Rep. Kelda Helen Roys is not happy. In addition to her suspicions about the Waukesha County Clerk's role in David Prosser's apparent victory in last week's Supreme Court race, she is disappointed that the agency created to take partisanship out of election management, the Government Accountability Board, also appears to be dabbling in partisan politics.
Kevin Kennedy, the director of the GAB, recently put out a letter, on GAB letter head, endorsing a Democratic candidate for Dane County Clerk. Kennedy lent his support to Karen Peters, the current Chief Deputy Clerk, over Kyle Richmond, a liberal county supervisor who is also running for the post.
Current clerk, Bob Ohlsen, has decided to retire two years into his term, meaning his place will be filled by appointment, rather than election. Tonight the County Board held a hearing on the appointment.
From what Roys is telling me it consisted of Sups. Scott McDonell and John Hendrick asking questions and taking public comment, although many other supervisors were in the audience. I'm no expert on county procedure so if anybody else knows the name for the committee or hearing system I am describing, please do tell.
Roys, who supports Richmond, says it is troubling that the GAB is taking part in political appointments. "GAB members aren't even allowed to belong to political parties," she pointed out. "And here we have the director taking part in a partisan race?"
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