Tag: Sheboygan DEIB

Sorenson Hides Records Until After Reelection

April 6th, 2025
Local residents submitted open records requests regarding communications between Mayor Sorenson, Adam Westbrook, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on June 28, 2024, and August 5, 2024.

Mayor Sorenson never acknowledged the requests, while Human Resources Director Kelly Hendee did. This site reported multiple times on the city’s long delay in complying with the request.

After 242 days, Assistant City Attorney Liz Majerus fulfilled the request.

Mayor Sorenson received three emails from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, but these records were withheld until two days after he won reelection.

On March 26, 2025, Assistant City Attorney Majerus emailed a resident stating that Mayor Sorenson did not have records responsive to the request. Majerus claimed the IT Department would need to access former employee accounts to check for records related to former HR Director Adam Westbrook.

She also stated that the IT Department could not address this due to their focus on the October ransomware attack.

Why did Majerus state, six days before the election, that Mayor Sorenson had no records responsive to this request?

Sorenson received multiple emails from Sister Aidie H. Dee on July 17, 2023, informing him that the City Attorney, Chuck Adams, was also copied. Sister Dee communicated with Westbrook regarding local residents’ concerns about Mayor Sorenson’s ethics violations.

On July 17, 2023, Sorenson received the statement from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Westbrook completed his ethics investigation of Sorenson on July 26, 2023.

With Sorenson involved in the ethics investigation and receiving the same communications as Westbrook, who was conducting the investigation, does this raise concerns about the validity of the investigation?

Sorenson was sworn in with an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, the Wisconsin Constitution, and to faithfully execute the duties of his office.

Does hiding the release of these documents until after winning reelection seem like he honored his oath?

Sorenson’s failure to respond to open records requests until after his reelection calls into question his ethics.

Section 2-267: Responsibility of Public Officials and Employees states:

“Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the state and carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state, and city, thus fostering respect for all government. They must observe the highest standards of morality and discharge faithfully the duties of their office, putting public interest first.”

Sorenson stated he did not have records responsive to this request. The records were withheld for 244 days and not released until after Sorenson won reelection.

Does this align with the highest standards of morality and the duties of his office?

Did Sorenson put public interest first or did Sorenson put his personal political issues first?

If you believe Mayor Sorenson violated ethics standards, email Committee of the Whole Chairman Grazia Perella.
Perella can be reached here: grazia.perrella@sheboyganwi.gov

Are you comfortable with another four years of disregard for public interest by Mayor Sorenson?

Why did Assistant City Attorney Liz Majerus state there were no records related to this request?

City Administrator Casey Bradley was also copied on emails from residents concerning the lack of responsiveness. If you have concerns about lack of transparency and why Casey Bradley, did not turn this over before the election, send him an email and ask him.
Bradley can be reached here: casey.bradley@sheboyganwi.gov b

TBS searched for information on Sister Aidie H. Dee but found nothing on the organization’s website. Why is the person representing the entire organization not featured?

Could Sister Dee be Preston Kite, who was sentenced to 65 years in prison for crimes against children and animals, and they removed the profile?

According to the ethics investigation conducted by Westbrook, he interviewed the man in the photo with Sorenson. Is that man Preston Kite?

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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City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan City Hall, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Perella Shuts Down Local Resident Over Concerns Regarding Mayor Sorenson’s Ethics Investigation

March 16th, 2025
A Sheboygan resident submitted concerns regarding the investigation of Mayor Ryan Sorenson for ethics violations in 2023. Committee of the Whole Chairperson Grazia Perella responded by email.

Chairperson Perella states, “No new information on the subject has surfaced that would affect or invalidate the findings of the previous investigation, there is no basis for me to convene the ethics board on that same subject.”

There is considerable new information that calls into question the validity of the previous investigation.

The investigation was conducted by former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook. Westbrook is currently awaiting sentencing in federal court for sex crimes committed against his own child.

Westbrook’s name surfaced in the investigation of Preston Kite, who was recently sentenced to 65 years in prison for sex crimes against children and animals.

A news article covering the investigation from the beginning reported that a law enforcement officer involved in the case stated that, despite years of experience, the videos discovered were among the most disturbing content they had ever seen.

There is concern that the male nun interviewed as part of Sorenson’s ethics investigation may have been Preston Kite. Local residents have submitted open records requests to Mayor Sorenson regarding any communications between him and Preston Kite.

Sorenson has NOT acknowledged the request for 261 days.

Why is Sorenson silent?

Do you believe that someone like Adam Westbrook had the ethical standards to conduct a valid investigation of Mayor Sorenson?

Westbrook is morally and ethically bankrupt. Perella does not seem to feel the same way. The new revelations about Westbrook’s crimes should call into question any work he completed while employed by the City of Sheboygan.

Do you believe there is NEW information that affects the credibility of the ethics investigation of Mayor Sorenson?

Email Alder Grazia Perella with your thoughts.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!

Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com

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Crisis in City Hall: Closed-Door Investigation into City Attorney Monday

March 15th, 2025
On Monday evening, the Sheboygan Common Council’s Committee of the Whole will meet behind closed doors.
To review an independent report on City Attorney Chuck Adams.
A report so serious that its findings could have “substantial adverse effects” if discussed in public.

The agenda cites Wisconsin State Statutes 19.85(1)(c) and (f), which allow for closed-door discussions regarding employee performance, disciplinary data, and ongoing investigations. These statutes are rarely invoked unless there is something serious at stake. The fact that this meeting is happening at all suggests Adams’ actions are finally under the microscope—but will the council take real action, or will they cover for him once again?

For months, citizens have raised concerns about misconduct within the City Attorney’s Office. Now, we have a closed-session meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

This is about the integrity of your city government.

TBS Obtains Concerns of Local Resident

A Sheboygan resident shared a letter sent to Casey Bradley in August 2024.

The concerns cover the Jill Hall investigation of Todd Wolf and whether that investigation was independent and impartial. The city paid close to $70,000 for this investigation. Edits were made to the final Hall report after Hall consulted with the City Attorney.

Why would this happen if the investigation was independent and impartial?

Concerns were also raised about the lack of transparency regarding open records requests. An invoice related to the Hall report was never shared. The missing invoice contained documentation of consultations between the City Attorney and Hall.

This invoice was discovered after analyzing invoices previously turned over and comparing them to checks paid to the law firm. They did NOT match up.

When the invoice was finally released, the City Attorney’s Office claimed it had been left out by mistake.

Concerns were also raised about Adams’ handling of complaints regarding inappropriate comments made by former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook to a city employee.

Adams refused to conduct an investigation.

Westbrook is currently awaiting sentencing after being convicted of sex crimes against his own child.

Further concerns were brought forward regarding an alder who was contacted immediately after forwarding an email to their personal email account. The alder received a phone call minutes after forwarding the email and was questioned about why it had been forwarded.

Were the City Attorney’s office monitoring alder email accounts?

What Happens Next?

The Common Council will decide the next steps. Will the Common Council stand up for transparency and integrity in local government?

Stay tuned.

Here are the previous posts related to concerns regarding the city attorney’s office.
Letter of Concern from Sheboygan Resident

City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan City Hall, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!

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Mayor Sorenson Investigated for Ethics Violation in 2023: Investigation was Conducted by Adam Westbrook

March 11th, 2025
In July 2023, Mayor Sorenson faced an ethics investigation over a photo taken by Visit Sheboygan at the Sheboygan Pride Event, where he posed with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The investigation concluded the complaint was “unfounded” and would be closed.

Do you know who conducted the ethics investigation?

Former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook conducted the investigation.

Watch the video of Dean Dekker defending Westbrook here.

Westbrook is awaiting sentencing in federal court after being convicted of sex crimes against his own child.

In the complaint, Westbrook stated he interviewed three people. The report includes quotes from:
- Mayor Ryan Sorenson
- Visit Sheboygan CEO
- A male in the photo from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
In dismissing the complaint, Westbrook wrote:

“When analyzing whether Mayor Sorenson’s actions represent an attack on any specific religion, one must look to the facts of the event. According to the Abbey of the Brew City Sisters, they believe they are nuns, and their outfits are not a mockery, but a calling. It would be improper to substitute a non-member’s opinion of the group for the group’s stated mission and purpose. However, even if the outfit were to have been one mocking Catholics (which there is no evidence to support), the facts do not support the conclusion that the Mayor engaged in any inappropriate or unethical behavior by being present at the same event as them.”

