Kader not running again for La Crosse city council

Served off and on since the early 1990s

A former La Crosse city council president says she won’t run again for a seat on the council. 

Audrey Kader has been with the council off and on since the early 1990s and served as president under then La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter.

She’s one of likely just a few who can claim to have survived two recall elections.

Few council members have generated as much attention in recent years as Kader. As council president, she was targeted in a recall election by local tea partiers in 2013 – mostly over trash can rules – and won 74 percent of the vote in the primary to retain her seat.  She also survived a recall of La Crosse school board members in 1992. 

 And, while she isn’t running this spring, she wishes others would. But wishes others would

“t’s so unfortunate that more people with broad community qualifications and some good business experience do not run for council,” Kader said.

Part of why she’s not running again in the spring is the redistricting process for the city which would pit her against a city council member she’s already pledged to support. Part of it is having seven grandchildren she wants to spend more time with. 

The actual city council work isn’t so much part of the decision.

“In relation to city council, I’m certainly going to miss being involved in the inner workings,” Kader said. “I’m hoping if I behave well enough, that the mayor might honor me with an appointment to something I’m interested in.”

The council moves from 17 to 13 members in that redistricting plan this spring.