Letter to the editor: Mayor calls out council, city clerk on ethics complaint
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Yesterday (Editor’s note: Monday), I complied with the Wausau Ethics Board Order of February 24, 2025, to provide a sworn statement and deliver all supporting documents justifying my actions of moving an unsecure drop box into my office. My statement swears out the timeline and includes 30 supporting documents. In summary, I secured the drop box until the City Clerk and I could “iron out” many of the issues of which she was aware, and to ensure that Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) best practices.
It has been most difficult to read comments in the press and social media by Council members discussing this issue prematurely and passing judgement on me. They did so despite being counseled against doing so. Until now, I resisted giving “my side,” or in airing dirty laundry on staff or council; in particular, Alders Watson, Larson and Rasmussen, who disingenuously championed the process and transparency.
Regarding transparency, it should be noted that The Clerk and City Attorney did not comply with the Ethics Board Order citing the active Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation. The Ethics Board, the City Council and the readers of these pages were forewarned of the complications of conducting an ethics investigation while a DOJ investigation was already underway, the City Attorney or the hired outside counsel should have taken this into account when advising the Ethics Board.
I trust that the Ethics Board upon reviewing my responses, and the “lack thereof” of others required to submit statements and documents, will immediately dismiss this case. As repeated more than once by City Council members, we all want to get past this as soon as possible and move forward with the City’s business.
Mayor Doug Diny
Wausau
NOTE: Mayor Doug Diny also included a copy of his sworn statement to the Wausau Ethics Board to members of the media including The Wausonian. The Wausonian is including a copy of this statement for readers to see below:
If you would prefer it on a website, you can read the statement here. The Wausonian will continue to follow the ethics situation as it unfolds.