(Photo by Joe Potente, Kenosha County)
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — In her third State of the County address, Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman offered a glowing assessment of local government’s direction, calling the county “strong” and its future “bright,” while using the occasion to celebrate major economic wins, budget discipline, and what she described as a renewed commitment to transparency.
Kerkman, who was elected in 2022 as Kenosha County’s first female executive, delivered the address to the County Board Tuesday evening. She used the speech to mark the county’s 175th anniversary and the 100-year milestone of the historic Kenosha County Courthouse, which will be commemorated in a public celebration on August 24.
“We’re not taking our foot off the gas pedal,” Kerkman said. “We’re making Kenosha County — the Gateway to Wisconsin — an even more attractive place to live, work and play.”
Economic Growth and Budget Discipline
Among the most notable achievements highlighted was Eli Lilly’s $3 billion expansion project in Pleasant Prairie and Bristol, which is expected to bring 750 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs. Kerkman also cited Microsoft’s purchase of 240 acres northwest of I-94 and Highway 142 — property the City of Kenosha recently rezoned for a potential data center development.
“These investments are reshaping our economic landscape,” Kerkman said, crediting the Kenosha Area Business Alliance for helping position the county as a business-friendly destination.
On the fiscal front, Kerkman pointed to a series of “high-quality budgets” with average tax levy increases of just 2.27 percent over three years. She credited rising property values for allowing many homeowners to see actual reductions in county property taxes. Sales tax revenues also hit record highs in early 2025, and the county maintained its AAA bond rating from S&P Global, saving more than $1 million in interest costs to date.
Transparency and Public Engagement
Kerkman emphasized new tools designed to make county operations more accessible to the public. A redesigned county website, data dashboards for Human Services divisions, and a public listing of infrastructure projects were all touted as part of an overarching transparency initiative.
Her administration also launched an e-newsletter and expanded outreach events like “Human Services on the Go” to bring resources directly to residents. She credited the County Board with supporting these efforts and singled out several supervisors for their work, including Chair Monica Yuhas, Human Services watchdog Supervisor Franco, and Supervisor Belsky, who led the push for data transparency.
“We’re serving people where they’re at, and not waiting for them to find us,” Kerkman said.
Environmental and Infrastructure Projects
Kerkman pointed to the long-planned restoration of the South Branch of the Pike River as a success story in collaboration and cost savings. Approved unanimously by the board in March, the project aims to improve water quality and environmental conditions while coming in under its original cost estimates.
She also praised the launch of a new Adopt-A-Highway program — fittingly kicked off on Earth Day — and acknowledged the Public Works and Parks departments for their rapid response to a severe storm that damaged over 100 trees at Brighton Dale Links golf course last week.
Public Safety and Social Services
The county’s investment in behavioral health and public safety also drew attention. A newly embedded social worker is now working alongside the Sheriff’s Office to support residents in crisis. Other recent additions to law enforcement include more deputies, detectives, a civilian jail administrator, and a data analyst — a role Kerkman said has helped the Sheriff’s Office more strategically address crime trends.
Looking Ahead
Despite the tone of celebration, Kerkman acknowledged looming challenges, including a new EPA designation labeling southeastern Wisconsin a “Severe Nonattainment” area for air quality. The classification could impose tougher regulations on local manufacturers, even though much of the ozone pollution originates in Illinois and Indiana.
“My administration, KABA, and our regional economic development partners are working with our congressional delegation to address this unfair burden,” Kerkman said, noting ongoing conversations with Rep. Bryan Steil and Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson.
County Pride and Community Spirit
The address ended on a celebratory note, with Kerkman showcasing an Emmy Award-winning video produced in partnership with Uniquely Wisconsin, highlighting Kenosha’s ties to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — popularized in the film “A League of Their Own.”
“While we’ve accomplished a lot over the last three years, we’re not done yet,” Kerkman said. “The state of Kenosha County remains strong. Our history is rich, and our future is bright.”
A community celebration marking the Courthouse’s centennial will be held Sunday, August 24, with more details to be announced.
17 Responses
I am sorry, but she is terrible.
In more ways than one, and in more ways than most of the county’s citizens are aware.
And the Academy Award for her role as a conservative goes to…
Samantha Kerkman!
I don’t think anyone else caught your sarcasm. 😉
I like her and hope she continues to do well . I’m glad we got rid of Sgt. Hard . Too bad Gabe Nudo cracked up.
Samantha Kirkman has done a really good job moving the County forward without disruptive conflict. Kenosha is a very diverse county with diverse needs….overlay that with incredible growth, pressing energy needs, a tight market for high quality employees, and the limitations of ‘government’. There are 23 County Board Supervisors all with an opinion and differing perspectives. The County Executive has to walk a tight rope….and she’s doing it well.
This is her chance to show she can actually do the job. No more cow-towing to pollution coming from other States.
Thanks for tooting your own horn Samantha!!!! You’re a fraud
Regarding the tight market for quality employees; this would be a Kerkman failure, epically.
I am a 25-year county employee (BSN).
I am married to a 21-year county employee (Deputy).
My spouse’s sibling is married to a county employee (DPW).
We have watched many new hires quickly get disgusted and leave, the same with the Sheriff’s Department & DPW; the few that actually start— because there are many open positions that they aren’t able to fill- rapidly see through the gross apathy from the most high of the higher-ups, directors and division heads. They see the fear & exhaustion from those of us in the middle, hanging on because hopefully Kerkman will lose, and the new Executive can appoint adequate directors and division heads, and we see the lowest levels being retaliated against for speaking up, on the off chance that they are actually granted an audience with Her Majesty. The fear, because retaliation by Kerkman’s HR is real & rampant.
Another sibling works for a neighboring county’s Human Resources, and they do not have the same turnover that we have- they don’t deal with the complaints and overall disgruntled-ness. They have positions that are easily filled in one interview cycle. They promote from within, invest in their staff, and their staff, in turn, give them quality work and do well by their taxpayers. A classic case of taxpayers being able to pay their taxes and receive services due to them.
My family members and I regularly discuss how things have changed. How we had such high hopes for Sam, how she initially treated us all with such respect- how we all suspected that Kerkman would quickly replace Clara Tappa with someone good- instead, we have watched the HR department systematically devastate departments within Kenosha County, while Kerkman stands back to keep the stink off of herself.
We watched as the county board appointed new directors and division heads at or above the top of their pay scale, citing the need to recruit quality. Meanwhile, us lowly employees see massive jumps in insurance costs, nearly-impossible goals with our new “wellness” program, and we have to fight to get medications covered that we have been on for many years- doing well on- that UMR has now decided are unnecessary, and it’s cost the county money as they need to pay sick time when employee cannot work without said medication.
This— this is a failure.
There’s always the private sector , you whiny parasite.
I work in the private sector, as well. As a BSN, I currently work for three different organizations- two of them being private sector.
Maybe one day this whiny parasite will be tasked with putting a catheter in you 😘
Lol..hahaha
Resorting to name calling random individuals on the internet is so weird.
Nah… I found it very fitting.😊
Right now, you might not need the health department or Brookside- both are county departments that employ RN’s, and are in need of nursing staff.
That may not always be the case. There may come a time when you need the assistance of a “whiny parasite” nurse in one of these departments. Hopefully, the issues will be resolved by then, and there will be adequate staffing to meet your care needs. If not, just remember the time you thought that calling a nurse who is pointing out challenges with sufficient staffing a “whiny parasite,” and hopefully you don’t die as a result.
Amen. She’s toxic. Her appointments are even more toxic, not to mention thin incompetent. She’s a Charleston and fraud and needs to go.
Useless hack RINO