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Wausau council rejects mayor’s ethics-board nominees after weeks of controversy
Summary
The Wausau Common Council voted unanimously to reject four ethics-board nominees put forward by Mayor Doug Denny, after several council members cited appearance-of-bias and recent developments in an ongoing ethics matter. The vote follows public accusations about the mayor’s conduct and months of debate about timing and impartiality.
The Wausau Common Council on April 29 voted 0-10 to reject four ethics-board nominees submitted by Mayor Doug Denny, deepening a months-long dispute over the timing and impartiality of appointments while an ethics matter remains pending.
Mayor Doug Denny told the council the municipal code gives the mayor responsibility for making appointments and urged members to confirm nominees on their qualifications rather than “perceptions or assumptions of bad faith.” He defended restoring staggered terms on the board and said delaying appointments would “undermine both this process and the public trust.”
The council’s majority disagreed. Several alderpersons said new appointments now would create the appearance of partisanship because four nominees would form a majority on a five-member board while an ethics complaint is pending. Alder Rasmussen cited…
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