Sheriff Kalvin Barrett
District Attorney Ishmael Ozanne
County Treasurer Adam Gallagher

County Supervisor Lisa Jackson
County Supervisor April Kigeya
Retired Mayor Judy Karofsky
Retired Mayor Kurt Sonnentag
Retired School Board President Sheila Hibner
Retired Sheriff Dave Mahoney

Jobs

In 2024, I played a key role in keeping 1,800 Thermo Fisher jobs here in the City of Middleton, working with community and state partners to keep these positions local. I testified at the Capitol to demonstrate the City’s commitment to keeping the business local. By securing these 1,800 jobs, we are also ensuring that our largest employer’s workforce continued to shop locally and support small businesses and restaurants.

As Mayor, I led the creation of a citywide jobs survey to understand the needs of residents looking to return to work, including seniors seeking part-time roles, parents with children entering elementary school, and residents ready to upskill for higher-paying positions. I personally followed up with residents who provided contact information and worked one-on-one on resume support. Three of these individuals received job offers.

In 2023, I helped a small business find a home in Middleton by connecting the owner to the Chamber of Commerce when their Madison lease was ending. Months later, the owner reached out to share how much they love their new space and how walkable Middleton is for their employees.

In 2025, I encouraged the Rotary Club to host a workforce recruiter for their Rotary Day of Action to share insights on current resume and interview trends. She was an excellent speaker, and I shared key highlights on social media for community members who could not attend.

Most recently, Thermo Fisher announced a $58 million expansion of its Middleton Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) lab, creating approximately 350 new scientist and support positions. The State of Wisconsin is supporting this investment with up to $2.15 million in performance-based tax credits that ensure accountability. Keeping jobs here keeps families here, and strengthens Middleton’s long-term future.

Housing

Middleton’s Housing Transformation

Under my leadership, Middleton’s housing transformation has been recognized nationally. At the 2025 Mayors Innovation Project Conference, I highlighted how we moved from approving just 10 single-family homes per year to more than 200 annually, using a data-driven, collaborative strategy.

Listening to Residents & Understanding the Challenge

In 2023, residents told me they were feeling the pressure of rising costs and limited housing options. Many shared that their adult children who grew up in Middleton could no longer afford to return.
Realtors confirmed the crisis: only three homes on the market at any time, one over $600,000 and one over $1 million. Starter homes were nearly nonexistent.
From 2018–2023, the City averaged only 10 single-family homes built per year, far below the demand.

What I Did to Increase Supply and Price Points

2023 - First-of-its-kind TIF Survey in Wisconsin: I authored a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) survey analyzing the ROI of every TIF-supported apartment development in the last decade, units built, vacancy rates, rents, and TIF dollars received. This transparency prompted developers with higher-than-average vacancies to quickly fill units, with some offering discounts to new renters.
2023 - Led Zoning Rewrite (First Since the 1980s): As Plan Commission Chair, I led a zoning ordinance rewrite – the first since the 1980s; a lengthy and necessary project to increase affordability, allow for smaller lot sizes and it became one of the most progressive in Wisconsin, supporting smaller homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and reduced short-term rental restrictions. I told everyone.
2024 - Conducted a 500+ Response Housing Survey: In one week, more than 500 residents shared their real needs and barriers, providing a clear view of demand.
2024 - Developer Outreach to Align Market Supply: I met with developers to share resident feedback and the need for single-family homes and townhomes. I urged them to build, and they did.
2024 - Strengthened Internal Collaboration: I initiated quarterly leadership meetings to improve communication across city departments.
2025 - Created Developer–City Staff Communication Routine: I launched recurring Zoom meetings between developers and city staff to streamline processes, share ordinance updates, and encourage feedback to diversify housing options and increase price points.

Supporting Seniors & Growing Families

Many seniors want to remain in the community they helped shape. I support creating small homes and high-quality senior apartments as seniors and empty nesters want to stay close to neighbors.

