(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
SALEM LAKES, Wis. — An Illinois resident with close personal ties to Village of Salem Lakes President Rita Bucur and Trustee Dennis Faber is drawing renewed scrutiny after publicly urging village officials to adopt restrictions on public participation and press activity that legal experts say would clearly violate the First Amendment and Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Dean Hintzman, who lives in Antioch, Illinois, has emerged over the past year as an unusually influential figure in Salem Lakes governance despite not being a Wisconsin resident or an elected official. As previously reported by Kenosha County Eye, Hintzman maintained frequent private communications with Bucur during the village administrator hiring process, advising her on candidate tours, media coverage, and internal board dynamics.
At the Jan. 6 Salem Lakes Village Board meeting, Hintzman addressed the board during public comment and called for a formal review of village rules governing citizen behavior at meetings. While claiming to be a strong supporter of free speech, Hintzman proposed what he described as a “three-strike rule” — warning, removal from a meeting, and then a requirement that an individual seek permission to attend future meetings.
He also asserted that the board has authority under Wisconsin law to manage where members of the press operate during meetings to minimize what he characterized as “attempted intimidation.”
Civil rights attorneys say those suggestions are not just misguided, but flatly unconstitutional.
Kenosha County Eye spoke with a Wisconsin civil attorney who regularly handles First Amendment and open government cases. The attorney said municipalities may remove individuals who are actively disruptive during a meeting after appropriate warnings, but cannot bar them from attending future meetings or require special permission to participate.
“If someone is loud, disruptive, or profane, the chair can warn them and remove them from that meeting if necessary,” the attorney said. “But they absolutely cannot impose ongoing or future bans. You cannot condition a citizen’s right to attend public meetings on a request or approval process. That would violate the First Amendment.”
The attorney said public meetings are considered limited public forums, meaning governments may enforce reasonable, content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions — but only as they apply to conduct during the meeting itself.
“The law does not allow perpetual punishment,” the attorney said. “You deal with the disruption in the moment. That’s it.”
The attorney also rejected Hintzman’s suggestion that boards may restrict press activity to prevent discomfort or criticism.
“You cannot regulate where the press stands or operates because officials feel intimidated or don’t like coverage,” the attorney said. “Unless a journalist is physically interfering with the meeting, restricting press access would almost certainly violate the First Amendment and Wisconsin law.”
Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law further reinforces those protections by guaranteeing public access to governmental meetings and requiring that any restrictions on attendance be narrowly tailored, temporary, and directly tied to maintaining order. Courts have repeatedly ruled that removing someone from one meeting does not justify excluding them from future meetings.
Hintzman’s remarks have intensified concerns about outside influence on Salem Lakes policy. Text messages previously obtained by Kenosha County Eye show Hintzman coordinating closely with Bucur during the administrator selection process, discussing candidate tours, media narratives, and internal political alignment on the board.
In one exchange, Hintzman assured Bucur she was “winning” and offered continued assistance, while she thanked him and expressed appreciation for his role. Those communications occurred while the administrator hiring process was still ongoing.
Hintzman has also acknowledged being a close friend of Trustee Dennis Faber and referenced shared involvement in village and town projects over the years. During his Jan. 6 remarks, Hintzman highlighted past collaboration with Faber and others, underscoring the depth of his personal connections to current village leadership.
Critics say the situation raises serious questions about governance and transparency — particularly when an out-of-state resident with no formal role in village government is advocating for measures that would restrict citizen speech and press access.
“There’s a fundamental problem when someone who doesn’t live here and doesn’t answer to voters is pushing ideas that would silence the people who do,” the civil rights attorney said.
The Salem Lakes Village Board has not taken formal action on Hintzman’s proposals. However, legal experts warn that any attempt to codify ongoing bans, permission requirements, or press restrictions into village ordinances would almost certainly trigger litigation.
“It would not survive a legal challenge,” the attorney said. “And the taxpayers would be the ones paying for it.”
36 Responses
I watched the meeting this morning, and his statement was just… odd. It felt like he was trying to puff himself up, and then out of nowhere he launched into a full‑on attack on the First Amendment. Such strange behavior. And honestly, I’ve never even heard of Dean Hintzman, why is someone from Illinois suddenly leading the President? It just felt off.
The rest of the meeting wasn’t much better; it was a circus at times. I truly don’t know why Hopkins was running his mouth the way he was, he came across completely unhinged.
This Village is in desperate need of fresh leadership. The way they all interact, it’s like they can barely stand to be in the same room together.
He is better known in Salem as “The wetland whisperer”.
Why is someone from Illinois leading our village president? Answer is simple she has lost most of her support in the community and seams unhinged
Yeah, it’s odd…..he isn’t even anyone of importance or with money from Illinois. He is just some regular schmoe.
Really dangerous to be taking advice from someone who thinks silencing people is the best way solve problems. That may work in Illinois, but not in Wisconsin; we follow the Constitution.
