SALEM LAKES, Wis. Just before the 2023 spring elections, Kenosha County Eye published Small Village, Big Government: Salem Lakes Residents Fight Back, capturing widespread dissatisfaction throughout the Village of Salem Lakes. Days later, voters executed one of the most sweeping political shake-ups in the village’s history. Longtime Village President Diane Tesar, along with Trustees Ted Kmiec, Dan Campion, and Mike Culat, were all removed from office.

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The newly elected leadership — Village President Rita Bucur, Trustee Kelly Sweeting, Trustee Jared Young, and Trustee Billy Barhyte — joined existing trustees Ron Gandt, Bill Hopkins, and Dennis Faber, promising transparency, accountability, and responsible spending. Many voters believed the village had finally corrected course.

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But one of the board’s first major decisions quickly became its most controversial: hiring Illinois liberal Cassandra Hiller to run a rural Wisconsin community. Residents widely consider that hire the administration’s earliest and most damaging mistake. Hiller later appeared to be forced out, and residents now fear the board is preparing to repeat that error as it moves to appoint a new administrator in the coming weeks.

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Now, less than two years after the reform wave, many residents, employees, and even former supporters say the village has veered sharply off course under President Bucur’s leadership. They describe surging spending, growing secrecy, and an internal culture they consider hostile to dissent. Several employees told KCE they received internal messages warning that publicly disagreeing with the administration could result in discipline or termination.

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A new grassroots movement is quickly forming — and many of the same people who helped sweep the old board out in 2023 say they are prepared to do it again.

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A Majority That Shifted — and Then Split

The reform majority did not hold. Trustee Kelly Sweeting passed away, leaving her seat vacant. Trustee Jared Young declined to seek re-election; his seat was later filled by Trustee Angela Brooks, who joined Bucur’s voting bloc. After Sweeting’s death, Trustee Pete Poli was appointed and later won election in 2025.

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Residents now view the board as split into three groups:

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• Bucur’s bloc of Democrats: Bucur, Hopkins, Gandt, Faber, and Brooks
• Trustee Pete Poli — the only conservative on the entire board
• Trustee Billy Barhyte — an unpredictable swing vote

Many residents who supported the 2023 reform wave now say the current board bears little resemblance to what they voted for.

Spending Surges and Financial Concerns Deepen

Residents reviewing the budget say village spending has exploded since Bucur took office. Their analysis shows steep increases in wages and benefits, rising to about $5 million; multiple departments with triple-digit increases; and property taxes jumping once new borrowing is included.

The termination of the fire and EMS contract with Paddock Lake — a decision backed by Bucur’s bloc — resulted in nearly $700,000 in lost value between contract payments and insurance billing.

Legal fees have also become a major flashpoint. Residents estimate roughly $750,000 has been spent on legal services in four years, far exceeding the legal budgets of similarly sized municipalities. Many reject the administration’s claim that open-records requests caused the increase, saying invoices indicate otherwise.

Some residents believe legal threats have become a routine management tool. Others warn that the village’s new long-term borrowing plan could saddle taxpayers with debt for decades, with some predicting borrowing may have to double by 2027 just to maintain current spending levels.

Employees Describe a Culture of Intimidation

Multiple employees tell KCE they fear speaking publicly about village issues. They say internal messages warned that disagreement with the administration could lead to disciplinary action. Some employees also report feeling pressured not to place items on agendas without approval from Bucur or from administrative staff.

One employee summed it up: “People are afraid to talk. That’s not how a village government should run.”

Budget Vote Expected Tomorrow — And Residents Issue a Warning

The Village Board is expected to vote on the new budget tomorrow, and nearly every resident KCE spoke with believes it will pass by a large margin with the support of Bucur’s bloc.

Several residents issued blunt warnings about the consequences if the budget passes.

One resident told KCE, “If they pass this disaster, the entire board should start looking for other jobs.”

Another resident was even more direct: “If they ram this through, they might as well start packing their bags.”

Three Trustees Up for Re-Election in 2026 — And Residents Want All Three Replaced

According to village records, three trustees are up for re-election in April 2026:

• Trustee Dennis Faber
• Trustee Ron Gandt
• Trustee William Hopkins

All three are part of the Bucur voting bloc.

Residents organizing the new grassroots effort say replacing all three is essential to restoring balance, transparency, and responsible leadership. Many of the organizers helped orchestrate the 2023 turnover and now say the stakes are even higher.

“We didn’t vote for a blank check,” one resident told KCE. “We voted for leadership.”

With concerns mounting over spending, legal costs, borrowing, and the upcoming appointment of a new village administrator, many taxpayers say a second major political shake-up may now be unavoidable.