Top Row: Jeff Gentz (D) and Daniel Gashke (D) Bottom Row: Sarah Kirby (D) and Frederick Brookhouse (D) (File Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha County Board’s Finance and Administration Committee on Thursday, October 30, narrowly voted 4–3 against adding a Victim-Witness Specialist position to District Attorney Xavier Solis’s 2026 budget — a move Solis called “politically motivated” and “a slap in the face to victims of crime.”
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Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis At Finance Committee Meeting (Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The position had been proposed weeks earlier as part of a budget resolution designed to strengthen support for victims navigating the court system. While the State of Wisconsin funds all prosecutor positions, Kenosha County must fund paralegals and victim-witness staff. The additional specialist would have expanded services in a department that has seen rising caseloads since 2020.
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Voting against the measure were Supervisors Jeff Gentz (D), Daniel Gashke (D), Sarah Kirby (D), and Frederick Brookhouse (D) — all of whom backed Solis’s opponent in last year’s district attorney race. Voting in favor were David Geertsen (R), Gabe Nudo (D), and Andres Gama (D).
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Solis said the defeat reflected politics over public service.
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“I am disappointed that Finance Committee Chairman Jeff Gentz and Supervisors Daniel Gashke, Sarah Kirby, and Brookhouse voted against funding a Victim-Witness Specialist,” Solis told Kenosha County Eye. “Their comments at the meeting were concerning and give the impression that they do not support victims of crime.”
Solis said he was invited to attend the October 30 meeting to answer questions but was given only a few minutes to speak before the vote. He noted that none of the four who voted “no” had ever reached out to his office beforehand.
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“Their comments, combined with their votes, show a lack of preparation for the meeting — or worse, a disregard for victims in favor of playing politics,” Solis said. “By voting no, these Supervisors have limited the ability of victims in their own districts to have their voices heard.”
Solis also stressed that the new position would have been fiscally responsible, since the State of Wisconsin reimburses part of the salary for victim-witness staff.
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“This position is not about politics or personalities,” Solis said. “It is about the people of Kenosha County and the duty to stand with victims.”
Under Marcy’s Law, victims have a constitutional right to be treated with dignity, be heard in court, and have their safety protected. Solis said the committee’s vote directly undermined those rights.
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“Victims do not care about political parties — they care about being treated with dignity, heard in court, and protected under the law…My office will continue to do exactly that,” Solis said.
Top Row: Andres Gama (D) and Gabe Nudo (D) Bottom Row: David Geertsen (R) (File Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Solis thanked Supervisors Geertsen, Nudo, and Gama for “putting victims first and choosing principle over partisan politics.”
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Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman (R) At Finance Committee Meeting (Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Sources inside county government told Kenosha County Eye that County Executive Samantha Kerkman chose not to include the Victim-Witness Specialist in her main budget proposal, instead pushing it to a separate vote — a move some believe was intended to ensure its defeat outside her budget package.
Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.
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June 1, 2026
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Everyone in Kenosha County is responsible for this.
We all have a hand in this.
We elect our own individual supervisors.
We all elected Sam.
This is just another reason why I’m not voting for Sam again. She obviously didn’t want to lead here.
As a conservative I hate when lots of things are included in big budget bills when they could have been voted on separately. But in this case including it in the overall budget would have ensured its success. Something I want !
Almost as if Sam is working against us.
Looking for the next County Executive.
Is that you ??
While Freytag is a fucking ass, Kool-Aid drinking, piece of shit
be very careful what you wish for because when he gets fired, mickelson would be in charge and that is simply frightening
Gentz may make really bad decisions but Kenosha County isn’t paying him over $100k a year to fuck shit up on a daily basis, like they are Bolt and Freitag.
Rino.
She’s screwed Repubs in multiple ways and I’ll never vote for her again.
Also, that freshly-rolled-out-of-bed look makes her seem unkempt, unprofessional and unprepared.
Two thumbs down.
Nit wanting to wish harm, but
If these four had a tragedy in their family, they would want help. These four think because of their position, they’d be able to cruise thru the criminal web in Keno. That is favoritism. They forgot their oaths.