The results of my 2024 housing survey revealed an important insight:

Many seniors in large homes wanted to downsize.
Many growing families in smaller homes needed more space.

By sharing these findings widely, we encouraged natural, community-driven transitions. Over the following year, many seniors sold their family homes to young families in the school district, freeing them from maintenance burdens while allowing new families to move into established neighborhoods.

I believe a diverse housing mix is essential for an inclusive, resilient city, and this approach has helped families thrive, supported seniors, and strengthened Middleton’s future.

The Environment

Housing

Everyday conservation is at the heart of my household, and I bring that same commitment to City leadership. At home, I conserve energy, turn off lights and water, recycle, and donate gently used clothes and toys so others can use them. I support Earth Day activities, our Recycling Center, and regularly talk with staff about ways to conserve energy and adopt best practices across City operations.

Conservancy & Parks

My family hikes the north loop of the Conservancy and visits parks throughout the city. As Mayor, I’ve prioritized budgets that invest in trails, tree canopies, and natural areas,including planting more trees, expanding prairie grass, and removing invasive species. Supporting our Conservancy and parks strengthens our entire community.

In 2019, I supported the redesign of Lake Street to add a park that captures runoff from the 20,000 cars traveling Allen Boulevard each day, preventing that pollution from entering Lake Mendota during storms.
In 2025, the Lake Street park opened with benches, seating walls, and an art sculpture. The engineering below the park now captures stormwater runoff exactly as intended. Multiple committees worked together for years to make this water-quality improvement a reality.
In 2026, I’m excited to share that three new parks are in planning.

Preparing for Future Floods

The 2018 flood brought severe damage across the Lakeview Park area, costing millions. To prepare for future 1,000-year floods, we must review our stormwater utility and ensure mitigation reaches every part of the city. In talking to voters, I led:

A federal budget request of over $500,000 to improve stormwater management from Graber Pond to the Conservancy, using the stormwater utility as the match. In 2025, the grant was approved as part of the Agricultural Bill.
A review of stormwater agreements across HOAs and developments to ensure compliance and expand education, tasking staff with outreach and best-practice guidance.

Walking and Biking

As Mayor, I’ve led numerous initiatives to make walking and biking safer and more accessible across the City:

In 2023, I delivered Police-provided “Slow Down” yard signs to interested homeowners.
In 2024, I collaborated with the School Board President to expand sign distribution. Her idea to offer school pick-up days led to Middleton Police delivering 50+ signs to each elementary school for parents of walking and biking students.
In 2024, I introduced the vision for “School Safety Corridors” and asked the School Board to gather from principals three safety updates near each school, based on their knowledge of traffic patterns and student routes.
In mid-2025, I tasked the new Public Works Director with completing one “School Safety Corridor” request per school within the year. One example: a no-cost ordinance change of “No Left Turn Except for Buses” on Donna Drive near Kromrey. Sauk Trail Elementary also received blinking lights at the high-volume Branch & Maywood intersection.
In 2024, I tasked the Public Works and Pedestrian, Bike & Transit Committees with collaborating on next steps for implementing “Complete Streets.” In 2025, they held a joint meeting.
In 2024, new bike paths were added, completing needed updates along Allen Boulevard and Cayuga. I also requested City collaboration with landowners to keep bike-path land acquisition reasonable.
In 2025, I appointed the same Alder to both Public Works and Ped/Bike/Transit to strengthen communication between the committees.
In 2025, I funded a pedestrian-safety budget line, the first in City history.

As Mayor, I advanced this commitment by launching “Eyes on the Lines,” Middleton’s crosswalk-awareness campaign featuring “Lookout Louie.” With bold visuals, school-friendly materials, and citywide outreach, the campaign reinforced a clear message: safe streets protect our most vulnerable users. These efforts reflect a simple priority, building a community where walking and biking are safe, practical, and accessible for everyone.

