Isadore Knox, Jr. is a fixture in South Madison where he has lived for over 30 years. He has more than 35 years of combined experience as a Wisconsin State and Dane County manager and has now retired. However, retirement does not mean slowing down and he continues to serve on many civic and neighborhood boards, committees and commissions including the Police Citizens Oversight Board, the Standing District Destination Taskforce, the South Metropolitan Planning Council and the Southside Raiders Football & Cheerleading, Inc.
Isadore first joined Madison’s City Council in 2005 and after a more than 15-year break, he was elected in 2023 for a second term representing the city’s 14th district in South Madison. However, he has promised his family that this is his last term of service and will not run for re-election. Knox understands better than most that “every vote counts.” In the 2023 election required a recount that resulted in a tie. City election rules required that the tie be broken by pulling a name out of the hat. Knox was declared the winner.
One of Alder Knox’s passions is advancing police oversight efforts in Madison. Having police officers wear body cameras is a part of this effort. A second passion has been monitoring the increasing gentrification occurring in South Madison. As development makes its way down the South Park Street corridor, the cost of housing is making it increasingly impossible for low to moderate income residents to remain in South Madison—one of the more racially and ethnically diverse communities in the city.
Although arising from the second-wave feminist movement, the phrase “The personal is political,” definitely applies to Alderman Knox. His civic engagement arises from raising his family of 5 along with his wife Cheryl. As South Side residents the Knox’s have raised 5 college graduates from campuses as diverse as UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas. They are also the proud grandparents of 4. Isadore and Cheryl have made deep investments in the South Madison community. As co-director of the Southside Raider Youth Football and Cheerleading Program, the Knox’s have guided scores of youths through the football program and cheered them on through high school, college, and in a few cases as professional athletes.
Although Alderman Knox will be stepping down from public service in the conventional sense of the word, we should expect him to stay actively involved in the work of the community. He still maintains interest in police-civilian relations, affordable housing, and more efficient transportation options for the South Madison community. Another pull on Knox’s time is his family’s press to get him to consider moving to warmer climes. With a daughter and son-in-law and 2 grandchildren in Florida, there is good reason for him to spend at least the winter months there.
We are grateful to have benefited from Alderman Knox’s dedicated service. We are happy he will have the opportunity to spend more time with his family and his loved ones along with community interests. We know that not being an elected official will slow down his fervor for the South Madison community he loves so much because he is a man for the people!