And Sam, you are failing on real important stuff. The job is filled with hard, real life and sometimes ugly stuff. You are a dismal failure in protecting the poorest of the poor or the most hurt of victims. Oh, I will say hi to you with a smile as I always have but behind my smile is absolute disgust.
People have a very different view on crime when it touches them. these are lucky. it hasnt touched them closely. if it had, they would see the light and whonder where they have been all this time in their thinking. as said, favoritism exists and they would take advantage of it. You on the other hand wil go kicking and screaming and scratching for information, times, access, info for the simplest of things. Try stating with a simple police report. hint-dont hold your breath. you will die standing at the counter.
Can we talk about how Kreuser had in the budget to add an elevator in the Kenosha County Center building and Kerkman removed it and refuses to add one. There is an entire second floor that cannot be used due to no elevator. So much wasted space!
The second floor is mostly used up by mechanicals – HVAC & Boilers. The only available space is a roughly 2000 sq. ft. room previously used as office space for Sheriff’s substation. It might already be used County offices displaced by the enlarged Sheriff substation – unknown by me right now. The public never accessed this area. However, an elevator would have been very useful for staff that need to access this area whether they be law enforcement, maintenance, or office people.
… how when this building was built in the early 1990’s it was not required to have a elevator.
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was new law right around this time.
Would surely (don’t call me Shirley) have been covered under that law.
Maybe they got it built before that law was enacted.
They issued “their own permits” to themselves so it is possible they just decided this was a cost saving measure.
Anyone from that time have any knowledge of that ?
Those egotistical individuals seem to ignore that there’s a law called Marsy’s Law and the provisions regarding victims’ rights. Of course, they will deny everything they can to the Republican DA. They seem to forget that their voters are the people—the same people who need victims and witnesses services. They also feel untouchable, but you never know; maybe someday they or their relatives will need a V&W specialist, and there won’t be one available.
The DA is pandering. He is already doing way more than is required under “Marsy’s Law” and is creating unnecessary work. He’s got more money and more “victim witness” positions than he needs.
Samatha Kerkman knew if she added these positions to her budget, it would raise the county tax levy above 3%. With re-election around the corner, she put the positions in the budget resolution with the funding coming out of the general reserves. This way she can say, I tried to the Republican’s while keeping the tax levy under 3%. Samantha Kerkman has once again demonstrated she is way out of her league and needs to go. Everyone is talking about her poor judgement and jeopardizing her own budget.
It’s about time someone like Solis got placed in that position! He has the right mindset for the job and the positions he oversees. He’s holding people accountable not only when facing them in court, but also speaks out about those who do wrong within his rank and file. He stands for what’s right and wrong, not political affiliation or what’s going to best serve him. Shame on those who were appointed into these positions that choose to be self-serving.
It is not a question or fallacy that victims of domestic abuse grossly under-report their abuse and their abuser. It is largely to do with how a victim get revictimized time and time again going through the process -reporting, the questions from the investigating officers, questions from the DA staff, the questions from their “team” when going through a trial and most of all during cross examination. All while in an open court in front of whomever is sitting in the stands. Having to face their abuser. (Yes this is when the victim finally goes through with pressing charges, which typically comes after months/years of abuse and the mental struggles that the victim go through to get the courage to actually stand up and fight their abuser). And this is all if, the DA chooses to press charges!
Unless you’ve been in a position of a victim, many don’t realize that a victim of abuse goes through most of this and the DA has ultimate authority to say whether or not they’ll move forward with prosecuting the abuser!! The victim is the one on the stand testifying and fighting for their rights – having to relive the trauma on repeat which can be even more traumatic when being cross examined. The abuser never has to testify to prove their innocence. Never is an abuser forced to getting on the stand and be attacked and undermined in an attempt to prove innocence/guilt.
To not vote in favor of a victim advocate position and the marked indifference these people have for protecting and ensuring the victim is properly protected throughout this process further causes victimization. Regardless of the victims age, gender, color or social status. They chose their own political lines and pockets over their responsibility to protect these people.
May they all be voted out when its election time and people put in place to actually help these people already fighting so hard for themselves. And thank you Solis for standing up for victims and theor rights! If only there were more people like you, this world would be a much better place.