University Avenue

I want to slow traffic on University Avenue by design: creating a true separated bike lane, widening the sidewalk so a double stroller and a walker can comfortably pass, and adding a tree-lined boulevard from the Madison border to Park Street. This mirrors the tree-canopy improvements I requested on Mendota Avenue in Lakeview Park.

A boulevard design would naturally calm car traffic, encourage walking and biking, and create a welcoming corridor that connects new high-density housing near the Madison border with downtown. Newer residents want to walk to dinner and local shops. A strolling corridor would help pull residents toward downtown, supporting our local economy.

Per the 2024 housing survey I conducted, walking and biking are priorities for many residents, and more pedestrian activity also reduces parking pressure downtown.

Public Safety

The City must continue to strongly support our firefighters, EMS, and police. I’m grateful for the community’s steady support of our public safety teams and initiatives such as the annual Battle of the Badges, National Night Out, and the K-9 program.

Strengthening Leadership & Coordination

As Mayor, I brought City leadership together by founding quarterly public safety briefing calls to improve cross-department communication. I asked the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and EMS Director to lead the calls, setting a collaborative tone and modeling the type of teamwork we need across the City.
I worked closely with all three public safety leaders on multiple initiatives, including recruitment and onboarding of new staff.
In 2025, when the City welcomed a new Police Chief, I checked in regularly during his first two months to support a smooth transition after the former Chief’s retirement.

Statewide Leadership

In 2025, I presented at the State Conference of Fire Chiefs on AI Technology and Adoption Rates. The Fire Chief partnered with me in shaping a robust conversation for both rural and urban departments across Wisconsin. The session was well received and helped spotlight Middleton’s forward-thinking approach.

Long-Term Commitment to Public Safety

In 2018, as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I focused on data-driven reporting and encouraged proactive recruitment to ensure long-term succession planning. Emergency responders are not quick hires, training takes significant time and resources, and planning ahead is essential.
During the 2018 flood, I witnessed firsthand the dedication of our emergency responders working around the clock to keep residents safe. My family and I made a point to wave and cheer them on. (The photo included is from the pandemic-era parades that brought joy and connection across the City.)

Countywide Collaboration

In 2021, I met with the County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett on speeding in the transit corridor; requesting county collaboration, data analytics, and nearby municipalities to work together on car thefts in the county. The car thefts dropped in Middleton in the weeks and months after our meeting.

Our City - Working Together for Everyone

My vision for Middleton is simple: our city is working together for everyone.

A city where families can afford to live and grow, where seniors can age in place with dignity, where local businesses thrive, and where every resident feels safe walking, biking, or driving through their neighborhood. I believe in data-driven solutions, long-term planning, and community-centered leadership. Together, we can continue building a Middleton that is sustainable, welcoming, and economically strong, now and for generations to come.

Kuhn Enters Mayoral Race

Middleton – Incumbent Mayor Emily Kuhn announced that she will be running for re-election for Mayor of the City of Middleton in the April 7, 2026 election.

In her time as Mayor, Kuhn focused on community events, supported public safety, worked to retain 1800 jobs, increased housing stock, and prioritized road projects to improve school safety corridors for walking and biking children from home to school and return. Kuhn helped bring on new leadership, including a new Police Chief and Public Works Director.

Kuhn is endorsed by State Senator Dianne Hesselbein, State Representative Alex Joers, State Representative Mike Bare, County Executive Melissa Agard, Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, District Attorney Ishmael Ozanne, County Treasurer Adam Gallagher, County Supervisor Lisa Jackson, County Supervisor April Kigeya, Retired Mayor Judy Karofsky, Retired Mayor Kurt Sonnentag, Retired School Board President Sheila Hibner, and Retired Sheriff Dave Mahoney.

Previously, she served on City Council in the Lakeview Park area and much of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy, in which she worked to fix potholes, slow traffic, and supported public safety.