Waunakee begins ethics code review; consultant recommends adopting state standards as baseline

The Waunakee Village Board held a work session with consultant Kurt Wietinski to review the village’s ethics ordinance and consider updates. Wietinski recommended using Wisconsin’s state code of ethics for local officials as a baseline and tailoring definitions and enforcement mechanisms to local needs.

Wietinski summarized the state code (Wis. Stat. ch. 19.59) and related statutes, noting five core prohibitions on using public office for private financial gain, accepting anything of value that could influence official action, and taking official action affecting an official’s substantial financial interest. He suggested the village could adopt state standards and expand definitions to include all elected, appointed officials and employees, or alternatively repeal the local ordinance and rely solely on state enforcement.

Trustees discussed adding a locally required statement of economic interests for candidates or incumbents, with several expressing privacy concerns and potential deterrence for candidates; Trustee Kaufman and others raised administrative and employer‑confidentiality issues. The board also debated establishing an ethics board versus relying on the district attorney; some trustees favored a local ethics board to keep enforcement local, while others raised risks of political weaponization and asked for alternatives such as involving a municipal judge.

At the end of the session trustees generally agreed to use the state code as a starting point and asked Wietinski and staff to draft options (including a revised ordinance, possible ethics board structure, and a draft code of conduct) for further review.