The Victim Witnesses have too much power already. The don’t just advocate for the victim, they solicit the DA office for additional charges with the hopes to get a plea bargain. They have gone behind the backs of investigators trying to sway them into a different mindset of charges. I have also seen the VW office tell LE they have more information, but never pointing LE to that information directly. VW will say they cannot get involved but yet in many ways they do.
As for you extremists , look into the time the VW people attend “special interest group” meeting. Look into these “teams” they belong to and ask yourself, who is benefitting from these teams? #1. If there is too much work maybe they should attend less meetings. #2 What group or non governmental office benefits from these meetings? Do your research!
The previous District Attorney had two more witness and victim specialist positions than the current DA. One of whom was terminated due to criminal charges. The other, whose performance was widely regarded as disastrous, either quit, was terminated, or perhaps both, depending on how you look at it. The current DA is simply trying to restore the same number of positions the prior administration had, ideally by hiring someone more motivated and less prone to assaulting people outside the office. So, is this really about power, or is it about efficiency?
You both made a point. Watcher, some of them have to go once the house cleaning is completed; however, others are great, such as this lady Regina and stick strictly to their job descriptions. Efficiency, those two are part of the rotten apples, and there are still a couple left there.
Meanwhile, the liberal judges and court commissioners hand down lenient sentencing (if any) to criminals
who go right back out and reoffend—creating more victims! Disgusting.
By all marks, this year has shown how the Democrats react when they lose elections to Republican candidates. Nearly 80% of the Democratic ADAs have fled the county, leaving behind what many now describe as scorched land for the incoming Republican DA, Mr. Solis. The transition has been anything but smooth.
An imperial decree, issued under the authority of the king judge, has drawn sharp criticism from legal observers and civil rights advocates alike. The order restricts media access to court proceedings, allowing only images approved by local authorities while barring independent media from obtaining and therefore being able to publish their own photos.
Sources within the courthouse have revealed the existence of secret memoranda, conducted by the Clerk of Courts at the request of the so called “king,” later redacted and sent directly to the so called Republican and former wife County Executive. These documents allegedly contain information extracted from court employees under duress and, more disturbingly, instructions to identify which court officials and deputies have been “friendly” with journalists who have covered the judicial system for years.
Meanwhile, Democratic officials have resisted the appointment of a long awaited additional witness and victim specialist for the District Attorney’s Office. The move appears less about fiscal restraint and more about undermining the office’s mission and, in the process, deepening the wounds of victims who continue to seek justice in a fractured system.
It’s time, more than ever before, to keep the EYE focused on the court system as well as on the expenses approved by the county, particularly how much unnecessary spending continues to be authorized while the approval of another victim and witness specialist is being denied. Now, more than ever, let’s keep The EYE well informed of any irregularities in the spending of public funds on behalf of the board member and everyone else.
From now on, let’s hold these so called public servants accountable for every single dime they spend. We must gain access to or subpoena all financial records and demand full not redacted explanations for every expenditure. If the numbers cannot be properly justified, then we, the people, must demand their prosecution. Let’s report to KCE every shady thing we learn about. Enough is enough. This must start tomorrow.
What is the daily cost to house a jailed offender ?
How much is the cost for a Huber offender ?
How much is the cost of an ankle monitored offender ?
How much space is available in the county jail for all these offenders ?
Is any of the above “part” of anyone’s thought process when handing down sentences ?
I get it, none of that should matter but, does it ??
Have you ever heard about the deterrent aspect of the law? Apparently, judge Russell hasn’t either. We can’t deport U.S. citizens. Are you suggesting that those committing crimes should not be incarcerated due to a lack of funds for the county jail and KCDC? That would lead to total chaos, just look at Chicago the democrat paradise. Unfortunately, they must be locked up. Perhaps legislators in Madison should consider deducting money from their paychecks once they’re released in order to reimburse the state. But that’s unlikely with all those liberals in the mix.
The writer of the first response to this story seems to lack an understanding of the budget process and funding sources other than Kenosha taxpayers.