No more faber!
Leave him alone, he’s just a liberal hippie.
Stfu democrat.
He is not a resident of Wiscondin and not of Salem Lakes what is he doing? He should not have a say in policy or rules for where he is not a resident. People of Salem Lakes wake up and take control of your community.
He is not a resident of Wiscondin and not of Salem Lakes what is he doing? He should not have a say in policy or rules for where he is not a resident. People of Salem Lakes wake up and take control of your community.
Thanks for letting us know he’s a FIB, I’ll be nice and vocal to the asshole at future meetings. The fact that they love the new Admin is terrifying, I hope he’s not like the rest.
He was on a commission to help select Cassie Hiller. How did an IL resident get selected for said commission ?!?!
So that’s the piece of shit. I can’t wait to show him what free speech really means.
These assholes are done! Everybody better get out and vote. If you don’t, you deserve what is coming.
Show him Rte 83 and tell him to get the he’ll back to the communist state, and stay there, either Prtrzker.
With Pytzker and the other radical socialists.
1st a Liberal administrator from Illinois and an Illinois resident telling the president to Tax and spend, I now understand what is happening to my tax bill. Mr. Dean please stay in Illinois.
He helped select her
Dean, if you take your top lip and apply it to the bottom lip, it will allow you to shut the fuck up!!!!! Go sit down somewhere!!! Flex your rights people before we lose them!!!!
From the last story on this guy.
He does currently own property here on Camp Lake. Had another home there previously years ago.
Though he might currently live in Illinois he does “have standing” here.
I still don’t like what happened then or now but thought people should know he has history here
He doesn’t reside here. And we don’t want him.
THE BUMB NEEDS TO GO BACK TO ILLIONOIS
Assuming that’s with the president… someone should OR her personal phone since she took office…
They all have village cell phones, easy to FOIA. I’m sure Rita has been texting her criminal boyfriend on it (Mike Daniel’s). Crazy ass
Who is this guy ? What’s his story ? And why are the retards in Salem Lakes listening to him ?
He just looks like a total asshole.
It appears to me that Bucur is in over her head by these conversations, an elected official using an out of state resident as a mentor for hiring and elections? What the actual fuck? How is he even Allowed to even speak at meetings, much less try and control dialogue?
Can anyone name a single good thing that’s happened in this village in recent years? I’ve lived here decades, surely something must’ve gone right? No? Didn’t think so. Taxes have skyrocketed, services are stuck in 2003, and the board’s visionary master plan. More sprawl! Because nothing screams “progress” like bulldozing nature to build another High-density housing project, just what I moved here for. I’d rather have solar panels than knee deep in homes.
The Fire Department contract funds? Vanished like a magic trick. Community input? Tolerated the way a toddler tolerates broccoli. Commissions that dare to protect the village are treated like rogue insurgents, and the County Fair? Under siege. They practically need legal counsel just to say hello to Salem. And yes, let’s not forget the wetland wonderland fantasy trail, because when everything else is crumbling, why not build a path to nowhere? At least that problem left.
At this point, I don’t care who’s in charge, we’ve got nothing left to lose. And now, for the grand finale, our Village President has outsourced our future to Illinois, what could possibly go wrong? The political infighting here is so crazy it deserves its own reality show. Honestly, if the water turns out to be laced with toxic chemicals, it will explain a lot, because the behavior around here is straight out of a horror show.
I’m genuinely stunned by the number of keyboard warriors in this community. It’s like Salem’s unofficial sport is online combat. I’m starting to think it’s time to pack up and move, because at this rate, taxes are going to devour me whole. I don’t take everything on this site as gospel, but my Lord… this is full-blown insanity.
Spot on reply, Insanity Lakes
The spending and sneaking all started when Tesar hired an administrator from Illinois, Casey, who was not on the list of finalists to be interviewed. He just walked in, interviewed him and she pushed for him to be hired. They all pushed for Salem to become a Village, especially Casey, because then the board and Casey would not have to have Annual Elector meeting or get approval from the electors (residents) to spend money. You all gave them free reins when you allowed Salem to become a Village and it’s getting worse and continuing.
Isn’t this something that Sam kerkman should be doing something about. After all she’s the county executive?
We do have a county conservationist. He should step in. It’s wetlands in kenosha county. Unfortunately he’s a fraud. I’ve dealt with him in the past
Schmuck from Chicago.
Small hats think they know best
(((indeed.))) *hand rubbing intensifies*
i hope I get my hands on that guy were gonna stop this shit now
Is Salem Lakes winning? How delusional do you have to be, to text that. Looney – shut up and sit down
FIBs when infesting neighboring states:
“Let me tell YOU about YOUR state!”
Insufferable pricks. Always quick to call us yokels and simpletons but they sure love coming up here and taking repeated dumps on our state. They need to eff off.