'Stability is important': GOP elections chair wants clarity on Wolfe's future

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After Republican leaders admitted they had no authority or legal grounds to fire the state's top election official despite saying the opposite for weeks, the GOP chairman of the Wisconsin Elections Commission wants answers on the issue soon to ensure the 2024 elections run smoothly.

Don Millis, the GOP chair of WEC, said with the presidential election almost a year away, he hopes there's clarity from the courts to determine if Meagan Wolfe can continue to serve as the nonpartisan administrator of the elections commission.

"I think stability is important right now," Millis said. "We need to have calm heads. I don't think we need a lot of change over in staff, including administrators."

Senate Republicans' vote to oust Wolfe last month triggered a lawsuit by Attorney General Josh Kaul, who argues lawmakers had no authority to remove her.

In a response to that legal challenge seeking to prevent the Legislature from removing Wolfe or appointing someone else, GOP leaders admitted in a court filing Friday the Senate's action was "symbolic" and "admit she is lawfully" in her position as administrator.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) told CBS 58 last month his chamber had the power to vote down Wolfe because her term expired. When asked about his past statements, LeMahieu told WisPolitics it was Republicans' best legal strategy to acknowledge the Senate's vote was "symbolic."

"I'm just trying to ride the waves and navigate this the best I can," Millis said about the court filing and conflicting statements.

Wolfe has continued to serve in her role as Kaul and many Democrats don't believe the vote to fire her was legitimate. Wolfe said she will stay at the commission until a court tells her otherwise.

The uncertainty over Wolfe comes after the bipartisan elections commission failed to reach a consensus on renominating her on the heels of her term expiring on July 1.

Democratic commissioners abstained from voting, arguing a recent state Supreme Court ruling allows an appointee to continue serving in their position until a replacement or vacancy occurs.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) pushed back against the court filing and said he wants to remove himself from the lawsuit. He also suggested there's still an avenue to appoint someone to replace Wolfe through the Legislature's Joint Committee on Legislative Organization.

"I still think the law is really crystal clear," Vos said. "If a person is not appointed, there's a process in the law. This is the exact way JCLO appoints somebody."

Friday's filing from Republican attorneys disputed Vos' claim by saying JCLO has no power to appoint an interim while Wolfe remains at the commission.