First, information from unidentified ‘sources inside County government’ is hardly a basis for taking a stand on decisions made by elected officials. Second, let’s assume for a minute that Sam purposely left the funding for the position outside of the budget to force a vote in Committee where Dem’s showed their colors before an election. I’d say that is brilliant move and a great campaign issue for the Dems Republican opponents in what has been otherwise a two-year cycle with very little to differentiate County Supervisors from each other. This was truly a gift for the Republicans. I’m glad simple-minded folks who fire off comments like ‘Elections have consequences’ did don’t have the courage to run for public office.
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CLINTON, Wis. — Republican State Senate candidate Ellen Schutt has secured the endorsement of Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin, adding another prominent conservative organization to her growing list of supporters as she campaigns for the State Senate.
Wilmot High School WILMOT, Wis. — Wilmot Union High School received a voicemail Monday morning from an out-of-state telephone number regarding a potential threat, prompting an immediate response from school administrators and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.
42 Responses
Everyone in Kenosha County is responsible for this.
We all have a hand in this.
We elect our own individual supervisors.
We all elected Sam.
This is just another reason why I’m not voting for Sam again. She obviously didn’t want to lead here.
As a conservative I hate when lots of things are included in big budget bills when they could have been voted on separately. But in this case including it in the overall budget would have ensured its success. Something I want !
Almost as if Sam is working against us.
Looking for the next County Executive.
Is that you ??
Thank you 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
They approved a raise for that dumb shit Greg Bolt, after hiring him at the highest possible wage just over a year ago.
He’s the most worthless piece of shit in Kenosha County, second only to Kerkman.
Boldt should be the janitor the way he and Freitag sweep shit under the rug.
Need more quad axles to haul away all of Freitag’s bullshit. Everything that comes out of his weasley mouth is bullshit.
While Freytag is a fucking ass, Kool-Aid drinking, piece of shit
be very careful what you wish for because when he gets fired, mickelson would be in charge and that is simply frightening
How do you know Mickelsen, why not Edquist? He’s the second stupidest, laziest fucker in there. That’s promotion material in Kenosha County.
What about pork chops Jeff Gentz? Keep an eye on that fuck
Gentz may make really bad decisions but Kenosha County isn’t paying him over $100k a year to fuck shit up on a daily basis, like they are Bolt and Freitag.
Yikes!!! Sammy.
We need to remember this come election time
Why does Kev refer to Sam as a Repub? Or does R stand for RINO?
Retard. In this case, it’s R for Retard.
Rino.
She’s screwed Repubs in multiple ways and I’ll never vote for her again.
Also, that freshly-rolled-out-of-bed look makes her seem unkempt, unprofessional and unprepared.
Two thumbs down.
Nit wanting to wish harm, but
If these four had a tragedy in their family, they would want help. These four think because of their position, they’d be able to cruise thru the criminal web in Keno. That is favoritism. They forgot their oaths.
And Sam, you are failing on real important stuff. The job is filled with hard, real life and sometimes ugly stuff. You are a dismal failure in protecting the poorest of the poor or the most hurt of victims. Oh, I will say hi to you with a smile as I always have but behind my smile is absolute disgust.
Whenever one says “but” in a sentence after a statement you’re invalidating what you just said. I think you wish for tragedy in their family.
your opinion, which does not make it fact.
People have a very different view on crime when it touches them. these are lucky. it hasnt touched them closely. if it had, they would see the light and whonder where they have been all this time in their thinking. as said, favoritism exists and they would take advantage of it. You on the other hand wil go kicking and screaming and scratching for information, times, access, info for the simplest of things. Try stating with a simple police report. hint-dont hold your breath. you will die standing at the counter.
Karmic wheel will hit them back, they just earned it
A song Kerkman can sing.
Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I’m in the middle without any plans
Trying to be Malibu Barbie as much as I can
and Solis is right!
Can we talk about how Kreuser had in the budget to add an elevator in the Kenosha County Center building and Kerkman removed it and refuses to add one. There is an entire second floor that cannot be used due to no elevator. So much wasted space!
