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Dear Editor,

After an uphill battle, I’m back on the ballot!

I do not wish to use these lines here to review the details of the back-and-forth challenges that I faced from Marathon County Clerk Kim Trueblood or my challenger Kody Hart, who is employed by the taxpayers as Wausau’s Deputy City Clerk, and an election official as well, but in subsequent articles in the Wausau Pilot and The Wausonian, there were certain facts, and omission of facts, that deserve review.

First, some clarification. I originally handed in 60 signatures, not 62, to Ms. Trueblood, on the last day that signatures could be collected. She disallowed 12, and notified me quickly enough, that I was able to get the 2 more, making 50 total. I believe that Ms. Trueblood acted in good faith. But my signatures were then requested by Kristin Conway, a former Democratic challenger of Pat Snyder for Assembly District 85 and by Kody Hart, my election opponent and current incumbent. One can speculate that Ms. Trueblood may have responded to undue pressure from these two individuals but again, I assume that she acted in good faith towards me.

The WEC provided the following analysis and decision. “In short, the Complainant (me) did show probable cause, in part, to believe that a violation of law or abuse of discretion occurred with relation to Clerk Trueblood’s procedural actions. After reviewing the nomination papers and arguments of the parties, the Commission finds that the Complainant’s correcting affidavit should have been accepted.” Also, “Clerk Trueblood’s acceptance of Mr. Hart’s unverified challenge to the Complainant’s nomination papers was also contrary to law, but the Commission finds the improper acceptance of the challenge did not change the outcome of Clerk Trueblood’s ballot access decision.”

My concern today remains the same as my quoted observation in these pages before — and they concern my opponent, Kody Hart.

As per the Wausau Pilot article:

“She also questioned Hart’s motive behind the challenge.

‘It is not very common to challenge signatures to begin with,’ Egelkrout said. ‘The use of signature challenges as a tactic to impede an opponent, especially when you are an election official yourself, surely should be of concern to the voters in Wausau. Give the voters a choice and let them decide.’

Hart, an assistant [sic] city clerk, told Wausau Pilot that public servants should be expected to do their due diligence – especially with elections, adding that due diligence means crossing every ‘T’ and dotting every ‘I’ because details and process are crucial.

‘All public servants, and those wanting to be public servants, should be held to that same standard,’ Hart said.”

Ironically, I imagine that he regrets his dismissive admonition of me and would have spent more time “crossing every ‘T’ and dotting every ‘I’” himself.

In addition to his current employment as Deputy City Clerk, Mr. Hart spent 2 ½ years as the chairman of the Democratic Party of Marathon County. His Twitter (now X) account overflows with disdain of all things conservative or Republican. He was also one of Mayor Katie’s participants in the now infamous “absentee drop box twerking caper,” so embarrassing to our city, — drop boxes that were most controversial and are now outlawed.

One wonders, will the fair, nonpartisan elections that Wausau once enjoyed be replaced by the corrupt election “machinery” that infects Milwaukee County?

I am certain that there is no legal conflict with his past positions and his current employment as a Wausau election official. I am not attempting to imply anything illegal was done by Mr. Hart, but if I am an example of how he treats opposition candidates it leaves one with justified speculation as to how he will treat opposition ballots! His partisanship may be acceptable in his role of County Supervisor but as Wausau’s Deputy City Clerk, much more integrity is required.

Sincerely,

Jo Ann Egelkrout, Wausau