Westbrook’s argument hinges on the Abbey of the Brew City Sisters’ statement they are not mocking religion because they consider themselves nuns, and their outfits reflect their mission, not mockery. He further argues that non-members shouldn’t substitute their opinions for the group’s stated mission.

But does this mean if you’re not a member, you have no right to question a group’s mission statement, even if it contradicts your beliefs?

There’s also speculation that Preston Kite, the former law enforcement officer sentenced to 65 years in prison for sex crimes against children and animals, may have ties to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

The initial investigation into Kite led police to Westbrook. The two reportedly shared videos of crimes involving Westbrook’s child.

It’s been 256 days since Sheboygan residents submitted Open Records requests to Mayor Sorenson, asking about any communications with Preston Kite. They’ve received no response or acknowledgment from the mayor.

Why is Sorenson silent?

Do you think this ethics investigation should be reexamined?

Contact:

Ask Common Council President Dean Dekker to look at this investigation. Dekker apologized to Westbrook when he resigned stating Sheboygan ran off a good employee and we are better than this.
Council President Dean Dekker- dean.dekker@sheboyganwi.gov

Email Committe of the Whole Chairperson Grazia Perella asking her to convene the Committee of the Whole to look at this Ethics Investigation.
Committee of the Whole Chair Grazia Perella- grazia.perrella@sheboyganwi.gov

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!

Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com

Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan City Hall, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
194 Days of Silence: Why Won’t Mayor Sorenson Respond?

January 1st, 2025
It has been 194 days since Sheboygan residents requested open records from Mayor Ryan Sorenson regarding any communications between him and Preston Kite, tied to a photo from a Sheboygan Pride event.

In that time, Sorenson has offered no response—not even an acknowledgment of the request.

Who Is Preston Kite?

Kite has pled guilty to serious charges, including:
- 4 counts of possessing child pornography
- 1 count of exposing genitals/pubic area/intimate parts to a child
- 1 count of bestiality for engaging in sexual contact with an animal
Review Court Record here:
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
Racine County Case Number 2024CF000247
State of Wisconsin vs. Preston Kenneth Robert Kite

Kite will be sentenced at the end of February.

One court order even prohibited Kite from having contact with animals—for their safety.

Mayor Sorenson refuses to respond to multiple open records requests concerning Kite and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence members he posed with in the photo.

Why Is Sorenson Silent?

This 194-day silence is not just unacceptable—it’s alarming!

What is Sorenson hiding?

Why is he silent?

Every Sheboygan resident deserves an answer to these questions before deciding who to support in the upcoming Mayoral election. Open and transparent government is the foundation of democracy, and Mayor Sorenson’s silence is a blatant disregard for your rights as a taxpayer.

Take Action: Demand Answers Now

If you believe Sheboygan residents deserve transparency, it’s time to act.

Email Mayor Sorenson today and demand he respond to records requests regarding Preston Kite and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

ryan.sorenson@sheboyganwi.gov

Your voice matters.

Hold Mayor Sorenson accountable and let him know silence is not an option.

What’s Next?

Stay tuned for upcoming posts where we’ll dive into Sorenson’s financial reports. TBS has their Sniffies out.

It’s time to follow the money—and what we uncover will make it clear:

Mayor Sorenson’s campaign may not be funded by people sharing the same Sheboygan values as you.

When you follow the money, you find the truth.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!

Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com

Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
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Mayor Sorenson Empowered a Predator to Push His Political Agenda Over Your Priorities

December 18th, 2024
The tenure of Mayor Ryan Sorenson has been defined by aligning Sheboygan to his personal political agenda rather than preserving the traditional values and perspectives this city has upheld for years.

Toward the end of 2022, Sheboygan was searching for a new Director of Human Resources. The hiring process occurred while the then City Administrator Todd Wolf was on leave, and the new H.R. Director started shortly after City Administrator Todd Wolf was terminated without cause.

This process resulted in Adam Westbrook’s hiring as Sheboygan’s H.R. Director. Westbrook pled guilty to sex crimes against his adopted children and is currently awaiting sentencing in federal court. His tenure in Sheboygan was marked by significant turnover among city employees, terminations that led to lawsuits, and filings with the Department of Workforce Development. A documented culture of fear, intimidation, and retaliation has been featured on this site.

In his resignation letter, Westbrook wrote,

“I understood there was a need for significant cultural growth and change, and I willingly accepted the responsibilities of being a conduit for such change.”

When Westbrook was hired, the hiring committee was assembled by Mayor Sorenson.

City Attorney Chuck Adams—who knew Westbrook before his arrival in Sheboygan—was involved in the process. Adams’ communication with Westbrook during the hiring process revealed questionable intent:

City Attorney Chuck Adams Refused to Investigate Former H.R. Director Adam Westbrook

Adams even assured Westbrook he would “do what he could” to help him secure the position.

It was shocking one key city official was excluded from the hiring process: Alder Trey Mitchell, Director of the Finance and Personnel Committee, was not included on the hiring committee.

Why was Alder Mitchell left off the hiring committee?

Westbrook was hired under the belief that he would lead major cultural change. To illustrate, here’s a video Westbrook sent to all city employees outlining his change initiative:

https://vimeo.com/801787042

Have you ever received a video like this from your director of H.R.?

This video is a prime example of city employees’ experiences under Westbrook and Sorenson’s leadership.

Westbrook, emboldened by Mayor Sorenson, pursued changes aligned with their personal political agenda—an agenda that did not reflect the desires of Sheboygan’s broader community.

The Absence of Community Consensus

This became evident during last year’s Common Council elections, where DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives were noticeably absent from discussion. The message from Sheboygan’s residents was clear: Mayor Sorenson and Westbrook’s version of DEI was unwelcome.

Their version of “change” went so far as to mock the faith of some Sheboygan residents, as evidenced in this photo:

A Shift in Sorenson’s Messaging

Mayor Sorenson has since abandoned his DEI focus. In a July 2023 fundraising email, Sorenson sought donations by touting his accomplishments of:
- Flying the Pride Flag at City Hall
- Banning conversion therapy in Sheboygan
Yet today, Mayor Sorenson emphasizes historic investments in road repair and development, distancing himself from these earlier initiatives.

Why the sudden shift?

The Bigger Picture

Mayor Sorenson appears to chase after the latest political trends driven by larger liberal organizations—often with little regard for Sheboygan’s real needs and values.

In the next post, we’ll reveal where this “change” is truly coming from—and the answers may surprise you.

As always, when you follow the money, you uncover the forces behind Mayor Sorenson’s decisions and the changes he’s attempting to impose on Sheboygan.

Stay tuned…

Oh, it’s been 180 days since Mayor Sorenson ignored a resident’s request for records involving Preston Kite—convicted of nearly 20 counts of sex crimes against children and animals.

Kite was ordered to not have contact with animals, for the safety of the animals.

Why won’t Sorenson respond?

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!

Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com

Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan City Hall, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Another Sexually Graphic Book in North High Library

April 16th, 2024
WARNING:
SEXUALLY GRAPHIC CONTENT

TBS has recently discovered that the book “Invisible Monsters” is in the North High School Library. This book is vile, pornographic, and disgusting.

This is the second incident of a book with inappropriate content found at North High in the past month. Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters was originally rejected by the publisher for being too disturbing.

“Invisible Monsters” includes a quote from a scene depicting the family eating Thanksgiving dinner:

This is only one passage, there are many more examples of this type of crude, vulgar, appalling, and horrific language.
- Is this how you raise your children?
- Does this reflect your family values?
- Would your family talk like this over Thanksgiving dinner?
If you answered NO to any of these questions, you must act now!

In January 2023, the Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) was made aware of pornographic graphic novels in the library of South High School.

SASD leadership has done nothing to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

Incoming Superintendent Jake Konrath and School Board President Mary Lynne Donohue have failed to keep vulgar content from the SASD libraries.

Are you frustrated with Donohue and Konrath failing your kids?

This is the second controversial book discovered at North High.

If you are frustrated by the failure of SASD leadership to protect the children of Sheboygan, you must act now!

Email North High School principal John Matczak and demand that Invisible Monsters and Push be removed from North High School.

jmatczak@sasd.net

You can review the previous TBS post on the book Push here.

SASD Leadership Fails to Keep Alarming Books out of North High Library

Email incoming superintendent Jake Konrath and ask what steps he will take to stop this from continuing to happen. High school libraries should not be places where kids learn about felching!

jkonrath@sasd.net

Email school board president Mary Lynne Donohue and demand answers on how this continues under her leadership.

mldonohue@sasd.net

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
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Click here to view our Breaking News!

Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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

Click here to view our series: Academic Failures: Sheboygan Area School District

Click here to view our archives: Take Back Sheboygan County

City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Area School District, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan North High School
Sheboygan County Democratic Party and Supporters Morally Bankrupt

April 2nd, 2024
TBS has been reflecting on the moral ineptitude of the local leadership, driven by the local Democratic Party. This came full circle yesterday with a high-level Democratic operative being officially charged with election fraud.

That’s right—election fraud right here in Sheboygan, in the most basic form of our democracy, for a seat on your Common Council.

Sheboygan County Democratic Party Activist Charged with Election Fraud Working for Rust Campaign

A theft of a political opponent’s election literature.

An act of election fraud recorded on camera—a suspect who admitted to stealing a political opponent’s literature.

Something that is so fundamentally wrong it should be assumed everyone can agree on this.

That assumption has been proven false.

Local Democratic supporters denounced the story’s relevance. Some suggested on social media that the theft was a kind act by Deb Klock because it prevented the candidate from committing a federal crime by placing election materials in a mailbox.

An extensive police investigation uncovered only one crime: election fraud by a member of the local Democratic Party in coordination with Alder Zach Rust’s re-election campaign.

It seems like an easy political opportunity to own the mistake and apologize.

Far from it, Zach Rust, who is running for re-election and was questioned in the criminal investigation, has neither apologized nor acknowledged his campaign’s mistakes.

A local Democratic Party activist’s account on X, GoSheboygan, referred to individuals and the Sheboygan Police Department as a “bunch of retards.”

A local political activist, identifying as Blossom on X, “liked” the tweet.

The term “retard” is considered outdated and offensive. It is a hurtful word that diminishes people with disabilities. It is regarded as hate speech. A campaign called “Spread the Word to End the Word” raises awareness of the need to eliminate this term.

Yet, local Democratic Party activists have used and “liked” the term.

Candidate Roberta Filicky-Peneski, running for re-election for the 2nd District seat on the Common Council, was recorded using the N-word.

Filicky-Peneski Laid the Foundation for Multiple Lawsuits and Chaos in Sheboygan

She has not acknowledged her mistake or apologized during this campaign, stating instead that she was in the comfort of her own home and recorded without her knowledge.

People show their true selves in the safety of their homes. When someone like Filicky-Peneski tells you who they are, believe them.

City Attorney Chuck Adams ardently defended former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook, who has since been charged in federal court with sex crimes against children.

Mayor Sorenson supported Adam Westbrook.

City Attorney Chuck Adams Refused to Investigate Former H.R. Director Adam Westbrook

Alder Dean Dekker is on record stating that Sheboygan is better than bullying a good employee into resigning.

Listen to Dekker’ s remarks here.

Westbrook cited “unwavering support both personally and professionally” from Assistant City Attorney Liz Majerus.

Sheboygan Prepares for Another Potential Lawsuit

None of them, nor anyone else from the City of Sheboygan, has denounced Adam Westbrook’s actions.

Mayor Sorenson appeared in a photo that mocked the Catholic faith. There were concerns about religious discrimination. Sorenson removed a citizen complaint from a Common Council agenda, effectively silencing the community.

Mayor Sorenson’s Misguided Focus for You and Sheboygan

Mayor Sorenson could have simply acknowledged the feelings of others and apologized for making city employees and residents feel small by apologizing for minimalizing the religious beliefs of residents and employees.

Co-chair of the local Democratic Party, Mary Lynne Donohue, described herself as the chair of a social justice project and encouraged DEIB work in city government.

Donohue is on record at a school board meeting referring to the “growth formula” of the state report card as an intergalactic formula that nobody can understand.

Unraveling the Challenges of Sheboygan – The Common Denominator

The formula, a DEIB initiative, gives schools credit for increasing achievement among traditionally underperforming groups: kids of color, kids living in poverty, and kids with disabilities.

Kids with disabilities, the same group GoSheboygan carelessly referred to as “retards” on X.

Kids that need support from a true social justice warrior.

Donohue also serves as the School Board President of the Sheboygan Area School District, which is under scrutiny for allowing a sexually graphic book titled ‘Push’ in the North High School library.

** WARNING: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT
SASD Leadership Fails to Keep Alarming Books out of North High Library

This is the second incident involving graphic sexual content in a SASD library in the past 15 months. Donohue has taken no action as School Board President to prevent this from continuing to happen.

These individuals tell you that you lack understanding of:
- Diversity
- Equity
- Inclusion
- Belonging
Yet none of these actions demonstrate a commitment to genuinely enhancing any of these principles. The controlling Democrats’ reckless behavior in Sheboygan has resulted in two federal lawsuits.

In one suit, the Federal Magistrate indicates there is reason to investigate a hostile work environment that was not prevented but was perpetuated by Mayor Sorenson — a suit that is moving forward based on a white, Christian, heterosexual male being discriminated against.

A second complaint with the Department of Workforce Development has forced the city to hire outside lawyers. That complaint states a white, heterosexual female was harassed while working for the City of Sheboygan.

The actions of the members of the Sheboygan County Democratic Party are rooted in:
- Division
- Exclusion
- Indoctrination
- Blasphemy
Take a look at the well-documented evidence of what DEIB looks like in Sheboygan under the leadership of the Sheboygan County Democratic Party here:

**WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE SHEBOYGAN SOUTH HIGH LIBRARY:
Challenges in Sheboygan – Donohue Leads City and School District with Misguided Focus

When is enough going to be enough for you?
Are you ready to take action?

Filicky-Peneski and Rust are unfit to serve.

There is a local election today. Polls close at 8:00 p.m.

Go vote!

Today’s election does not mean an end but rather a beginning.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
- Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com
- Follow us on Twitter: TBSheboyganCo
- Follow us on Instagram: TBSheboyganCo
- Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
Click here to view our Breaking News!

Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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

Click here to view our series: Academic Failures: Sheboygan Area School District

Click here to view our archives: Take Back Sheboygan County
Filicky-Peneski Laid the Foundation for Multiple Lawsuits and Chaos in Sheboygan

March 15th, 2024
The past 18 months in Sheboygan have been rough. Currently, two lawsuits are pending in federal court, with several more anticipated.

Alder Roberta Filicky-Peneski played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for this chaos.

In October 2022, an effort was launched to introduce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training in Sheboygan. A chain of events ultimately led to the firing of former City Administrator Todd Wolf without cause.

Wolf’s lawsuit is making its way through federal court, with a significant update expected today.

On October 17, 2022, the Common Council entered a closed session to discuss the fallout from an incident involving an unidentified individual who shouted a racial slur during a neighborhood association meeting. At a subsequent city department head meeting, the slur was repeated while recounting the incident.

The handling of the racial incident at the neighborhood association meeting led to articles in the Sheboygan Press and public interest in the situation.

The Common Council reviewed Former City Administrator Todd Wolf’s performance. Meeting minutes show a directive for City Attorney Chuck Adams to prepare a resolution preventing Wolf from participating in the hiring of the new Human Resources Director.

This H.R. recruitment process resulted in the appointment of Adam Westbrook, who is currently facing charges of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.

There was also a directive for Wolf to withdraw from any further public relations activities.

Closed Session Minutes:

On October 24, 2022, Alderpersons Felde and Filicky-Peneski drafted a resolution aimed at changing the responsibilities between the Mayor and City Administrator. The resolution proposed leveraging individual strengths, suggesting that Wolf, with his expertise in project management, should concentrate on that area.

The Council expressed their desire for Mayor Sorenson to manage communications, citing his proficiency in that skill.

Resolution, 10/24/2022:
- Where has Mayor Sorenson been on communications lately?
- There have been no comments from him regarding the former HR Director’s tenure in Sheboygan amid charges of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor.
- Sorenson’s presence on social media has become almost nonexistent.
Filicky-Peneski also attempted to exclude Wolf from the HR Director selection process, shifting that responsibility to herself, Felde, and Mayor Sorenson.

On October 28, Mary Lynne Donohue emailed the Common Council members, Mayor Sorenson, and others with the subject line “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Issues in the City.”

Donohue identified herself as the chair of the Sheboygan Justice Equity group, which had previously submitted a Request for Proposal (RFP) focused on devising a DEI strategy for the city government.

She noted that the HR department was initially unable to participate in the RFP. However, she indicated that the search for a new HR department head presented an opportunity to incorporate this proposal into the job search and interview process.

Donohue email 10/28/2022:

At that time, former City Administrator Todd Wolf, assisted by his secretary Carrie Arenz, was leading the HR Director search.

