For the last two weeks, everyone and her brother has been talking about the Calumet County District Attorney Ken "I'm the Prize" Kratz, who allegedly used his position to hit on vulnerable women. But amazingly, some important local players have not added their voices to the cacophony.
Watchdog set out to change that, asking several Madison-area officials what they thought about the Office of Lawyer Regulation's finding that Kratz broke no ethics rules in propositioning a crime victim whose boyfriend he was prosecuting; and whether someone in their own office who did the things Kratz has admitted to would be fired. (Kratz, under mounting pressure, this week agreed to resign.)
Ismael Ozanne, Dane County's new district attorney, says he doesn't have "all the facts" regarding OLR. But he would, if such a thing were to happen in his office, "move through the process of investigation and progressive discipline."
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney likewise does "not have enough information" to comment on OLR and sidesteps the question about whether he'd fire a member of his own office for similar conduct. But he expresses outrage at Kratz's behavior and deems it fitting that he forfeit his job.
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk wins the prize (pun intended) for brevity. Asked if she's concerned about ORL and whether a person in her office would be fired for pulling a Kratz, she answers "Yes" and "Absolutely."
Asked the same questions, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz goes for the rim shot: "Who is Ken Kratz?"
