Wausau Alderman Keene Winters is filing an ethics complaint against City Council President Robert Mielke over an investigation he authorized into Winters’ conduct.
Mielke ordered the investigation after Winters swore in a confrontation with a city department head. In a complaint to Wausau’s Ethics Board, Winters said the investigation was illegal, and Mielke knew it. Winters wants him charged with misconduct in office.
“I think the goal was to shorten my political life whether I ran for council or mayor,” said Winters of the investigation.
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The two recently competed against each other in Wausau’s mayoral primary: Winters came in third, while Mielke came in first.
Meanwhile, Mielke is threatening to sue Winters. He said Winters’ complaint may hurt him in the upcoming general election.
“It’s just basically a political stunt, I’m afraid, from Mr. Winters. It’s at a point right now where even I’m considering legal action as far as slander and libel,” he said.
Mielke faces attorney Jay Kronenwetter and write-in candidate Dave Oberbeck on April 5.
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