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In March of this year, KCE had to sue Kenosha County. We wanted body-worn-video footage from the Sheriff’s Department of the embattled former politician Ted Kmiec. Kmiec was reporting to Kenosha County Deputies that I planted video cameras, and bugged his home. The Sheriff’s Department admitted verbally and in writing that it was possible a mental health issue.
(Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha County has terrible lawyers called Joey Cardamone and Jenny Kopp. They don’t know the Wisconsin Public Records law, so they gave the Sheriff’s Department advice to deny me the footage. After I sued, Kopp admitted that she had no knowledge on this issue, and asked Kerkman to hire outside counsel. Samantha Kerkman authorized the County to hire a very expensive law firm. This would cause one to think – “If Kopp doesn’t know anything about public records, why would she give the Sheriff’s Department ANY advice?”
So I sued and Kerkman gave a blank check, so to speak, to a Waukesha-based law firm. Two seasoned attorneys and a paralegal worked feverently to block my access to the body-worn-camera footage of a politician – against little old me, a college dropout. The case settled out of court. I am not legally allowed to discuss the conditions of the settlement – but the confidential settlement document is a public record.
We asked Kerkman many times why she really didn’t want us to have the footage. She didn’t respond. I wanted to see just how much Kerkman spent of our money to help a friend – just $9 short of $10,000. Here is a copy of the bills to the county:
Mathewson Kevin Request 23 10 12 Invoices 1
44 Responses
Kerkman is a joke.
Sam looks like she’s eating her big pay raise. She’s a chubby
Section 19.39, Wisconsin Statutes: “Any person may request advice from the attorney general as to the applicability of this subchapter under any circumstances. The attorney general may respond to such a request.” Before hiring outside counsel (and the hourly rate here, by the way, seems modest compared to some law firms), did the corporation counsel drop a dime on the attorney general’s office for advice? And if not, why?
As legal bills go, this one was pretty cheap. And kudos to the law firm for some fairly well-detailed billing. The public often doesn’t get to see that.
Much of “government” is, at best, silly and incredibly costly. Kudos to the Eye.
I disagree with the simplistic characterization of “costly” in favor of “mismanaged” which is costly. Most of the people who do the work are good people who work hard and are dedicated. The politicians are another breed. Their fiscal habits and lack of candor costs money and often produces poor results. They neither budget or spend like we would at home or in our businesses. To make it simple, would you rather pay $200-250 for a filling or delay getting the work done until it becomes a $2500 crown and root canal? By not allocating sufficient reserves to cover replacement facilities taxpayers are on the hook for the “$2500 crown and root canal” far too often. By following simple business practices taxpayers could save money overall.
Just like most of Americans these days I am sick and tired of todays political crooks! They won’t hesitate to spend tax dollars on defending their crooked buddies or sick ass agendas. Mainly the liberal democratic ones. They are the biggest snakes in the grass. Of course there are “RINOS” amount the republican party but the true Republicans need to grow a set of balls and come together to fight against this biggest pandemic of all, “LIBERALISM”! I guess that’s why some will say, “if you’re not a liberal by the age of 20 then you have no heart, but if you’re not a conservative by the age of 40…. then you have no…….. BRAIN”!!!
Haaaa And you carried her water for county executive. You get what you vote for……. Another Twin Lakes power play by Sam, she’s been taking notes from the best!
What type of response are you looking for? I voted for Sam. Will I again? Not sure. Maybe not
Not sure if you ever noticed, but sometimes you have to vote for the lesser of 2 evils…
College educations are highly overrated in this libtarded society anyway Kevin. You and I are much smarter than any College educated liberal. If people wanna waste a shit ton of money just send your kids to college so they can get indoctrinated by woke ass professors and come home as dumb as a box of rocks with no morals or common fricken sense!!! Then you can never even talk sense to them ever again because they’ll be sooooo convinced that they are smart that they look stupid 🙄
There are a lot of non woke colleges and professors out there. Many jobs require more than a high school education. Are you smarter than a doctor, nurse, police officer, teacher, IT professional? If so, you might be a lucky one, but you are a dying breed. Years ago, all you needed was some high school, then it was a high school diploma and now its college…an undergrad degree if you even wanna work at a good job. If you raise up a child in the way they should go, they will not depart from it.
I’d be willing to bet that I am much smarter than a large amount of them when it comes to common sense, wisdom, morality, Christianity etc etc etc….things that are much more important in this sick society than book smarts. Congratulations to the lucky ones who didn’t waste their parents money, or government money, on 4 years of college while partying their asses of while and becoming stupefied by woke colleges and then cannot even find a job after all of that, and who actually became something without losing their brain cells. But no I never said I was more book smart than the people you mentioned but common sense should have told you that…
Teddy? Best not to run for office again. Spare us having to see your face and escapades in the news.
Thank you,
If Sam wants to spend all this money to help her buddy, she should have to foot the bill out of her own pocket, not our tax dollars! Wow, she has really gone off the rails over the past years.