As of October 28, there was no indication that the resolution, changing Wolf’s job responsibility to lead the search for an HR Director, had been passed by the Common Council.

Why did Donohue’s email not include Wolf or Arenz?

What did Donohue know concerning Wolf’s future at this time?

On November 1, Wolf met with Filicky-Peneski at her home, where she was recorded sharing confidential information from a closed session and using a racial slur.

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

Filicky-Peneski was later reprimanded by the Common Council for violating the council’s well-established norms and values. The Common Council took the bold action of censuring Filicky-Peneski.

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

On November 7, Wolf was placed on administrative leave. By January 8, 2023, he was terminated without cause through a resolution authored by Filicky-Peneski and Felde.

These incidents have contributed to the chaos in Sheboygan.

The appointment of Adam Westbrook as HR Director and the culture of fear and intimidation that has led to lawsuits.

At two recent public events, Filicky-Peneski has evaded responsibility for the incident and her previous actions. She has insisted that her offensive remarks, made in her private home without her knowledge of being recorded, should be relegated to the past and forgotten.

This alarming behavior should not be dismissed.

It must be acknowledged.

It must be a lesson.

That starts with taking responsibility and being accountable for using racist language.

Roberta Filicky-Peneski’s actions have been instrumental in the upheaval that has shaken Sheboygan for over a year.

Despite her assertion that these events are behind her, the Council’s eroded trust speaks volumes.

In the October 28 email from Donohue, did she know information about the October 17 closed session?

Could this confidential information have been leaked to Donohue?

Alder Felde stated in a Sheboygan press article that the real punishment would be ” the council’s “lack of trust in her now.”

The Common Council has a lack of trust in Roberta Filicky-Peneski.

Should you, too?

Stay tuned for an expected update on the Wolf case coming today. There could be considerable information being released related to the investigation that led to Wolf’s firing without cause.

TBS will be watching.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
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Click here to view our Breaking News!

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City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Judge Rules Pelishek’s Lawsuit Against Sheboygan Will Move Forward

March 11th, 2024
Former Director of Planning and Development Chad Pelishek’s case against the City of Sheboygan will proceed on the Title VII claim of a hostile work environment in a scathing response by U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Duffin toward both sides’ attorneys.

There will also be a claim moving forward that the following parties failed to provide equal protection for Pelishek from discrimination due to his race:
- Mayor Sorenson
- Former Alder Amanda Salazar
- Director of Senior Services Emily Rendall-Araujo
- City Attorney Chuck Adams
- City of Sheboygan
The judge dismissed Barbara Felde and Roberta Filicky-Peneski from that claim.

TBS has referenced a culture of fear and intimidation under former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook and has received questions on evidence to support a culture of fear and intimidation.

Magistrate Judge Duffin raised the bar from a culture of fear and intimidation to a potentially hostile work environment.

Magistrate Judge Duffin points out that being falsely labeled a racist could constitute harassment. The false allegations were so severe that Pelishek couldn’t do his job and had mental health issues due to the stress.

The decision and order state that Mayor Sorenson, as Pelishek’s supervisor, not only allegedly contributed to this false narrative but also allowed it to be repeated and spread through the community and city government.

The Sheboygan Press published articles stating that Pelishek used a racial slur in a meeting. TBS was informed that he repeatedly asked city leaders for a press release or statement to clear his name. This request was always refused.

City Attorney Chuck Adams, however, was quick to release a press statement regarding the article posted by WHBL on former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook’s resignation. View WHBL link here.

Adams was quick to offer support to Westbrook, who is currently facing charges of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.

Why wouldn’t Adams step up to clear Pelishek’s name?

When Pelishek contacted former H.R. Director Adam Westbrook, he was informed that he “had no protected status,” and it was implied that Pelishek should just deal with it.

This is the second documented complaint alleging Westbrook informed the employee that they could not be harassed or discriminated against.

Both employees are moving forward with legal action against the City of Sheboygan. Regardless of the outcome of these cases, litigation will cost money, and you, as the taxpayer, will pay for it.

The city attorney’s office should prevent or minimize how often Sheboygan faces legal issues.

There are currently two federal court cases against the city and two Department of Workforce Development complaints against it, which may end up as lawsuits.

Adam Westbrook cited unwavering personal and professional support from Assistant Attorney Liz Majerus.

Did this unwavering support lead to Westbrook allegedly denying employees protections under the law?

According to Magistrate Judge Duffin, one mistake could have contributed to a hostile work environment — a much higher bar than a culture of fear and intimidation.

Are you tired of the endless stream of lawsuits?

Are you frustrated that you will have to pay for these lawsuits as a taxpayer?

When will it be enough for you to act?

Email City Administrator Casey Bradley today to share your concerns with the city attorney’s office: casey.bradley@sheboyganwi.gov.

Download Pelishek Court document here.

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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City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Another Potential Lawsuit Coming

March 8th, 2024
TBS has received word that a former city employee has filed another complaint with the Department of Workforce Development.

A loyal and committed employee of 28 years with zero discipline issues was forced to decide between retirement, resigning, or being terminated by former H.R. Director Adam Westbrook.

What would cause such an extreme response from the City of Sheboygan towards a loyal and committed employee?

This.

This long-term loyal employee attended the presentations of the city administrator finalists. The final presentations that you, as a taxpayer, were not allowed to attend were only open to city employees, as detailed in an email from Westbrook to all city employees.

At this, city employees were asked to fill out a questionnaire that would provide feedback to the common council. The photo details what this former employee submitted.

The following information is alleged in the Department of Workforce Development complaint.

This employee was told they would need to meet with Westbrook, and the meeting occurred. In the meeting, Westbrook asked the employee if that was their form. The answer was yes. Westbrook then told the employee that they were unprofessional and toxic. He informed them that their actions were “basically like you flipping off the council and saying f*ck you.”

After retiring, the employee emailed two members of the Common Council, who stated they were unaware of any of this.

The employee was allegedly given the three options of retirement, resignation, or termination and had to decide in two days.

The employee’s wife was scheduled for a biopsy, and this stress would not help. The choice was retirement, as there was a significant need for health insurance due to the wife’s health issues.

The employee stated that nobody else could do the job and offered to stay on for an extended time to train a replacement. Westbrook said no, and the employee’s last day was one week from the day he submitted a retirement letter.

In an interview with Westbrook, the employee stated that they had been around for 28 years and had seen mayors, department heads, and council members come and “fix” everything, which led to a mess after they moved on to another job. The long-term employees are left to clean up the mess. This employee informed Westbrook that it was exhausting.

Westbrook said if that’s the case, you should have come to talk to me. The employee said no, that would never happen. I would have a target on my back. Some city employees are worried about retirement and are miserable. They come to work, put their heads down, and hope to make it to retirement.

Westbrook allegedly said that’s not true.

The employee said yes, it is.

This is evidence of a culture of fear and intimidation that Westbrook was allowed to force on city employees.

When the former employee asked their supervisor for notes from the meeting with Westbrook, the supervisor responded, “Let me think about that.” According to the complaint, the supervisor then said they would need to ask the City of Sheboygan if they could share that with them and mentioned being an at-will employee.

The notes were not shared.

This is evidence of a culture of fear and intimidation.

When Westbrook was asked for his notes from the meeting by the employee, Westbrook stated there were no notes.

The employee retired after 28 years of loyal service to the city. There were no previous discipline issues. This was the treatment this employee received from your city while their wife was facing a biopsy.

Questions have been sent to TBS about a lack of proof of a “culture of fear and intimidation.”

The city has approved hiring an outside attorney to handle one Department of Workplace Development complaint regarding an employee who reported to Adam Westbrook and was fired over the phone while attending a conference as a city employee.

They were fired over the phone before they could return home or to work.

This complaint alleges that a 28-year employee was forced to retire or be fired by Westbrook over voicing concerns on a questionnaire. The supervisor refused to provide details due to being an at-will employee.

What more evidence do you need to show a culture of fear and intimidation?

Two pending lawsuits.

Two attorneys in the City Attorney’s office.

Westbrook cited unwavering support from Assistant Attorney Liz Majerus, both personally and professionally, in his resignation.

The report that led to the firing of former City Administrator Todd Wolf stated that he “constituted insubordinate and inappropriate comment against citizens, and created possible legal risk for the City, all in violation of numerous City policies.”

The city attorney’s office claimed Todd Wolf created possible legal risk for the City of Sheboygan.

