Supervisor wants to talk about county losing $880,000 juvenile detention contract

County Board Supervisor Ken Hall is raising questions about how the county lost an $880,000 contract to house Kenosha County juveniles in the Racine County Juvenile Detention Center.

Hall, who represents the Wind Point area on the County Board, said he raised the issue at the end of the County Board's March 9 meeting because board members had not publicly discussed the lost contract. He asked the board's Committee of the Whole to discuss the lost contract and what it means for the county budget. Hall (right) said it will have a big impact.

"The loss of that long term contract leaves an $800,000 hole in the county budget, so it is a major fiscal issue that needs to be offset," he said.

Racine County lost the contract because it was unwilling to switch to a flexible pay system that would have allowed Kenosha County to only pay for beds they use during the year. Instead, it wanted Kenosha County to pay a flat fee for the year.

Washington County, located north of Milwaukee, allowed Kenosha County to switch to the flexible pay system. Kenosha County estimates it will save $200,000 a year by sending juveniles to Washington County.

Here's a Kenosha News story detailing the end of the 13-year arrangement between Kenosha and Racine counties for juvenile detention.

Here's a Journal Times' response with County Executive Bill McReynolds explaining the lost contract this way:

"Negotiations just broke down. It was a big contract. We felt it was a good deal for Racine County and Kenosha County. Things change. Things evolve. It is what it is."

Hall cruises past Dey for County Board

Ken Hall easily knocked off Brian Dey for the County Board, outpacing the former Unified School Board member 1,236-697.

Hall won his second term on the County Board. His district includes Wind Point, North Bay and the east side of Caledonia.

Dey served on the Racine Unified School Board before deciding not to seek re-election.

The race turned heated in recent weeks after Dey alleged Hall wanted to spend $250,000 on Frisbee golf courses. Hall said he wanted to spend $25,000 on two courses.

Supervisor hires document expert to challenge opponent's papers

In what may be a first for local elections in Racine County, a candidate hired a hand-writing expert to challenge the nomination papers of his opponent.

Supervisor Ken Hall called in the expert to challenge signatures on challenger Brian Dey's nomination papers. Dey turned in his papers with 103 signatures - three over the required 100.

Hall challenged the signatures and three were tossed out, leaving Dey with valid papers. Hall then hired hand-writing expert Jim Ferrier, a former Milwaukee police captain, to review Dey's signatures.

Hall reported Wednesday that Ferrier found two additional duplicate signatures, which would bring Dey's total under the minimum.

"Accountable government begins with respect for the election process, its laws, and deadlines," Hall said in a press release. "This matter is back to the County Clerk to decide, but serious candidates easily avoid issues like this by planning, scheduling, and doing the work needed to gather far more nomination signatures than the minimum in order to ensure they qualify for the election ballot."

Dey is a former member of the Racine Unified School Board and Caledonia's weed commissioner. He is challenging Hall for the County Board's 15th District.

Dey responds to Hall's challenge

Brian Dey posted this statement in the comments on our story about Ken Hall challenging Dey's nomination papers. We're elevating the comments to a full post so both candidates have equal say. Note to JT: This could be one of the most interesting local elections in years ... anyone going to cover it?)

Here's Dey's comments:

Once again, Ken Hall has resorted to cheap tactics and mudslinging to try to distant himself from opponents. He tried similar tactics in the County Executive race last year.

The process asks for 100 signatures, which I surpassed and stand by 100%. Mr. Hall , in his first campaign for County Supervisor misled the people of his district that I endorsed him by placing my name in an endorsement ad, which I had previously told him after a visit to my home that I would not endorse him.

As in his failed bid for County Executive in which he employed similar tactics, the people of the 15th District will not tolerate such disrespect for the political process.

I can only hope that the County Clerk does not fall for such cheap tactics. Rest assured, if he is successful in this stunt, I will not go away and will continue to run with a write in campaign.

My only hope is that the people that signed the nomination papers are not disenfranchised by Ken Hall.

Hall contests Dey's nomination papers for County Board

County Board Supervisor Ken Hall is challenging the nomination papers submitted by Brian Dey, who is challenging Hall for the board's 15th District seat.

Hall alleges that Dey, a former Racine Unified School Board member, did not submit the required 100 signatures to appear on the ballot. The 15th District is based in Caledonia.

Here is Hall's statement on challenging Dey's signatures:

“On behalf of the qualified electors in District 15 and Racine County and in order maintain the integrity of the election, as prescribed by Wisconsin law, I have submitted a complaint today to County Clerk Joan Rennert contesting the sufficiency of Brian Dey’s nomination papers for the District 15 County Supervisor seat,” said Ken Hall, incumbent County Supervisor for District 15 in a statement released today.

The complaint alleges that the nomination papers certified by Mr. Dey contain 9 invalid signatures including duplicate signatures, signatures signed by persons other than the elector, invalid addresses, and other irregularities. Mr. Dey’s nomination papers list 103 nominating electors, but when the irregularities are taken into account, these papers are unlikely to meet the minimum standards under Wisconsin law for Mr. Dey to earn a place on the ballot. The minimum standard is 100 valid signatures from eligible electors.

“Accountable government begins with respect for the election process and its laws. This matter is up to the County Clerk to decide, but serious candidates easily avoid issues like this by planning, scheduling, and doing the work needed to gather far more nomination signatures than the minimum in order to ensure they actually do qualify for the election ballot,“ stated Ken Hall.