(Photo of Samantha, Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. – County Executive Samantha Kerkman has now joined her ex-husband, Judge Chad Kerkman, in taking direct aim at District Attorney Xavier Solis’s office. Her first move came when she recently defunded Kenosha County’s weekend drafting program, a critical tool that had been in place for decades under multiple DAs and county executives.
For decades, the program ensured that criminal complaints could be drafted on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays — the very days when crime consistently spikes in Kenosha County. Eliminating it has created a cascade of problems. Assistant district attorneys must now prepare all of those complaints on Monday mornings, clogging workflows and diverting resources from other pending cases. Hearings are delayed, victims wait longer for justice, and in some cases, defendants sit in jail an extra day before appearing before the court commissioner. The backlog also adds unnecessary stress to an already short-staffed office. Legal insiders call the move reckless and unprecedented.
As if that wasn’t enough, Samantha Kerkman also issued an order barring the DA’s sworn investigator — a fully certified police officer — from carrying his firearm anywhere, including in the courthouse. Judge Kerkman, seemingly at her urging, then issued his own “order” backing up the ban, something he never attempted under any prior DA.
The firearm restriction has shocked courthouse insiders. The investigator is a police officer no different than a Kenosha Police officer or a Kenosha County deputy. In Milwaukee, DA investigators not only carry their guns in the courthouse — they are expected to. Disarming a sworn officer creates serious risks:
- Personal safety: Without his weapon, the investigator becomes a target if recognized by violent defendants or gang members.
- Public safety: In an emergency, he cannot respond to protect staff, victims, or the public.
- Deterrence: The visible presence of an armed officer discourages dangerous behavior. That deterrent is lost.
- Parity: Every other sworn officer in Kenosha County carries a gun. Stripping only the DA’s investigator of that right undermines his authority and endangers him.
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Early in her term, County Executive Samantha Kerkman supported allowing concealed carry in most county buildings, backing a 2022 County Board vote to expand gun rights. She even signed off on putting a referendum question before voters to make Kenosha County a “Second Amendment Sanctuary County,” which ultimately passed. But with her re-election campaign approaching, she has reversed course — now siding against firearms in the courthouse and stripping the DA’s sworn investigator of the ability to carry his gun.
KCE cannot identify a single other county in Wisconsin where sworn police officers are prohibited from carrying firearms in the course of their official duties.
The twin moves — defunding a key public safety program and disarming a sworn officer — come as both Samantha Kerkman and Sheriff David Zoerner face upcoming re-election campaigns. According to courthouse sources, both have privately complained that Solis is “too conservative” and that opposing him might improve their chances with voters as they attempt to reposition politically.
County Executive Samantha Kerkman has repeatedly refused to respond to KCE inquiries about both issues.
(File Photo by Kevin Matheson, Kenosha County Eye)
When asked for comment, DA Solis, who acknowledged the negative impact of both moves but struck a measured tone: “Although these issues have negatively affected my office, I remain confident that Samantha Kerkman will do the right thing after speaking further.”
The growing alliance between Samantha, and Chad Kerkman — one a county executive, the other a judge — underscores a larger question: are political calculations being put ahead of public safety in Kenosha County?
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47 Responses
Kerkman is a clown. She’ll do anything to get her picture in the paper.
Always a clown Samantha? Useless waste of oxygen
Unfortunately, Samantha Kirkman has shown that doing the right thing is not a priority. When she dislikes someone she makes it obvious even if that means inserting herself into matters where she has no place.
This behavior is standard for power-tripping Female officialdom. Again, Kenosha did itself no credit by electing this Democrat tart twit or her predecessor, the beta-wimp blowhard showcase personage Kreuser.
In today’s political zeitgeist, all so-called “sworn” officers must be suspect of Democrat partisan over Constitutional loyalty. DA Solis should be personally armed with close quarters plus FBI/CIA special agent-level counterintel training so to spot an infiltrator instinctually on the spot, along with his personally chosen deputies. The internecine conflicts (“hatreds”) run too hot to allow for lapsed situational awareness error.
It is amazing what can be written with the help of a good thesaurus.
And Chad has a megasorass.
says anonymous….😂
Fortunately, no thesaurus was necessary. The benefits of a 1960s-70s then competent KUS and UW education.
I sent a a certified letter to Samantha Kerkman on the fentanyl issue, and NEVER got a response! She is incompetent and so is her ex-husband who should technically be FIRED! He doesn’t even serve properly as a judge! Very very shameful! 😌
well said!
You should have told her there was a photo op. She would have come running
Well I guess this just makes it easier to choose how to cast my votes next time around. Both Kerkman and Zoener have been a disappointment.
