Apr. 6, 2022 4:25p
(WGTD)---The process of transitioning from one Kenosha County Executive to the next began Wednesday.
The outgoing Jim Kreuser began a series of meetings with incoming Samantha Kerkman at mid-morning. The initial session included a joint news conference in which Kreuser previewed for reporters the evening's State of the County address to the county board. Then he and Kerkman answered questions about the transition process.
The State Representative from Salem Lakes defeated Clerk of Courts challenger Rebecca Matoska-Mentink by a three-point margin Tuesday.
Kreuser said he and Kerkman will meet either in-person or over the phone on a near daily basis between now and the formal transition of power. Kreuser's last day is Apr. 18th, but promised to be available after that via cellphone.
Kerkman indicated she plans to overlap her county executive and state representative duties for a number of weeks in order to achieve a smooth transition in both positions. No special election in her Assembly district is anticipated. Candidates for the seat can begin circulating petitions Apr. 15th. Kerkman's two-year term expires this fall.
During Wednesday's session with reporters, Kerkman indicated that she planned to build on her predecessor's successes, and that she agreed with the basic tenets of Kreuser's fiscal policies which led to the county recently achieving Wall Street's highest bond rating.
Kreuser offered some praise. "I'm excited with the energy that Samantha Kerkman has right now...she'll do a great job here," Kreuser said.
Kreuser is retiring after spending 14 years in the office. He had endorsed Kerkman's opponent in Tuesday's election.
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