The Sconi

According to a complaint filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, Mayor Eric Genrich may have violated a Wisconsin law when he used taxpayer funds to send out an e-newsletter to a large audience while running for reelection. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission's initial review found that the complaint was sufficient to proceed to consideration by the commission.

The Green Bay Press Gazette reported that the complaint was submitted by Jane Juza, who unsuccessfully ran for Green Bay mayor earlier this year.

"On January 23, 2023, Green Bay Mayor Genrich violated Wisconsin Statute, sec. 11.1205(1)a. As a sitting elected official running for office, he may not use government resources to distribute greater than 49 pieces of like material to different individual recipients," Juza wrote in her complaint. 

According to the complaint, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich sent a e-newsletter on Jan. 23 of this year that was in violation of Wisconsin law.

Wisconsin statute 11.1205 deals with the use of government materials by candidates for office. It states that "a person elected to state or local office who becomes a candidate for national, state or local office may use public funds for the cost of materials or distribution for 50 or more pieces of substantially identical material" after filing papers, and/or being nominated, to run for office.

Included in the complaint as exhibit C was a copy of Genrich's declaration of candidacy, which was dates Dec. 1, 2022. Given that the newsletter was sent almost two months later, it would appear that Genrich was already a candidate for office when the newsletter that is the subject of the inquiry was sent.

Additionally, according to a document obtained by The Sconi, there are 656 subscribers to the newsletter that was sent, which is well above the 50 piece threshold established by state law.

According to a representative of the Ethics Commission, after an initial review of the complaint, it was determined that it was "sufficient to proceed to consideration by the commission."

Juza's complaint is not the only recent piece of criticism against Genrich, who has made headlines recently for the installation of audio surveillance in the hallways just outside of council chambers and the mayor's office. According to Fox News, the recording devices were installed without notifying the council or the public of their existence. While Genrich has stood by the installation, Alderman Chris Wery was quoted as saying, “It's disgusting, and Big Brother is listening, and we the people are not amused.”