But… but… she didn’t raise taxes!
😂🤡
The swamp is scared! Lock them all up!!!
This RINO really is vindictive. Ponders switching to the other side before an election. Typical fake loser.
I don’t think she’ll do anything for a photograph anymore due to the fact she looks rode hard and hung up wet and she has to know this. She must also know switching ideologies before and election won’t save her now. She’s ex[posed as a fake. No credibility.
Wow! It’s a Double Header Today!
Ample Signs of both Kerkmans suffering from Depravity.
Can Kenosha County do worse?
I wonder if Judge Jerkman, Bingbat and Sgt. Hard are running a train on Sammy out at the cabin. She looks worn.
I think Chad bats lefty
978.047 Investigators; police powers. The district attorney of any county may appoint such investigators as are authorized by the county board, and the county board may abolish the positions at its pleasure. The investigators when so appointed have general police powers within the county.
The law doesn’t mention a county executive anywhere.
…once appointed as investigator nobody can remove the “police powers” already bestowed on the officer.
So is instituting a rule of no guns even in her purview ??
I think not !
The County and County Executive are responsible for the maintanance, capital improvements, and rules of staff.
The weekend reviewing of cases started in 1991 after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Riverside decision. It saved a lot of work on Monday mornings.
She is systematically defunding law enforcement in Kenosha County. Started with the Sheriffs Departments budget including eliminating a detective position, and know going after the DAs office. All those people that came to Kenosha during the riots that burnt stuff down, damaged stuff, and caused and absolute mess of our community all shouted defund the police. Wierd how they didn’t but the “we back the badge” exec did. Pretty sad, but as was stated above, at least taxes have not gone up, even though population, housing and businesses moving here have all gone up.
Sam. You are going to like this and when u run for exec, too, you will lose then as well. Get the resume updated. Be sure to include real jobs, not govt jobs that taxpayers fork the money for.
Just another story and another reason to start looking for a replacement candidates for the GOP.
Are you reading this Sandy ??
Sandy who?
Can’t see Sam getting another cushy job like this anywhere else.
Kevin is there any stories about Racine Correctional Institute coming?
Wasn’t she in favor of private citizens with a CCW permit carrying in the courthouse, but the DA investigator can’t? Make it make sense.
Make it make sense, I’ll wait, rent free.
Learn to think for yourself moron.
The three branches in a democracy are the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which enforces the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws.
So, in our county the executive branch is run by a Jerkman, and the judiciary is conveniently managed by her ex-Jerk husband. Democracy, is that right?
You are fighting against two of the three branches. Perhaps you should consider calling the cavalry:
Contact Fox News Channel
Phone: (888) 369-4762
Whoops, I honestly thought Samantha was Chad’s mother.
Maybe this will lead them back together ….
Only if she got herself a penis.
Have you seen her ass lately?
It’s massive !!!
Maybe Chad is a chubby chaser? But Sam needs to clean up, she’s always a mess.
I’m afraid these Republicans trying to support Democrat causes are going to ruin things. Either you’re a D or an R—let’s stop playing games with the Republican Party. Grow a backbone or go join the crazies.
A system is corrupt when it’s strictly profit-driven, not driven to serve the best interests of its people.
The citizens get the shaft while the politicians bank balance increase.
She is a weirdo dem just like her weirdo ex. She should be barred from wearing shorts also. Her legs look like she got hit by a grenade
Well i guess it makes it easy FIRE BOTH OF THEM, these are games that don’t need to be played, there are safety concerns for all involved, how do we disarm are police and deputy that is ridiculous, They are playing a personal game towards Kenosha county eye and risking many in their agenda , This needs to stop.
Is the Republican Party in Kenosha planning to loose the mid-term or just asleep at the switch?
First of all, the KCDA Investigator was never a real cop. He was a jailer. Racine County -for example makes you become a sworn officer first before hitting the street. To my knowledge, BS has never hit the road and been a real cop. He is there for show and doesn’t even do investigations or follow ups-but instead refers them back to the real officers/detectives. He’s a great arm chair quarterback. He sucks up to his wife/significant other- the victim witness queen and is passionately devoted to her cause, often to the point of extremism.
I have never liked her and always knew she was a self serving douche! I don’t care who runs against her in a primary as they will have my vote.
Let’s hope the Kenosha GOP finds someone decent to primary her.
I don’t see it happening, though. Vos isn’t going to let them put someone up against Sam. I wonder if she’s still on his payroll?
Q. How are God and Samantha Kerkman alike?
A. God is everywhere, Samantha is everywhere but her office.