The current city attorney, Chuck Adams, and the assistant city attorney, Liz Majerus, are tasked with limiting the city’s legal risks.

Is the current City Attorney’s office a legal risk for the city of Sheboygan?

The lawsuits keep coming in.

These are real.

The city attorneys should be limiting the legal risk.

Are they?

This is a question for current city administrator Casey Bradley to examine. Email him to voice your concerns or questions.

Is the current city attorney’s office protecting your interest as a taxpayer?

Is there a better, more efficient use of your tax dollars for legal needs?

Should we eliminate the city attorney’s office?

Ask Casey, send him an email today: casey.bradley@sheboyganwi.gov.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
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Click here to view our Breaking News!

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City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
City Attorney Chuck Adams Refused to Investigate Former H.R. Director Adam Westbrook

March 5th, 2024
TBS has been made aware of two cases where citizens brought forward concerns regarding former Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook. We previously discussed Westbrook’s resignation letter, where he cited “unwavering support” both personally and professionally from Assistant City Attorney Liz Majerus.

Two citizen complaints were shared requesting Westbrook investigate the photo of Mayor Sorenson at the Pride Event with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

On July 26, at 11:26 a.m., Westbrook responded to a citizen who voiced concern over the photo. Westbrook informed that citizen he was currently investigating the incident due to another citizen’s complaint regarding violations of ethics and harassment based on religion.

Roughly twenty minutes later, Westbrook emailed the second citizen stating he would not conduct an ethics investigation of Mayor Sorenson for the photo at the Pride Event.

This concern was brought forward to Westbrook in an email from one citizen asking why he lied by telling the first citizen there was currently an ethics investigation being conducted and then telling the second citizen he would not conduct an ethics investigation.

Westbrook was so bold that when the citizen stated they were going to ask Attorney Adams to open an investigation around lying, Westbrook told the citizen he would help by sharing his documentation of all events leading up to the complaint with the citizen.

In Westbrook’s own documentation, he stated that he told the first citizen there was currently a harassment investigation open regarding Mayor Sorenson. Roughly 20 minutes later, Westbrook documented that he informed the second citizen he would not conduct a harassment investigation.

Westbrook shared his own documentation of his lie.

This was brought forward to City Attorney Chuck Adams, and no investigation was opened into former H.R. Director Adam Westbrook.

There was also an open records request from a different citizen regarding an investigation into Westbrook for an inappropriate comment that may have embarrassed another employee.

The City Attorney responded that there were no records of any investigation regarding Adam Westbrook and a sexual harassment investigation.

Adams went on to accuse the resident of making a false accusation of harassment. There was only a request for records. No accusation.

When Westbrook resigned, WHBL posted an article on the resignation that included a mention of the records request. Adams was quick to respond to WHBL, releasing a press release. In the press release, Adams states that early in Westbrook’s tenure, a city employee contacted Adams with concerns over a comment Westbrook made to another employee. Adams noted that he talked to a few people and quickly determined that everything was “appropriate and above board.”

Adams also states that “city officials are demanding WHBL retract their misleading article and apologize for its actions smearing the name of a valued employee.”

Two concerns were brought forward, and Adams did not investigate Adam Westbrook.

Why did Adams refuse to investigate Westbrook?

Maybe because Adams and Westbrook knew each other before Westbrook came to Sheboygan.

Maybe because Westbrook reached out to Adams when he first applied for the role in Sheboygan, and Adams told Westbrook that he would “do what he can” to help Westbrook get the position and that it “would be great to have you on our team.”

The City Attorney is an elected position.

Elected officials are elected because they are held accountable by their constituents.

The role of an attorney involves the law. The law is not accountable to anyone. The law is the law.

Lady Justice is blindfolded for a reason.

The Sheboygan City Attorney’s office is peeking from behind the blindfold, not seeking justice but protecting political interests.

They provided unwavering support, personally and professionally, to someone who created a culture of fear and intimidation.

A culture that currently has the city facing multiple lawsuits.

That person is now facing allegations of child sex crimes.

How many other cities have elected attorneys?

Is there a better way to provide this service to your city?

Why is your attorney’s office not avoiding lawsuits filed against your city?

The time is now to call on Casey Bradley as the City Administrator and ask for an investigation and a better solution to Sheboygan’s legal needs.

Email Casey Bradley with your questions and concerns here:
casey.bradley@sheboyganwi.gov

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
- Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com
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- Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
Click here to view our Breaking News!

Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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

Click here to view our series: Academic Failures: Sheboygan Area School District

Click here to view our archives: Take Back Sheboygan County

City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership
Sheboygan Prepares for Another Potential Lawsuit

February 24th, 2024
Monday, February 19, the Common Council approved a resolution to pay an attorney to respond to a Department of Workforce Development complaint against the City of Sheboygan.

This is the first step to sue the city from a former employee fired by former HR Director Adam Westbrook.

The former employee worked in the Human Resources office and applied for the director position but was turned down in favor of Westbrook. This person had more human resources experience and training than Adam Westbrook but was told by Mayor Sorenson they would not get the position as the city hired Westbrook instead.

Why did Mayor Sorenson choose to hire Westbrook over a more qualified person?

The complaint states that Mayor Sorenson stated Westbrook had experience in transit labor negotiations that they did not and would bring more value to the role. It details that upon starting in the role, Westbrook stated that he had no experience in transit labor negotiations. It also details that in Westbrook’s interview, he said that he had experience in human resources software in a previous role, and upon starting in Sheboygan, when there was an issue with this software, Westbrook stated he had no idea how to work with it on this issue.

The complaint details a culture of discrimination and retaliation by Westbrook and another employee from a different department. It describes a scenario where a department head asked for additional time off for an employee whose grandparent passed away. Westbrook instructed the complainant to grant the extra time. When it was questioned by the payroll department, the former employee asked for support, and Westbrook did not support the employee. This created a more complex and challenging situation for an employee dealing with the grief of losing a grandparent.

The former employee was terminated while away from Sheboygan attending a conference for professional development. The employee was not allowed to return to Sheboygan or work before being fired. This employee was fired over the phone because Westbrook was out of work for ten days because of the placement of his adopted children.

The culture of fear and intimidation detailed on this site could produce another lawsuit for Sheboygan that you, the taxpayer, will pay for by hiring lawyers to defend your city.

This site has been claimed to be propaganda. This site has been criticized. This site has been accurate, and the legal fees to defend against this claim are not fake.

The City of Sheboygan has an attorney in Chuck Adams and an assistant attorney in Liz Majerus. They are paid with your tax dollars and employed to handle legal matters in Sheboygan. They are both there to protect Sheboygan’s legal interests.

They were both present for the volatile nine-month tenure of Adam Westbrook. A source within city hall stated that he was close to Assistant Attorney Liz Majerus towards the end of Westbrook’s time in Sheboygan. Westbrook went out of his way to mention Majerus in his resignation. Westbrook mentioned Majerus by name, stating her unwavering support for the human resources function and for him personally.

The actions of Westbrook as HR director are referenced in the federal court case by former Director of Planning and Development Chad Pelishek, where Westbrook allegedly stated he could not be discriminated against because he was not in a protected class.

The current claim alleges that Westbrook told the former employee another woman could not harass her because she was a woman. Both individuals filed complaints for concerns that Westbrook told them they could not be victims.

Westbrook stated that he received unwavering support from Assistant Attorney Liz Majerus.

That unwavering support enabled the culture of fear and intimidation under Westbrook’s leadership that employees have shared with this site.

There are mentions of additional complaints coming from more employees terminated by Westbrook. The city continues to deal with legal ramifications from the volatile nine months that Adam Westbrook led the human resources department.

If the city’s attorney’s office will grant unwavering support to behavior that results in lawsuits against the city, why do we have an attorney’s office?

Chuck Adams and Liz Majerus have put aside protecting Sheboygan’s legal interests.

As Westbrook put it, their unwavering support has been directed toward Mayor Sorenson’s agenda and has been misguided from the start.

The weaponizing of this agenda by Westbrook in the ruthless treatment of employees and terminations has produced legal costs to you as the taxpayer.

New City Administrator Casey Bradley has moved to outsource legal services to assist with development matters. Do you think Bradley should eliminate the City Attorney’s office?

Email your concerns over your current City Attorney’s office to Administrator Bradley here:

casey.bradley@sheboyganwi.gov

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
- Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com
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- Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
Click here to view our Breaking News!

Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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Click here to view our archives: Take Back Sheboygan County

City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Former Sheboygan HR Director in Court Tomorrow: His Allies in City Hall Remain Silent

February 20th, 2024
Former Sheboygan HR Director Adam Westbrook is scheduled to make his initial appearance in a Sauk County courtroom tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Westbrook is facing four counts each of Child Sexual Exploitation and Possession of Child Pornography.

Many staunch supporters of Westbrook remain in city hall. Mayor Sorenson, Attorney Chuck Adams, and Assistant City Attorney Liz Majerus were very supportive and assertive in protecting Westbrook.

Chuck Adams quickly issued a press release to WHBL clearing Westbrook of claims that an open records request for alleged inappropriate comments to an intern was related to his resignation.

Adams’ press release rebuking any claims against Westbrook essentially cleared his name.

The Former Director of Planning and Development, Chad Pelishek, asked for the same exact thing Adams did for Westbrook many times after this headline appeared in the Sheboygan Press.

Adams and other city officials refused to attempt to clear Pelishek’s name, putting his life into disarray and setting the events in motion for the termination of former City Administrator Todd Wolf without cause.

Sheboygan currently faces two federal lawsuits regarding these events.

What could have potentially been prevented had Adams investigated Westbrook?

Why has Mayor Sorenson not released anything regarding the arrest and charges facing Westbrook?

Mayor Sorenson, will you publicly denounce Westbrook?

Alder Dean Dekker, your comments at the September 18, 2023, Common Council meeting were critical of this site and this message.

Listen to Dekker’ s remarks here.

Very few people who were critical of Westbrook ever met him in person. No opinions were formed by anything other than his actions as a city employee, email communication, and city employees’ testimonies.

It was clear that Westbrook was egotistical and abusive with power.

He leveraged his education and training to overpower and steamroll city employees. Westbrook utilized policy and judicial training as muscle to strong-arm long-term dedicated employees, often sending their lives into a tailspin.

Long-term dedicated employees of the City of Sheboygan stories brought forward to TBS repeated this abuse of power and little regard for the respect or decency of those on the other side of the table.

Mr. Dekker, you applauded Westbrook and indicated he was a great employee during his time in Sheboygan. You added that a “small but vocal group” bullied an employee into resigning and stated that you do not believe this is who we are as Sheboyganites.

You apologized for the harassment that the “small but vocal group” brought upon Westbrook.

Members of this “small but vocal group” did not work closely with Westbrook. We did not spend hours with him in a professional setting. Yet, it was clear that something was not right with him.

With him as a person, not with him for his sexual orientation or any other reasons that were brought up. The issue was with his ego and brazen abuse of power over those who were powerless.

The allegations facing Westbrook in that courtroom tomorrow may indicate that Westbrook’s fascination with abusing power to overpower the powerless extended beyond his professional life.

That was the problem with Westbrook.
That was the concern.
Nothing else.

Mr. Dekker, you end your prepared remarks by saying the views of the group that opposed Westbrook did not reflect the majority of Sheboygan but a small minority. You closed by saying we are better than this.

You stated that in defense of Westbrook.

It is hard to believe that the majority of Sheboygan does not oppose brazen abuses of power over the powerless.

Can we agree this is wrong?

Mayor Sorenson, Dean Dekker, Chuck Adams, and Common Council members need to release a public statement denouncing Adam Westbrook.

In the words of Dean Dekker: We are better than this.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
- Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com
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Click here to view our Breaking News!

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City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Rust Campaign Supporter Caught Stealing Opponent’s Flyer

February 18th, 2024
Sunday afternoon, there was a neighborhood notification through Ring Doorbell. A resident on Henry Street had concerns because a man placed something on his door, and shortly after, a woman came and removed the materials from the door.

Watch Ring Doorbell video here.

It was confirmed that the man was Jesse Roethel, a candidate for the District 8 Alder position. He was putting out campaign materials in advance of the primary on Tuesday.

His campaign materials were seen being removed by a woman from the door. The woman took the materials and put them in her clipboard. On the top of the clipboard were campaign materials for Zach Rust.

A Rust supporter was stealing the campaign materials of a political opponent!

Earlier today, it was documented that Rust refused to convene the Committee of the Whole to conduct an ethics investigation into Mayor Sorenson regarding the photo from the Pride Event that was mocking the Catholic religion.

Zach Rust is in a current ethics situation with his supporter stealing election materials. This violates the Sheboygan Municipal Code and State of Wisconsin Law. Is Zach Rust the type of candidate you want to vote for?

Take Back Sheboygan is currently working to confirm the identification of this woman.

Screenshot

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Claims have been made that this woman is a long-time Democratic supporter from Sheboygan County. If it is this person, there are extensive ties to the city’s current leadership and the Democratic party going back years.

Zach Rust, you can do the right thing and come out and identify who this woman is. It’s on you.

You’re on the Klock.

TBS will also follow former Sheboygan HR director Adam Westbrook’s court appearance.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating a high-profile case involving a Racine Sheriff’s Deputy. TBS received a tip indicating that there is a chance the two cases are related.

There are more people inside City Hall closely tied to Westbrook. Information is coming forward.

Mayor Sorenson, TBS has its Sniffies out and is looking at some things now.

Stay tuned.

Due to the theft committed by the Rust supporter, if you did not receive campaign materials from Jesse Roethel and you live in District Eight, contact us at https://takebacksheboygancounty.com/contact/, and we will put you in touch with his campaign.

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/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
- Subscribe to our newsletter: TakeBackSheboyganCounty.com
- Follow us on Twitter: TBSheboyganCo
- Follow us on Instagram: TBSheboyganCo
- Join our private Facebook Group: Take Back Sheboygan County
Click here to view our Breaking News!

Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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

Click here to view our series: Academic Failures: Sheboygan Area School District

Click here to view our archives: Take Back Sheboygan County

City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Council, Sheboygan Common Council, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Election Integrity, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor
Two Alders in Primary Tuesday Protected and Supported Ex-H.R. Director Facing Child Sex Crime Charges

February 18th, 2024
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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Former Sheboygan H.R. Director Jailed for Child Sex Crimes

February 17th, 2024
Click here to view our series: Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall

Former Sheboygan H.R. Director Adam Westbrook is in Sauk County jail, facing four counts of possession of child pornography and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Take Back Sheboygan detailed the culture of intimidation and fear that Westbrook brought to the City of
Sheboygan before his resignation.

https://fox11online.com/news/crime/adam-westbrook-outagamie-county-human-resources-director-arrested-sauk-county-baraboo-kenosha-county-case-child-pornography-sexual-exploitation

In Westbrook’s resignation letter, he stated:

“What I did not know was how callous, deliberately untruthful, and unwelcoming a small, but very vocal, part of this community would be. Since starting at the City, I have been subject to an onslaught of false, defamatory, and downright hateful statements and accusations coming from a small group of individuals who seem to relish in conspiracy theories, name-calling, and trying as hard as they can to rid the City of anyone who doesn’t look, think, or act like them.”

There was a report on WHBL that stated Westbrook resigned amidst allegations of inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to a city intern. There was an open records request regarding Westbrook’s conduct, and shortly after that, he resigned. City Attorney Chuck Adams released a
press release, and in the words of WHBL, “strongly rebuked claims of inappropriate conduct by Westbrook.”

https://whbl.com/2023/08/31/city-attorney-allegations-of-misconduct-by-westbrook-were-false/

Adams stated that he was made aware of the comment and spoke to people involved in the conversation, and he was able to determine the conversation was entirely appropriate and above board.

What could have happened had Adams conducted a more thorough investigation? What may have been discovered?

The Appleton Post Crescent had an article yesterday, February 17, 2024, about the allegations made against Westbrook. The article states that Sheboygan Press reporter Alex Garner contributed to the article. The article mentions this site and talks about posts that alleged Westbrook’s actions led to “corruption” at City Hall.

https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2024/02/16/outagamie-county-human-resources-director-arrested-in-sauk-county/72631299007

Westbrook denied all the allegations made on this site during an interview with the Sheboygan Press.

Other residents of Sheboygan brought forward concerns with Westbrook other than this site. Some people in this community referred to this as propaganda or people obsessed with conspiracy theories.

Westbrook said, “They are spreading false accusations to City employees and the public at large, trying to undermine all of the good things the City is doing, and tarnish my name and reputation along the way.”

Who do you believe now?

The longtime city employees that had their lives flipped upside down by Adam Westbrook?

Or Adam Westbrook?

There is more to this story. There are people currently in City Hall who made deliberate choices to align with Adam Westbrook. Those stories may be coming soon.