The second floor is mostly used up by mechanicals – HVAC & Boilers. The only available space is a roughly 2000 sq. ft. room previously used as office space for Sheriff’s substation. It might already be used County offices displaced by the enlarged Sheriff substation – unknown by me right now. The public never accessed this area. However, an elevator would have been very useful for staff that need to access this area whether they be law enforcement, maintenance, or office people.
… how when this building was built in the early 1990’s it was not required to have a elevator.
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was new law right around this time.
Would surely (don’t call me Shirley) have been covered under that law.
Maybe they got it built before that law was enacted.
They issued “their own permits” to themselves so it is possible they just decided this was a cost saving measure.
Anyone from that time have any knowledge of that ?
Those egotistical individuals seem to ignore that there’s a law called Marsy’s Law and the provisions regarding victims’ rights. Of course, they will deny everything they can to the Republican DA. They seem to forget that their voters are the people—the same people who need victims and witnesses services. They also feel untouchable, but you never know; maybe someday they or their relatives will need a V&W specialist, and there won’t be one available.
The DA is pandering. He is already doing way more than is required under “Marsy’s Law” and is creating unnecessary work. He’s got more money and more “victim witness” positions than he needs.
Great job Carli, thanks but not thanks. More than a mouse you are a libRat. And remember, you LOST
You have no clue what you’re talking about. Your buddy Graveley had two more bodies with VW.
Samatha Kerkman knew if she added these positions to her budget, it would raise the county tax levy above 3%. With re-election around the corner, she put the positions in the budget resolution with the funding coming out of the general reserves. This way she can say, I tried to the Republican’s while keeping the tax levy under 3%. Samantha Kerkman has once again demonstrated she is way out of her league and needs to go. Everyone is talking about her poor judgement and jeopardizing her own budget.
It’s about time someone like Solis got placed in that position! He has the right mindset for the job and the positions he oversees. He’s holding people accountable not only when facing them in court, but also speaks out about those who do wrong within his rank and file. He stands for what’s right and wrong, not political affiliation or what’s going to best serve him. Shame on those who were appointed into these positions that choose to be self-serving.
It is not a question or fallacy that victims of domestic abuse grossly under-report their abuse and their abuser. It is largely to do with how a victim get revictimized time and time again going through the process -reporting, the questions from the investigating officers, questions from the DA staff, the questions from their “team” when going through a trial and most of all during cross examination. All while in an open court in front of whomever is sitting in the stands. Having to face their abuser. (Yes this is when the victim finally goes through with pressing charges, which typically comes after months/years of abuse and the mental struggles that the victim go through to get the courage to actually stand up and fight their abuser). And this is all if, the DA chooses to press charges!
Unless you’ve been in a position of a victim, many don’t realize that a victim of abuse goes through most of this and the DA has ultimate authority to say whether or not they’ll move forward with prosecuting the abuser!! The victim is the one on the stand testifying and fighting for their rights – having to relive the trauma on repeat which can be even more traumatic when being cross examined. The abuser never has to testify to prove their innocence. Never is an abuser forced to getting on the stand and be attacked and undermined in an attempt to prove innocence/guilt.
To not vote in favor of a victim advocate position and the marked indifference these people have for protecting and ensuring the victim is properly protected throughout this process further causes victimization. Regardless of the victims age, gender, color or social status. They chose their own political lines and pockets over their responsibility to protect these people.
May they all be voted out when its election time and people put in place to actually help these people already fighting so hard for themselves. And thank you Solis for standing up for victims and theor rights! If only there were more people like you, this world would be a much better place.
Two thumbs down? Carli and Jerkman?
The Victim Witnesses have too much power already. The don’t just advocate for the victim, they solicit the DA office for additional charges with the hopes to get a plea bargain. They have gone behind the backs of investigators trying to sway them into a different mindset of charges. I have also seen the VW office tell LE they have more information, but never pointing LE to that information directly. VW will say they cannot get involved but yet in many ways they do.
As for you extremists , look into the time the VW people attend “special interest group” meeting. Look into these “teams” they belong to and ask yourself, who is benefitting from these teams? #1. If there is too much work maybe they should attend less meetings. #2 What group or non governmental office benefits from these meetings? Do your research!
It’s not about the victims…it’s about their jobs.
