Ethics board adds a dozen potential witnesses to the Doug Diny Ballot box ethics case

What happens between now and a late-summer hearing.

Ethics Board Chair Calvin Dexter and Wausau Mayor Doug Diny

The potential witness list in the ethics investigation into Mayor Doug Diny just grew significantly.

The city’s Ethics Board Monday added a dozen names to the witness potemtial list as the ethics investigation drags on toward its sixth month without resolution.

To recap, a group of Wausau residents in January alleged that Mayor Doug Diny removing a ballot from city hall was a violation of the city’s ethics code regarding public employees and elected officials. That came while a state criminal investigation was already underway.

The ethics board in February determined that the allegations, if true, would constitute a violation of the city’s ethics code. The board began an investigation and sought statements from Diny, City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde and City Attorney Anne Jacobson.

But Bernarde and Jacobson didn’t offer complete responses to the board, citing their involvement might compromise a state investigation into Diny’s removal of a ballot box. And ultimately they declined to participate in the hearing for the same reason.

That led the ethics board in April to postpone a hearing on the matter for 120 days in order to identify more witnesses, as Jacobson had suggested to the board there were other witnesses to be called.

On Tuesday the board met again, agreeing on a list of a dozen names of witnesses who will be asked to submit a statement about their conversations with the mayor and any documentation that is relevant.

Who will provide info?

Jacobson had initially told ethics board members there were four additional witnesses, but Ethics Board Chair Calvin Dexter on Tuesday said the city attorney had not provided those names. Instead, 12 names were identified.