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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Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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Click here to view our archives: Take Back Sheboygan County

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Part 10, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: DEIB Agenda in Sheboygan Is Real –This Is Not Propaganda

September 28th, 2023
There have been claims made that Take Back Sheboygan County is a propaganda machine pushing a fake idea of a DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) agenda that is causing the City of Sheboygan to have a misguided focus on DEIB rather than the day-to-day operations of running a city and providing services to taxpayers. This is not propaganda, and here is the supporting evidence.

In an article published in the Sheboygan Press on August 6, 2019, there is an update on the Common Council banning conversion therapy on minors in a packed meeting. Alder Mary Lynne Donohue is quoted advocating for the ban’s passage, with then-Alder Ryan Sorenson cited as an author of the ordinance.

The article quotes Sorenson from a previous article, stating, “It’s difficult to track if conversion therapy has been practiced in Sheboygan, but the goal of the ordinance is to prevent it from happening.”

The point of this post has nothing to do with whether conversion therapy is good or bad. The point is that Sorenson and Donohue advocated for an ordinance to stop something that they did not know whether or not it existed in Sheboygan. They created a solution for a problem that they could not support existed in Sheboygan.

Link: https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/2019/08/06/sheboygan-common-council-bans-conversion-therapy-packed-meeting/1878610001/

Mayor Sorenson attempted to generate fundraising money by banning conversion therapy and flying the Pride Flag at City Hall upon election as crowning achievements of his political career. This exemplifies Sorenson’s misguided focus as an elected official in Sheboygan. Where are the crowning achievements that make Sheboygan a better place to live for all taxpayers?

Note: Take Back Sheboygan County has never endorsed, supported, or discussed President Donald Trump. Take Back Sheboygan County is not MAGA, nor is it associated with MAGA.

The city is currently facing two federal lawsuits. One is in relationship to the firing of Todd Wolf as City Administrator without cause. The other suit has been filed by former employee Chad Pelishek for discrimination. Both of these cases are causing significant financial resources from the City of Sheboygan to be used on legal defense in federal court. These cases both resulted from the misplaced focus on DEIB in Sheboygan.

On October 5, 2022, Wolf and Pelishek met for lunch with two community members discussing DEI initiatives in Sheboygan. The lawsuit filed by Wolf alleges that Wolf refused to allocate $70,000 to a DEI consulting agreement.

On October 28, 2022, Mary Lynne Donohue sent the following email to the Common Council as the chair of the Sheboygan Justice Equity group that submitted a Request for Proposal “that aims to research, identify, and strategize on a process to bring a diverse, equitable and inclusive structure to city government.”

You can review the bold request from a chair of a group that works in DEI consulting asking the Common Council to reconsider a Request for Proposal that her group drafted be reconsidered for funding.

The recent resignation of Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook was covered by the Sheboygan Press, which stated that Take Back Sheboygan County has stated the city has a diversity and inclusion “agenda.” Take Back Sheboygan County has received emails that Westbrook would send to all City of Sheboygan employees titled “Diversity Digest.”

One book Westbrook suggests in this email is Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender. This book is a story of a teenager working through gender identity challenges and transitioning. It is a Young Adult novel.

As a city employee, would you feel reading a Young Adult novel would benefit you in your role? Some may, but certainly not every city employee would be a better employee due to reading a Young Adult Novel on gender identity.

Westbrook also recommends an R-rated movie called Boys Don’t Cry. Westbrook instructs city employees that this movie is for mature audiences only and contains many devastating and graphic moments. Westbrook also informs every city employee that this is the only movie that has ever made him cry. Does every city employee need to be made aware of a movie that includes intense and devastating moments from a director-level leader at their place of employment?

Westbrook sent all City employees an edition of Diversity Digest titled Celebrate Black History Month. In this email, Westbrook provided books, movies, podcasts, and an album for education. One book Westbrook suggested is How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.

This book is widely used in DEI work. The book has received considerable criticism for spreading Marxist ideology. In reading this book, Kendi states that capitalism and racism are conjoined twins. This line has drawn heavy criticism due to the harsh criticism of capitalism in America.

In addition to this, there was the failed strategic plan that the City of Sheboygan hired a consultant to draft and, after public backlash, had to be scrapped due to being entirely focused on DEIB and neglecting any strategic plan for departments like the Fire and Police Departments. This cost $140,000 to taxpayers due to a misguided focus by Mayor Sorenson and some of the Common Council.

The Sheboygan Press quoted Westbrook as saying he had never experienced local groups pushing the city “not to change, not to grow, not to become a more diverse, inclusive place.”

Take Back Sheboygan County is not opposed to growth, change, or becoming more diverse and inclusive. Take Back Sheboygan County opposes growth and change irrelevant to making Sheboygan better for all taxpayers. There is opposition to our City’s government driving change with NO strategic plan, NO appropriate allocation of resources, and NO involvement of stakeholders while being done without transparency and without open communication. That kind of change will not be supported!

While the focus on DEI is alive and well, the SouthPointe Enterprise Campus shows no progress in a recent update from the Sheboygan Press. On August 28, the City Attorney informed the Common Council that an offer to purchase fell through and said canceling this agreement would open up the opportunity for other buyers. Later in the article, it states that the majority of lots are still available. If the majority of lots are still available, how was losing the other development a benefit in that other buyers could be interested?

There was no evidence of any progress in filling the SouthPointe Enterprise Campus in the latest update from the Sheboygan Press.

The calls on social media that Take Back Sheboygan County is a propaganda site that is pushing lies and false narratives are untrue. Everything cited in this post is real. It has happened in Sheboygan. The DEI agenda is present.

This agenda is causing the City of Sheboygan to not focus on real issues that impact taxpayers. The day-to-day operations of the city are an afterthought. There have been financial costs, such as the failed strategic plan to taxpayers and the hiring of a recruiting firm to fill the Human Resources position that Westbrook filled for nine months. The financial impact is real, while substantial improvements to life in Sheboygan are few and far between!

Mayor Sorenson has tried to raise money around a crowning achievement of banning a form of therapy for which he could not provide evidence existed in Sheboygan. That is the definition of misguided focus!

City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Sheboygan City Hall, Sheboygan DEI, Sheboygan DEIB, Sheboygan Leadership, Sheboygan Mayor

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Part 9, Westbrook Resigns; Employees Begin Sharing Disturbing Details of City Work Environment

September 5th, 2023
Click here to view our series: Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall

City of Sheboygan Human Resources Director, Adam Westbrook, resigned on August 30th. Take Back Sheboygan County had previously highlighted the culture of fear, intimidation, and retaliation experienced by City employees during the tumultuous nine months after Westbrook’s arrival in Sheboygan.

Following Westbrook’s resignation announcement, Take Back Sheboygan County received messages from current and former employees, shedding more light on the situation. The fear of retaliation and the culture of intimidation have somewhat lessened with Westbrook’s impending departure.

One such message came from a 26-year veteran employee of the City of Sheboygan who has since left. This employee’s story is concerning because he worked overtime and holiday events, received satisfactory and above-average performance reviews, yet left the City of Sheboygan due to the toxic work environment and a lack of leadership.

The employee’s troubles began with an accident while driving a City truck in a park last year in October. During this incident, the truck’s equipment box clipped a pole, causing damage. The employee reported the accident and was informed, before Westbrook’s tenure, that a performance improvement plan would be initiated, as it was standard procedure after accidents. However, the City never implemented the improvement plan, and the employee received a satisfactory review and a pay raise.

Another incident occurred this past April, after Westbrook’s arrival when the employee accidentally backed a City vehicle into another car in a parking lot. The employee followed the proper procedures by notifying the vehicle owner and calling the police, which led to a report being filed.

Westbrook subsequently met with the employee and presented three options: resign the next day, resign in a few weeks, or accept a 24% pay cut and work as a janitor. Considering his family and the impact of inflation, the employee couldn’t easily absorb such a significant pay cut.

The employee requested time to think and later reviewed the letter presented by Westbrook during the meeting. However, the letter only outlined the immediate or the few week resignation options, omitting the offer for a lower-paying position that would allow continued employment.

Feeling concerned, the employee sought someone to talk to. Since Westbrook was unavailable, Mayor Sorenson agreed to meet with him. During the meeting, the employee shared his story, and Mayor Sorenson assured him that the City would address the situation. However, after this meeting, Mayor Sorenson disappeared, offering no further support or solutions.

The employee then worked out an agreement with another colleague in the same department who expressed interest in the 26-year employee’s position. The supervisor reassured both employees that this arrangement would work, and they would both have jobs.