Sam? You are embassassing those who supported you over the years and perhaps some who work for you since you took county office. Please look at your actions. Your job is to do what is right, not based on who you call a friend. Make decisions as if you didnt know the individual. If you pretended that it wasnt Teddy, you would have let this issue continue without spending a dime and you would have won the Transparent Integrity medal. Instead, you failed at the “hide” and now we all see it. For voters, this is a learning experience. Do Not Vote for peoiple who havent worked in the real world for a living like we do and who havent had to deal with labor laws of the land with other than intern friends. Let’s get someone who has an MBA and 10 years real work experience with personal authorities on over 20 million dollars. Less than that is a sandbox player.
🤪totally agree
I agree with all of this. She is not for Kenosha County. She is only trying to fatten her pockets and smile for every photo opportunity. She needs to go! NEXT!!!
We were happy at this time: https://twitter.com/KenoshaCtyEye/status/1516210566766993416 Now, not so much.
What type of response are you looking for? I voted for Sam. Will I again? Not sure. Maybe not
Why would you even consider voting for her? She has basically made you look like a fool and definitely ruined your credibility regarding who you back on this site, like what the fuck?
Ruined my credibility on who I back? I’ve never advocated for anybody to vote for anybody in that race. I think anybody who knows anything about me knows that I’m a conservative. I don’t think Samantha Kerkman can ruin MY credibility by doing stupid things. You have weird logic
Because the alternative was worse. Perhaps you need to wrap your head around our voting system and politics a little more, because choosing the lesser evil has been the default since the dawn of man.
We can guess that the alternative would have been worse, but there’s no way to truly know.
You are not sure. She has created doubt. That is my point. You have confirmed with your answer. Was easy, yes??
She’s another uniparty POS ..
She should have to pay every single dime back to Kenosha County tax payers! No wonder why she hired Sherry Kruse after she stole money and time from Lake County. She can relate!
Where is the video?
We want to see what a hill billy fishing shack looks lime when it is taken over by a horder.
Do you count this lawsuit as a win for the KCE?
Where is the video? LEARN TO USE THE SEARCH TOOL.
Did you win the lawsuit? Can you post the video footage that you received? I hope they also had to pay your court costs as well. Why is the Sheriff’s name not in this article as I think it is the Sheriff’s decision on releasing body camera footage isn’t it?
The sheriff unfortunately is best suited to follow his lawyers advice. His lawyer happens to be a disaster of a fucking attorney
But, is it the Sheriff’s final say? I can always get a recommendation my attorney, but I always have the final say in the decision. I also get recommendations from my financial advisor, but I don’t always have to listen to them. Maybe the Sheriff should grow a pair and make a decision that is good for the County. What was the reason the Sheriff gave for denying the request? Can you post the video from your lawsuit? I am very curious to see it.
It is a good point. The government does not have to listen to their attorney’s opinion. They should do what they know to be right not withstanding.
The Sheriff should do what he believes is right and deal with the consequences if he is wrong. It is a pretty simple concept of leadership. He was elected to uphold the law and protect us. He promised transparency to the citizens. He is elected, so what can go wrong for him if he makes that decision? We can still vote for him right? In my experience attorneys are always going to be conservative and meek with their recommendations. The Sheriff was ELECTED to make bold, good and strong decisions for the people of Kenosha. It is his decision at the end of the day and he failed us. You like to hold people accountable, but you seem to be giving the Sheriff a major pass on this when he is the final authority.
Based on you not answering the video question, I am assuming that you must not have received it? Curious what you settled the case for? It would have been pretty fun to watch that body footage camera if he was really accusing you of putting cameras around his house.
On a side note are you looking forward to the release of Epstein’s list? It is supposed to happen Jan 1.
I posted the videos months ago
Kevin
Where are they? Can you post a link? Are they redacted or something?
By the way, I don’t think you should limit yourself to just Kenosha. You should also keep an eye on the state of wisconsin.
Sorry, I looked back on the site to Aug and I couldn’t find them. Can you post the link please?
Where is the video? LEARN TO USE THE SEARCH TOOL.
Sometimes in life there are things we may be entitled to see, or have the right to see, but it is still wrong seeing it. Sometimes we need to ask, what is the purpose for what I am doing? Other than (maybe) being proven right, what good will come out of it?
Mr. Watcher. If someone accused you of many felonies to law enforcement. Would you want to know all of the details? Ya? Me too
Kevin
Sometimes we need to ask why democrats are so annoying and a pain in the ass
Kerkman is one of yours. Nice try…
Joseph M. Cardamone III is the worst!
No wonder why she hired Sherry Kruse! To deflect from her dirty laundry!
It’s unthinkable what you go through Kevin.
Being defamed and targeted for seeking and covering the truth. No matter where the truth lands.
Please sue for court costs and attorney fees.
You’re too gracious in letting political bad actor’s off the hook financially.
Keep every cent!
Thank you for not curling up in a ball like most people too often do when politicians and law enforcement overlords play God with people’s lives, reputations and safety.
Merry Christmas Kevin😊🙏🏼🎄🎁