Werner Recall Will Move Forward, Others Will be Suspended Says Citizens Group

Muskego Patch received this release from Muskego for Ethical Government, which has mounted a recall effort against Alderman Keith Werner, Alderman Neome Schaumberg and Kathy Chiaverotti. Below is the complete text of the release:

As Treasurer of Muskego for Ethical Government (MEG), I would like to announce that we have already assembled the necessary signatures to recall Ald. Keith Werner, and those signatures will be filed with the Clerk of the City of Muskego shortly.  

Further, in an effort to balance the needs of those frustrated over not being heard with the needs of those tired of recalls, MEG will suspend its efforts to recall Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti and Ald. Neome Schaumberg.  It is the sincere hope of Muskego for Ethical Government that these two officials have now received enough feedback from our citizens to eliminate the need to resume these recalls.

Since MEG’s inception, our goal has been to regain a voice for the citizens of Muskego.  In January a petition was filed containing over 3400 signatures demanding a vote on an issue facing the city.  That petition was ignored on a technicality by a Mayor and bloc of Aldermen representing their own agendas over the needs of the citizens.  And while there have been significant changes to our City government since the creation of MEG in January, our goal has not changed.  We set out with the purpose of giving the citizens of Muskego a voice, and a recall election is the democratically appropriate tool by which we exercise control over an elected official abusing their authority.

We realize that Ald. Werner has announced he intends to resign as of June 2nd, 2012 – more than a week past the deadline for filing the recall petition signatures.  We also understand that if we neglect our obligation to file the recall petition signatures that the Common Council, which has recently undergone a shift in power, would be called upon to appoint a replacement for Mr. Werner.  However, to abuse this favorable shift would be as unethical as the actions of the Alderman we worked so hard to recall.

It is time for the citizens of Muskego Dist. 4, who bravely stepped forward to recall this Alderman, to choose their new representative by voting.

It is time for the citizens of District 4 to be heard.

Debra Bolton
Treasurer, Muskego for Ethical Government

Jill Blensky with the Muskego Clerk's Office confirmed that Werner's resignation would not negate a recall election. When that election would take place is currently undetermined.