However, the 26-year employee later learned that both positions needed to be individually posted for two weeks, prolonging the process to one month. During this time, the employee was also informed that he could no longer operate any City vehicle. Despite interviewing for the open position, knowing that driving wasn’t a requirement, the employee was later told that he wouldn’t even be allowed to drive a lawnmower, and he did not get the position.

Feeling frustrated and unfairly treated, the employee asked the supervisor how to explain to others why he didn’t get the job. The supervisor’s response was that he could say the supervisor had “F&*%ed him over.” This reply did not sit well with the employee, who requested a meeting with a higher-level manager and Westbrook. An invitation was extended to the supervisor who used the vulgar word, making the employee uncomfortable as the supervisor attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the employee explained that Westbrook had downplayed the use of the F-word and had repeatedly used it, even jokingly. The employee was informed that the only option to continue employment with the City was to accept the lower-paying position as a janitor with a 24% pay cut.

Frustrated, the 26-year employee eventually left the City of Sheboygan for another employer. The substantial pay cut, coupled with the perceived unfair treatment, drove away a long-serving, skilled, and dedicated employee.

As Westbrook’s questionable treatment led to the employee’s departure, this individual has now come forward since finding alternative employment and Westbrook’s resignation. This underscores the fear and intimidation prevalent in Sheboygan’s Human Resources office during Westbrook’s nine-month tenure, where the ‘human’ was seemingly removed from ‘human resources.’

While there is a sense of relief and even joy in Westbrook’s departure, a more significant concern looms over Sheboygan. The plight of the 26-year employee illustrates Mayor Ryan Sorenson’s failures. Mayor Sorenson had promised support to this employee but disappeared during his time of greatest need as he struggled to provide for his family amidst high inflation and a forced 24% pay cut.

Mayor Sorenson and eight of the ten members of the Common Council (excluding Alders Mitchell and Heidemann) are responsible for the toxic work environment and the mass exodus of City employees. The abrupt termination of City Administrator Todd Wolf without cause, driven by the mayor and eight of the ten members of the Common Council, has placed Sheboygan in this unfortunate predicament. Their decision to hire Westbrook further exacerbated the existing issues at City Hall.

Mayor Sorenson is failing City employees and failing taxpayers. His misdirected focus is evident as he participates in groundbreaking ceremonies for Popeye’s Chicken and attends Esslingen Fest. Where was Mayor Sorenson when this dedicated 26-year employee struggled to support his family in the face of a 24% pay cut?

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/.

“Corruption at City Hall” is an ongoing series that began in early July. Plans are to continue until all issues have been exposed and resolved. Taxpayers must be assured that City leadership truly serves the people, not self-interest or special interest groups.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
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Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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Part 8, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Westbrook Forces Out Two More City Employees

August 18th, 2023
Click here to read Part 1, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall

Click here to read Part 2, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Mayor Sorenson Leads Attack on Your Community and Your Values

Click here to read Part 3, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Mayor Sorenson Violated City Ethics Policy

Click here to read Part 4, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall, Removal of Facebook Post Supports Ethics Violation

Click here to read Part 5, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall, Mayor Sorenson Attempts to Silence You; Violates First Amendment Rights of Citizens

Click here to read Part 5 Update, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Defend Your 1st Amendment Rights and Your Values

Click here to read Part 6, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Mayor Sorenson’s Misguided Focus for You and Sheboygan

Click here to read Part 7, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Sheboygan Plunges into Budget Crisis While Mayor Moves to Hire Administrator Without You

Part 8, Corruption at Sheboygan City Hall: Westbrook Forces Out Two More City Employees

Take Back Sheboygan County has learned that the past few weeks have seen a continued turnover of city employees. One employee with 29 years of service was forced into early retirement for writing the name “Todd Wolf” on a questionnaire at the City Administrator stakeholder meetings. This employee has no known previous disciplinary issues and provided service to the city admirably. Some quotes that were shared anonymously were, “This employee did not have enough years of service to retire, so this does not make sense.” Another employee shared that the retirement pizza party and news came very abruptly.

An anonymous report stated that this employee asked who would do the job upon retirement and volunteered to stay on board to train the replacement. This employee was instructed that was not an option. This leaves a department in our city that is already battling staffing issues to cover a full-time position with no plan or consideration from Westbrook regarding the vacancy it would cause in the department.

Take Back Sheboygan County was anonymously informed that another employee with ties to Chad Pelishek was terminated and walked out of City Hall on Tuesday, August 8, which coincides with the same day Take Back Sheboygan County released the post detailing Chad Pelishek’s lawsuit.

What was the immediate danger and threat to the city by this employee that required immediate termination? Was the threat significant enough that the city needed to terminate this employee on the same day as the release of the lawsuit and risk it being labeled as retaliation?

Take Back Sheboygan County was notified of statements made by Mr. Westbrook in an email regarding harassment concerns based on religion due to Mayor Sorenson’s photo with a group mocking the Catholic religion. The citizen shared that city employees voiced concerns over harassment based on their religion due to the photo but faced the fear of bringing the concern forward due to not wanting to be terminated without cause like former city administrator Todd Wolf.

Westbrook responded in an email on July 19 with the following:

“As you know, I was not here when the Todd situation happened and had no role in that investigation or in the decision to terminate his position. As an attorney and an HR professional, I understand that retaliation is always worse than the original violation and would never allow or support an employee being terminated for filing a sincere report of harassment, discrimination, or bullying. (Obviously making something up would be a different story.)”

Westbrook expands on that later in the email with this statement:

“If these employees still have the irrational fear that I will retaliate or share their information (which they would have zero reason to hold that opinion of me), they have the option to follow the whistleblower procedure which (while still needing to provide their information) adds protection under the whistleblower law.”

With two employees ending their employment with our city recently and city employees stating that it was “heavy-handed discipline” and the “consequence did not match the issue” anonymously to Take Back Sheboygan, Westbrook feels that no city employee has a rational reason to fear interacting with him as Human Resources Director. City employees are communicating with Take Back Sheboygan and voicing concerns out of genuine fear of Westbrook, Mayor Sorenson, and eight of the ten members of the Common Council (excluding Alder Trey Mitchell and Alder Joe Heidemann).

Westbrook states that he understands that retaliation is always worse than the violation. Was the termination of an employee with close ties to Chad Pelishek on the same day this site posted information on Pelishek’s lawsuit retaliation?

The culture of fear and intimidation is rampant among city employees!

In the emails between Westbrook and the citizen regarding the harassment investigation, Westbrook refused to meet with the resident over the concern and instructed the citizen to review the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.) website for education.

Westbrook often refers to himself as an attorney and a Human Resources professional. In the Pelishek suit, there is an allegation that Westbrook told Chad Pelishek, “You are not being discriminated against,” and that Pelishek has no “protected status.”

The same E.E.O.C that Westbrook directed the concerned citizen to use for education is the same agency that granted Pelishek the right to sue the city of Sheboygan for discrimination. This led to a second federal court case naming the City of Sheboygan.

Westbrook’s actions are impacting employees of the City of Sheboygan, forcing them to work every day in a culture of fear and intimidation. Westbrook’s reckless actions have added to the city’s challenges, and Westbrook denies that he was involved in the Wolf investigation. There are allegations in the Pelishek suit that after Westbrook started with the city, he was involved in the Wolf situation even after the termination. This contradicts Westbrook’s statement in the email to the citizen that attempts to distance himself from the “Todd situation.”

City employees are scared, frustrated, and wondering who is next. This is unfair to the people who work to serve you as a taxpayer every day. This negative work environment impacts the attitudes and mindset of city employees every day. It is admirable to see the commitment of the day-to-day employees not to allow this toxic environment to impact the services they provide. It is wearing on employees, and that impacts you as a taxpayer!

It is also wrong and unfair treatment of individuals who dedicate their careers to serving you. Why is Westbrook acting this way?

The forced retirement of a 29-year employee seems to be tied to behavior that upset the mayor and/or the eight members of the ten members (excluding Alder Mitchell and Alder Heidemann)of the Common Council.

Is Westbrook working for the City of Sheboygan as a whole, or is Westbrook working only for Mayor Sorenson and eight of the ten members (excluding Alders Mitchell and Heidemann) of the Common Council?
- Have you been impacted?
- Do you want your voice to be heard?
- Contact our team: takebacksheboygancounty@gmail.com
- All communication will be kept confidential.
You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!
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Click here to view our series: Challenges in Sheboygan

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