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Wausau council rejects mayor’s ethics-board appointees amid concern over timing and optics
Summary
The Common Council voted down four mayoral ethics-board appointments after weeks of debate and a public allegation accusing the mayor of confronting a resident; council members cited legal risk, appearance of partisanship and a pending ethics matter as reasons to delay confirmations.
The Wausau Common Council voted 0-10 Tuesday night to reject four appointments to the city’s Ethics Board that Mayor Doug Denny had submitted, after council members raised concerns the nominations would create an appearance of partisanship while an investigation is pending.
Council members said the appointments — to fill multiple seats that the mayor described as having been improperly staggered — should wait while an active ethics matter before the board is unresolved. Members also cited legal guidance the council had received that warned of organizational risk if a single set of nominees created a majority on the five-member panel.
The mayor defended making the appointments as his duty under the municipal code and Wisconsin law and said staggered terms should be restored. “The mayor appoints, the council deliberates, and confirms based on qualifications, not…
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