The previous District Attorney had two more witness and victim specialist positions than the current DA. One of whom was terminated due to criminal charges. The other, whose performance was widely regarded as disastrous, either quit, was terminated, or perhaps both, depending on how you look at it. The current DA is simply trying to restore the same number of positions the prior administration had, ideally by hiring someone more motivated and less prone to assaulting people outside the office. So, is this really about power, or is it about efficiency?
You both made a point. Watcher, some of them have to go once the house cleaning is completed; however, others are great, such as this lady Regina and stick strictly to their job descriptions. Efficiency, those two are part of the rotten apples, and there are still a couple left there.
Meanwhile, the liberal judges and court commissioners hand down lenient sentencing (if any) to criminals
who go right back out and reoffend—creating more victims! Disgusting.
Good, a waste of money.
By all marks, this year has shown how the Democrats react when they lose elections to Republican candidates. Nearly 80% of the Democratic ADAs have fled the county, leaving behind what many now describe as scorched land for the incoming Republican DA, Mr. Solis. The transition has been anything but smooth.
An imperial decree, issued under the authority of the king judge, has drawn sharp criticism from legal observers and civil rights advocates alike. The order restricts media access to court proceedings, allowing only images approved by local authorities while barring independent media from obtaining and therefore being able to publish their own photos.
Sources within the courthouse have revealed the existence of secret memoranda, conducted by the Clerk of Courts at the request of the so called “king,” later redacted and sent directly to the so called Republican and former wife County Executive. These documents allegedly contain information extracted from court employees under duress and, more disturbingly, instructions to identify which court officials and deputies have been “friendly” with journalists who have covered the judicial system for years.
Meanwhile, Democratic officials have resisted the appointment of a long awaited additional witness and victim specialist for the District Attorney’s Office. The move appears less about fiscal restraint and more about undermining the office’s mission and, in the process, deepening the wounds of victims who continue to seek justice in a fractured system.
It’s time, more than ever before, to keep the EYE focused on the court system as well as on the expenses approved by the county, particularly how much unnecessary spending continues to be authorized while the approval of another victim and witness specialist is being denied. Now, more than ever, let’s keep The EYE well informed of any irregularities in the spending of public funds on behalf of the board member and everyone else.
From now on, let’s hold these so called public servants accountable for every single dime they spend. We must gain access to or subpoena all financial records and demand full not redacted explanations for every expenditure. If the numbers cannot be properly justified, then we, the people, must demand their prosecution. Let’s report to KCE every shady thing we learn about. Enough is enough. This must start tomorrow.
We all are against lenient sentences.
What is the daily cost to house a jailed offender ?
How much is the cost for a Huber offender ?
How much is the cost of an ankle monitored offender ?
How much space is available in the county jail for all these offenders ?
Is any of the above “part” of anyone’s thought process when handing down sentences ?
I get it, none of that should matter but, does it ??
Have you ever heard about the deterrent aspect of the law? Apparently, judge Russell hasn’t either. We can’t deport U.S. citizens. Are you suggesting that those committing crimes should not be incarcerated due to a lack of funds for the county jail and KCDC? That would lead to total chaos, just look at Chicago the democrat paradise. Unfortunately, they must be locked up. Perhaps legislators in Madison should consider deducting money from their paychecks once they’re released in order to reimburse the state. But that’s unlikely with all those liberals in the mix.
Gabe Nudo is no Democrat LOL. Another Fake news biased article on Kevin’s blog
The writer of the first response to this story seems to lack an understanding of the budget process and funding sources other than Kenosha taxpayers.
First, information from unidentified ‘sources inside County government’ is hardly a basis for taking a stand on decisions made by elected officials. Second, let’s assume for a minute that Sam purposely left the funding for the position outside of the budget to force a vote in Committee where Dem’s showed their colors before an election. I’d say that is brilliant move and a great campaign issue for the Dems Republican opponents in what has been otherwise a two-year cycle with very little to differentiate County Supervisors from each other. This was truly a gift for the Republicans. I’m glad simple-minded folks who fire off comments like ‘Elections have consequences’ did don’t have the courage to run for public office.