APPLETON – The chair of the Outagamie County Board was accused Tuesday of letting “political leanings quite than candidate {qualifications}” information his decide to switch former board vice chair Travis Thyssen.
Solely two candidates utilized to serve out the rest of Thyssen’s time period representing District 21: Harry Dorman, of Grand Chute, and John Cuff, an area businessman who misplaced his bid to signify state Meeting District 56 in 2018.
Thyssen resigned from the board after accepting a place as Gibraltar’s first city administrator. His final assembly as a board member was Sept. 14.
Board Chair Jeff Nooyen mentioned he interviewed and met with each candidates earlier than nominating Cuff, a call Dorman took situation with throughout a gathering Tuesday previous to the County Board assembly to substantiate Cuff’s appointment.
“My concern is he (Nooyen) and Mr. Cuff have comparable political leanings and political emotions,” Dorman mentioned in the course of the public feedback portion of the County Legislative/Audit and Human Sources Committee assembly. “I don’t suppose that’s proper.”
Nooyen, who is just not a committee member however was current for the digital assembly, mentioned he didn’t know the political leanings of both candidate. He mentioned he “had very good conversations” with each.
“I do not know what Mr. Cuff’s political leanings are. I don’t know what Mr. Dorman’s political leanings are, and Mr. Dorman definitely doesn’t know what mine are,” Nooyen mentioned throughout Tuesday’s committee assembly. “I actually take situation with him questioning my integrity.”
Dorman mentioned Wednesday in an interview with The Submit-Crescent that he thinks “it was disingenuous” for Nooyen to say he didn’t know Cuff’s political leanings, given Cuff ran as a Democratic candidate within the 2018 Meeting race.
“You’ll be able to spend 5 minutes our Fb pages and see Cuff is as left-leaning politically as I’m right-leaning,” Dorman mentioned.
Nooyen mentioned he has appointed seven board members, six of whom are nonetheless serving on the County Board. Board member David Wuebben is one among them.
“As a comparatively latest appointee myself, I felt the interview course of with Chairman Nooyen was advantageous and acceptable,” Wuebben mentioned. “It introduced forth the info however politics had been not mentioned.”
County Board member Curt Koetzke mentioned he went by way of the identical course of as Dorman and had the identical final result.
“I turned across the very subsequent alternative I had and I ran for the workplace,” Koetzke mentioned. “If he’s that , he’ll tackle Mr. Cuff as a challenger in April.”
Dorman mentioned Wednesday he plans to run for the seat within the April election. Board members serve two-year phrases.
“There are 36 individuals on the board. My experiences are extra assorted,” Dorman mentioned Wednesday regarding the different board members. “I didn’t develop up right here. I used to be within the army, I’ve lived on each coasts. I’ve a special perspective to convey to the board.”
When a board member resigns from workplace previous to the tip of their time period, it’s the job of the board chair to interview potential candidates after which nominate a person for the County Board to approve. The board permitted Cuff as its latest member Tuesday night time.
RELATED: Vice-chairman Travis Thyssen to step down from Outagamie County Board on Tuesday
Jessica VanEgeren is an area authorities editor for The Submit-Crescent and USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She may be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.
