Two Alders in Primary Tuesday Protected and Supported Ex-H.R. Director Facing Child Sex Crime Charges

Click here to view our series: Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall

Roberta Filicky-Peneski and Zach Rust will appear on the ballot on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in the primary elections for Common Council. Both alders showed blind loyalty and support towards former Human Resource Director Adam Westbrook, who is facing four counts each of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.

Filicky-Peneski was part of an email exchange last summer concerning a citizen’s issues with Mayor Sorenson at the Pride Event. Mayor Sorenson posed with members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The citizen asked for an ethics investigation into the matter, which Westbrook did not address. The citizen invited Westbrook to their home for a meeting.

Filicky-Peneski, the only alder to respond to the many emails, advised Westbrook to meet at City Hall instead of the citizen’s home to protect Westbrook.

Her hesitation regarding home meetings might come from a prior incident where she was caught sharing information from a closed session meeting, violating her ethical duties. This breach of confidentiality has led to a “lack of trust” by Alder Barb Felde and other council members.

During the same session, Filicky-Peneski used the same racial slur that started the events that eventually led to the termination without cause of former City Administrator Todd Wolf.

CLICK HERE: FILICKY-PENESKI’S USES N-WORD

The Common Council formally censured Filicky-Peneski for using a racial slur and violating the council’s rules by sharing confidential information.

https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2023/04/12/sheboygan-city-council-member-censured-for-breaking-rules-saying-slur/70093764007

Roberta Filicky-Peneski can’t be trusted by her colleagues on the Common Council. How can she be trusted to represent you?

Zach Rust, also running for reelection and currently the Committee of the Whole Chairperson, was involved in the same email thread. He was asked to address the ethics concerns by bringing together the Committee of the Whole. Rust refused to do this, aligning with Westbrook and robbing the council of investigating the complaint.

This inaction followed Mayor Sorenson’s removal of the concern from the meeting agenda and prevented public comment regarding the photo that mocked the Catholic faith. Rust and Mayor Sorenson trampled on your right to free speech.

Rust avoided his duty and responsibilities as Chairperson and chose Westbrook’s and Mayor Sorenson’s interests over yours.

Do you want to vote for an alder who robs citizens of their right to free speech and chooses the interests of the Mayor and Westbrook over yours?

The former City of Sheboygan H.R. Director Adam Westbrook is scheduled for court on Monday, February 19, 2024. There are more people in City Hall with deep ties to Westbrook.

Stay tuned.

Take Back Sheboygan County knows that many former and current City employees have been reluctant to share their stories for fear of retaliation. If you are one of these, we welcome you to contact us. Your name will not be shared without permission. You can contact us at https://takebacksheboygancounty.com/contact/.

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