KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Two of the three Republican candidates for Kenosha County sheriff have already committed to participating in an upcoming public forum hosted by Kenosha County Eye, with planning now underway as organizers await a response from the third candidate.
Captain Tony Gonzalez and Captain James Beller have both confirmed they will attend the event, which is expected to draw a large audience. The forum is being organized, sponsored, and promoted by Kenosha County Eye publisher Kevin Mathewson, with the goal of giving voters a direct opportunity to hear from the candidates ahead of the August primary.
Brian Filiatreault, a longtime Kenosha County resident and local business owner, will serve as moderator. Filiatreault has stated he is currently undecided in the race, and both Gonzalez and Beller have agreed to his role. He will have full autonomy over the questions and the structure of the forum to ensure fairness and remove any perception of bias.
While Mathewson is handling logistics and promotion of the event, Filiatreault will be in full control during the forum itself, including moderating discussion and directing candidate responses. Organizers say this structure is intended to eliminate any appearance of impropriety and maintain a balanced environment for all participants. The event is open to the public and will be streamed live on YouTube and Facebook.
Sheriff David Zoerner has not yet publicly confirmed his participation. Organizers say they are waiting to hear back from him before finalizing details. The event is expected to take place in June, though the exact date and location remain to be determined.
Once Zoerner responds, Kenosha County Eye says it will provide an update with finalized scheduling information.
There is no Democratic candidate in the race, and while an independent candidate has declared, political observers widely expect the Republican primary winner to become the next sheriff of Kenosha County.
The forum is expected to include opening and closing statements, as well as a structured question-and-answer format designed to give each candidate equal time to address key issues facing the county.
21 Responses
Please make this forum on-line for voters to see the candidates if unable to attend.
Ir as a video after… we don’t need to see it live.
Just see it…
I ask for close up enough to see their facial remarks .
Thank you very much.
You mean macro facial expressions and body language while responding? That sounds very reasonable. It’s the only way to see who is who and how well they are prepared.
I get so upset when commenters here on this news site can’t even read and or comprehend what they are reading.
Kevin said and wrote this will be streamed Live !
For the old folks that don’t have facebook or don’t know how to use it YouTube is so easy to access and find the site you are looking for.
Additionally even if you join late to the live broadcast on YouTube you can look back on the feed as it is also being recorded.
Meaning you can jump on 20 minutes after the start and watch either from that point on or scroll back and watch it from the beginning and it will still follow along till the end.
Or as mentioned you can watch at a later time or date. It never goes away.
It’s Simple.
Don’t make things harder than the are not
Thank you Kevin!!
I need a seat up front for this one!!
Bring back Sheriff David Beth!!!
No, no Beth. That run is o v e r
Suggestion maybe have it at the brat stop parkway chateau
Zoerner is probably salty that KCE has been reporting on his dumb ass shit, and would say no, except he knows he has to do it if the other candidates are.
True Debates are the core to our Democracy, otherwise your making an uneducated guess when you vote.
We live in a REPUBLIC! All of you involved in the hot air exchange are slow as fuck.
He has to show up.
He’s not as high and mighty as he might think.
But his “advisors” like Sam and Sandy will probably tell him to sit it out. Let them whittle the field down to just one against him instead of two.
Not a bad move but I think we’ll see through it.
Zoerner needs to show up, or he risks losing by default. I know the Moderator, and he’ll make sure this stays a fair respectful debate. I’m confident Zoerner has the upper hand, but if he doesn’t attend, it will seem like he’s afraid to explain his accomplishments and why he deserves a second term.
The ones who know his “Leadership” best are his Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Deputies and Corrections Officers… 98% came out publicly criticizing Zoerner’s leadership. The community needs to listen to these loud voices asking for change! Those personnel have strongly asked us citizens to support Tony Gonzalez.
Anyone listening to Sandy is doomed to lose…just look at the election results of those who were “helped” by her.
Same as SK-
Beller seems to have done everything in his life, from Green Beret to FBI director. He may have been here, there, and everywhere, but he never graduated from anything. We already know what Zoerner is: take it or leave it, it won’t get better. Gonzalez is dancing with the same board Zoerner had in the last election, except for the fact that he can barely afford good street signs. He is a captain with an excellent record, no more and no less. He is honest, decent, and full of integrity. He will not cut deals with the devil.
I got money Gonzalez isn’t going to win. 💰
Have Solis attend seated nearby too- Then he can address specifically if he will follow the next sheriffs plan. After all, the deputies “request” charges be filed against criminals, the DA’s office is the only one who can submit the charges to court.
Candidates can all say I’d do this or that, but if the DA won’t carry out the request, its a waste of effort, time and $$
Does anyone else think it’s a conflict of interest for Beller to be Sheriff when his son Blake is in and out of custody in Kenosha County? Currently an inmate in there right now…