04/08/2025
Facts and opinion regarding Blanchardville Village President election controversy. I've been asked my opinion about the claim that the newly elected Village President is "disqualified" by a village ordinance passed by the outgoing board as referenced in this news item. https://www.wkow.com/news/blanchardville-faces-challenges-after-spring-election-results/article_0460824f-cf52-415f-9209-cb6581365678.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJiCL9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHilv5DbrErqk_MlCBb8F2IX2jPF_YSaYI6z10osXQQAA24DrDg48pVO2zrUA_aem_PUaA7asnKxupCB2SGJoKwQ.
Here are the basic facts: In August of 2023, the village board, with Pres. Nick Crooks presiding and Denis Olson sitting as a trustee, passed a new "Charter Ordinance" which restricted who is "qualified" to be village president.
The ordinance is copied below in the comments and states in the relevant part:
65-1 A. Qualified candidates for Village President shall have served as a committee member, trustee, alderman, mayor, or president. .... E. The Blanchardville Police Department or appropriate County Sheriff's Office shall provide an accurate account to the Village Clerk about candidates, for the purposes of determining candidacy qualification. ... G. The outgoing Village Board shall make qualification determinations in March, should there be material issues with determining a Village President candidacy qualification status.
At the April election, there were 2 candidates for Village President: the aforementioned Denis Olson, who had been on the board for several terms through 2024. and Lanny Gilbertson. Lanny Gilbertson won the April election.
However, Olson and/or people seeking his installation as president, have claimed that Gilbertson is not "qualified" according the new ordinance because he has not "served as a committee member, trustee, alderman, mayor, or president." From the publicly available minutes, it does not appear that the outgoing village board made any determination of disqualification (as referenced in the ordinance). (It also does not appear that the police or sheriff made any findings about the candidates' qualifications as indicated by the ordinance, but, then again, why would they?).
Gilbertson has been identified as the new Village President.
If Olson wishes to pursue a legal challenge to Gilbertson's election notwithstanding the preference of a majority of the voters, such a challenge would take place via the Wisconsin elections commission, the circuit court, or both.
OPINION: The above are the facts. The following is my personal opinion.
This situation is yet another instance where the village leadership CREATED a problem rather than solving one.
#1 - It is undeniable that the subject ordinance REDUCES the pool of candidates to an extremely small group of insiders. "You know what Blanchardville needs? An even more incestuous rotation of the same people trying to lead."
#2 - It is undeniable that the ordinance is anti-democratic. Will of the majority of the voters be damned.
#3 - It is questionable whether this ordinance is constitutional. Assume that a group of trustees wins an election and then passes an ordinance that they will serve for life. Is this constitutional and subject only to recall election? Probably not. The ordinance, which obviously denies equal protection under the law, is permissible only if it furthers a legitimate governmental interest and is rationally related to achieving that interest. I do not believe this ordinance meets either test.
Among all of the problems in the Village of Blanchardville, the one that the leadership chose to focus on in 2023 was to limit who could run for office!?! As if the problem was too much involvement by new people. As if the problem was too many fresh ideas and too much new energy. There have been many significant problems in the elected leadership of Blanchardville. Too many new faces isn't even on the list.
Gilbertson won the election. In my opinion, it is time to move forward. Blanchardville has a great opportunity to revitalize its downtown, to improve its tax base in order to support its infrastructure, and to grow and thrive in a sensible manner. I know from personal experience that this revitalization has been stalled for several years because of the same old dysfunction involving the same old people.
I am extremely optimistic that new leadership, new ideas, and fresh business sense finally may be winning the day.
Nearly one week after the spring election, one local government is struggling to move forward with its results.
