Wisconsin: duty still working and running, despite Hatch Act complaint
The Dunn County News reports: On Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Kathy Ertz, 52, announced she was ready to resign, if necessary, to pursue her bid to become Dunn County sheriff.
As of Friday, she was still on the job — and in the race — with incumbent Sheriff Dennis Smith for the Democratic Party nod in the Sept. 12 primary. When she declared her candidacy for the sheriff’s office, Ertz was unaware that she was in possible violation of the Hatch Act which says that state and local government employees cannot run for partisan office if they have received federal money as part of their salary.
A complaint filed by an unknown party alleged that she received $1,100 over the course of two years for her participation in alcohol compliance checks performed in conjunction with Arbor Place, Inc.’s prevention programming staff. Unbeknownst to Ertz until recently, the project n— under which businesses are “tested” by an underage subject (chaperoned by an adult) to make sure bartenders ask for identification before serving alcohol — is funded by a federal grant.
During a press conference Wednesday, Ertz revealed that she was awaiting a response from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to a letter composed by her attorney, Michael Wittenwyler of the Madison firm of LaFollette Godfrey and Kahn. -- The Dunn County Online Community - News