Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus Worked Under Prosser in a Wisconsin Assembly Dissolved by Scandal [April 10 article]

FYI-Wisconsin has 6,291 wards. You can take a look for yourself:  http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ltsb/redistricting/ward_data.htm

This Clerk Always Lands on Her Feet

What a fool I’ve been–not hanging around with a successful land-on-your-feet type like Kathy Nickolaus. She works as Waukesha County’s clerk since 2002 and she happens to have located 7,500 some votes for whom? Well, I’ll be damned: her former boss David Prosser.

She worked as a staffer under Wisconsin’s Assembly Republican caucus when Supreme Court Justice David Prosser ran it as Speaker & Minority Leader.

She then accepted immunity in prosecution in a criminal investigation of Wisconsin’s state government.

From a June 3, 2002 article in the MJS-

“I can’t really say anything about the probe,” she said. “I was offered immunity and I took it.”

The 42-year-old Republican candidate hopes that voters will accept her role in the ongoing scandal over alleged illegal campaigning by caucus staff members and elect her county clerk this fall. She is one of two declared candidates for clerk.

But some are squeamish about turning over a $56,000-a-year position — one that oversees elections — to someone whose last job resulted in a deal with prosecutors not to bring criminal charges against her.

“That sends up a flag,” said Muskego City Clerk Jean Marenda.

As I feared, Daily Kos checked – yup- Prosser Gained by Just Enough Votes to …

The win by Prosser would be – assuming all votes are certifed with him retaining this 7,500+ vote lead – at the 0.5% of the vote or higher. Which means a cost of $5.00/ward to do a statewide recount as it is no longer within the range to have costs covered by state and local governments.

From Cieran of Daily Kos “.. with approximately 740k for Kloppenburg and 739k for Prosser, the vote gets recounted at state-expense if the election is within ~7400 votes.”  (This stuff comes from page 3 HERE at the G.A.B.’s recount manual)

A Partial Recount May Be Conducted

Just a reminder a partial recount of the state can be conducted, per G.A.B. Director Kevin Kennedy’s statement in his press conference Wednesday, and thus Joanne Kloppenburg could focus on suspected “trouble spots”– errr – maybe Waukesha County?

Back to Ms. Nickolaus, the Entire Caucus she worked in was Eliminated

Nickolaus worked in the Legislative Services Technology Bureau and the state Assembly Republican Caucus and state Assembly Chief Clerk’s office.

From a 2002 article found somewhere (Wha? I screenprinted it. I’ll find the link in a minute. Or is this nternet scrubbing?)   “The state Assembly Republican Caucus, in which Nickolaus once worked, has since been eliminated by the state Legislature for alleged violations of several state election rules.

Many of the caucus workers have been interviewed in a John Doe probe being conducted by Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard and Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann.”

And here’s full text of an interesting article:

Copyright 2002 Journal Sentinel Inc. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media)

Immunity deal shades Waukesha candidacy

Ex-caucus worker promotes openness but can’t offer details

By SCOTT WILLIAMS

of the Journal Sentinel staff

Monday, June 3, 2002

Waukesha — As a candidate for Waukesha County clerk, Kathy Nickolaus talks about the importance of politicians being open with voters.

Nonetheless, as a former state legislative caucus worker, she says she cannot come clean on one topic: Why she has been granted immunity from prosecution in a criminal investigation of state government.

“I can’t really say anything about the probe,” she said. “I was offered immunity and I took it.”

The 42-year-old Republican candidate hopes that voters will accept her role in the ongoing scandal over alleged illegal campaigning by caucus staff members and elect her county clerk this fall. She is one of two declared candidates for clerk.

But some are squeamish about turning over a $56,000-a-year position — one that oversees elections — to someone whose last job resulted in a deal with prosecutors not to bring criminal charges against her.

“That sends up a flag,” said Muskego City Clerk Jean Marenda.

Nickolaus, who lives near Oconomowoc, worked 13 years in Madison as a staffer for the Assembly Republican caucus, one of four GOP and Democratic legislative groups now under scrutiny.

An ongoing criminal investigation — one of the hottest topics in state politics in recent months — centers on whether those caucus employees engaged in illegal political activity during their state employment.

Nickolaus earned $54,000 a year as a data analyst and computer specialist for Assembly Republicans.

Immunity received

As district attorneys in Milwaukee and Madison turned their focus to legislative leaders managing the caucuses, Nickolaus last October became one of several employees granted immunity from prosecution for their cooperation in the investigation.

Since resigning from her state job May 10 and launching a campaign for county clerk, Nickolaus has refused to say whether she engaged in any illegal activity in Madison or whether she would have aided the current investigation without a promise of immunity.

“I expected this to come out, and I expected to get questions,” she said. “I believe in open and accountable government.”

But she added: “There’s not much I can say about it. I am under orders.”

Nickolaus has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and her campaign is drawing support from some high-profile Republicans in Waukesha County.

Patricia Karcher, a former county treasurer, has signed on as Nickolaus’ campaign treasurer. Karcher was unaware of Nickolaus’ role in the state caucus scandal, but she said that would not sway her loyalty.

“She’s my candidate for county clerk,” Karcher said. “As far as her past, that’s something you’re going to have to ask her about.”

County GOP Chairman Don Taylor, who makes no endorsements until after the party primaries, said Nickolaus’ immunity deal should not taint her candidacy. “I don’t think it’s relevant.”

Nickolaus is the second declared candidate for county clerk, and will meet fellow Republican Kathy Milbrath-Karalewitz in an October primary.

Milbrath-Karalewitz, 41, the Menomonee Falls village clerk, said her decision to enter the race was solidified when she heard that a former state caucus worker with no clerk experience was interested in the county job. Milbrath-Karalewitz also said the immunity deal with prosecutors raises disturbing questions about her opponent.

“I don’t think voters want that today,” she said. “They want someone who’s honest and up-front.”

Milbrath-Karalewitz, a former deputy county clerk, has won the support of incumbent Patricia Madden, who is retiring after 14 years in office.

“People expect officials to be above-board and have high integrity,” Madden said.

The general election is Nov. 5, although no Democratic candidate has registered yet. Nomination papers are due July 9.

Nickolaus said that although she has never worked as a municipal or county clerk, her state job gave her valuable experience studying legislative districts and learning about individual municipalities.

Credit: Journal Sentinel staff

AND if you’re up for more, a Daily Cardinal article which encapsulates more of the shenanigans of Wisconsin in 2002