Marsha Rummel served 16 years on the nonpartisan Madison Common Council, representing one of the city’s most left-wing districts. Along with her Council allies in Progressive Dane, the independent party she helped found in 1992, she updated local Tax Incremental Financing rules to make the process more accountable, worked to increase funding for affordable housing projects and expanded the grant program to include nonprofit and coop developers. She helped review the Madison’s community policing model after a series of officer-involved shootings. This eventually led to the Council’s adoption of an Independent Monitor and creation of a Civilian Oversight Review Board.
Rummel continues to be involved in neighborhood projects that focus on building community power. She is a founding member of, and was endorsed by Progressive Dane, a local independent political party. Marsha is also a member of Solidarity, DSA, and the Four Lakes Green Party. She serves as an advisory editor to Against the Current.
The F-35s Come to Madison
Against the Current No. 239, November/December 2025
The Painful Sound and Debris
Against the Current No. 239, November/December 2025
Out of the Two-Party Trap
Against the Current, No. 222, January/February 2023
The Unnatural Fate of the Forest
Against the Current, No. 26, May/June 1990