GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – We now know when another state hearing will be held to discuss how Green Bay administered its November election.
The state Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections will hold its second hearing on Green Bay’s elections on March 31st.
State Republicans are concerned the mayor’s office let outside groups make election decisions instead of the city clerk’s office.
City officials have maintained they did nothing wrong and they’re proud of how the city conducted the election during a pandemic.
The Assembly committee members didn’t invite city officials to the first hearing on March 10th, but they did invite them to the one next week.
Mayor Eric Genrich and City Attorney Vanessa Chavez say a scheduling conflict will prevent them from attending.
Chavez sent FOX 11 a letter she sent to committee chair, State Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls):
Hello Rep. Brandtjen. Thank you for extending an invitation to testify at the March 31st hearing to the City. I would be the proper person to represent the City. Unfortunately, I have a scheduling conflict on that day, so the City will not be able to attend on March 31st. However, as you may know, the City of Green Bay Common Council has tasked me with drafting a report on the City’s activities with respect to the election, which I am happy to share once it is complete, which will likely be ahead of the March 31st meeting. Finally, if you are hoping to have someone attend in person, I can certainly look at coordinating for a future date. Please let me know. Thanks.
Chavez says she has not heard back from Brandtjen.
Brandtjen tells FOX 11 the committee will work to find a date that works for city officials in the future, but they will use subpoena powers if necessary.
“I think that the first thing I’m going to have the hearing on the 31st,” said Brandtjen. “It will be the week of Easter, so coordinating at some point, of course. At some point, of course.”
At last week’s city council meeting, both Chavez and Genrich said they’d be willing to talk with the committee.
“I’d be happy to work with the committee if I were invited,” Genrich told the council on March 16th.
“Yes, absolutely it is definitely important for the city to have legal representation anytime allegations are being lobbed at the city,” said Chavez on March 16th.
A day after the first hearing, Genrich told FOX 11, “Quite honestly, what we saw at the Capitol yesterday was some combination of a Stalinist show trial and a three-ring circus.”
“I think after calling me a Stalinist show trial, I think he owes me an apology,” said Brandtjen.
Megan Wolfe, the administrator for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, is the only person scheduled to testify at next week’s hearing.
Brandtjen says Wolfe’s testimony will focus on emails and communication between the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the city of Green Bay.
FOX 11 asked Brandtjen if she has asked Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein to testify. He’s the former Democratic operative who the city says was acting as an advisor for the election. Brandtjen says she has not invited him and doesn’t believe she has a way to contact him.
