KENOSHA, Wis. — Just one day before the Republican sheriff’s forum hosted by Kenosha County Eye, multiple sources have told the news outlet that Sheriff David Zoerner has been privately informing supporters that he does not intend to attend Thursday night’s event at The Stella Hotel & Ballroom.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Zoerner had not publicly announced his plans and had not responded to multiple calls, texts and emails seeking confirmation.

The anticipated absence has created logistical challenges for organizers and moderator Brian Filiatreault, who has spent weeks preparing questions designed for all three Republican candidates. Because the forum was structured around a three-candidate format, an alternate set of questions will now need to be developed on short notice if Zoerner ultimately declines to participate.

What makes the situation particularly noteworthy is that Kenosha County Eye intentionally selected a moderator with a history of supporting Zoerner in order to eliminate any claim that the forum would be unfair to the incumbent sheriff. Kenosha County Eye Publisher Kevin Mathewson has been one of Zoerner’s most outspoken critics and did not believe he could serve as a neutral moderator for an event of this significance. Instead, Mathewson selected Brian Filiatreault, a former and possibly current Zoerner supporter, and granted him complete autonomy over the format, questions and conduct of the forum. Public records show Filiatreault previously donated to Zoerner’s campaign, and Zoerner campaign signs remain displayed on his property. Despite those facts, Capt. Tony Gonzalez and Capt. James Beller both agreed to participate under Filiatreault’s moderation, demonstrating their confidence in both the moderator and the fairness of the process.

Sources familiar with Zoerner’s campaign have told Kenosha County Eye that the sheriff has privately suggested the event would amount to a “hit job” against him. Organizers reject that characterization, noting that the entire structure of the event was designed specifically to avoid any appearance of bias.

The controversy comes amid questions surrounding a county budget meeting that was rescheduled several times before ultimately being set for the exact date and time of the forum. Kenosha County Eye has verified through public records that the meeting was moved multiple times before landing on June 4 at the same time as the candidate forum.

County Executive Samantha Kerkman worked with Sheriff David Zoerner to move the budget meeting to the exact date and time of the Kenosha County Eye forum, providing the sheriff with political cover to avoid the event. After learning of the conflict, Kenosha County Eye representatives texted, called and emailed Zoerner and specifically asked whether organizers should move the forum date to accommodate him. Despite multiple attempts to reach him, Zoerner never responded. Organizers therefore continued preparing for a three-candidate forum, only to learn shortly before the event that the sheriff was privately telling supporters he would not attend.

Kenosha County Eye Publisher Kevin Mathewson said the sheriff’s apparent decision to avoid the forum speaks volumes.

“I think Sheriff Zoerner’s refusal to account for the last three and a half years is very telling,” Mathewson said. “At this point, I believe the only two candidates with a realistic chance of becoming the next sheriff of Kenosha County will be at The Stella tomorrow night. Capt. Tony Gonzalez and Capt. James Beller are showing up to answer questions from voters. I think Sheriff Zoerner has finally come to terms with the fact that he cannot win this race, and rather than defend his record before the public, he has chosen not to participate.”

Mathewson said Zoerner faces difficult political realities as the primary approaches.

“The sheriff’s entire command staff has rejected him. His three captains have rejected him. His chief deputy has rejected him. Nearly all of his deputies, detectives, sergeants and lieutenants have rejected him. What will be reported on later is that almost all of the detention center staff have rejected him as well,” Mathewson said. “We understand that’s a difficult position to defend.”

During a recent campaign event in Salem Lakes, a resident confronted Zoerner about the overwhelming opposition he faces within his own agency, noting that roughly 98 percent of deputies and all of his captains had rejected his leadership. Rather than dispute the claim, Zoerner responded, “They have an opinion and they’re very worried about the future of the agency.” Critics say the statement amounted to an acknowledgment that significant morale and leadership concerns exist within the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office.

Mathewson said he believes the sheriff has concluded that defending his record publicly would be politically damaging.

“I think the jig is up,” Mathewson said. “I think it’s finally caught up with Sheriff Zoerner, and I think he’s realizing he can’t win this race. More importantly, I don’t think he has the courage to stand in front of voters and defend the decisions he’s made over the last three and a half years. Whether it’s disciplinary decisions, hiring decisions, policy reversals, the 287(g) issue, or other controversies, he doesn’t seem willing to stand before the public and explain those decisions.”

Mathewson said the sheriff’s apparent decision not to attend is unfair not only to voters, but also to his fellow candidates.

“What’s disappointing is that this doesn’t just affect Kenosha County Eye. It affects Brian Filiatreault, who spent weeks preparing for a three-candidate forum. It affects Capt. Gonzalez and Capt. James Beller, who prepared for a three-person debate and until today had every reason to believe the sheriff would be there. Most importantly, it affects voters who deserve to hear all sides before casting their ballots.”

He added that any later attempt to blame scheduling conflicts or media bias would be difficult to reconcile with the facts.

“If the sheriff later claims this was about the budget meeting, the public should know that the meeting ended up at that date and time after being rescheduled multiple times,” Mathewson said. “When we learned of the conflict, we specifically texted him, called him and emailed him asking whether we should move the forum. He never responded.”

“If he claims bias, that’s even harder to explain. We didn’t pick one of his critics to moderate. We picked someone who donated to his campaign, supported him publicly and still has his signs displayed on his property. We practically found a supporter to ask the questions. Capt. Tony Gonzalez and Capt. James Beller showed courage by agreeing to that arrangement because they trusted the moderator and trusted the process.”

Mathewson said the sheriff’s expected absence may ultimately reinforce concerns already being voiced by employees and voters.

“When 99 percent of your deputies, your detectives, your sergeants, your lieutenants, your chief deputy and all three of your captains have turned against you, that tells a story. The sheriff himself recently acknowledged that employees are concerned about the future of the agency. I think the public understands what’s happening here.”

“I also think the sheriff is doing a disservice to the voters, to Capt. Gonzalez, to Capt. Beller and to the moderator. Everyone else planned their schedules around this event. Everyone else prepared. If he wanted the date changed, all he had to do was answer one of the many calls, texts or emails we sent him. He chose not to.”

“To be clear, Sheriff Zoerner is still welcome to attend. There will be a chair for him on stage if he wants it,” Mathewson said. “But I don’t think he will. I think he’s a coward, and I don’t think he’s articulate enough to defend many of the terrible decisions he’s made while in office. If he believes those decisions were correct, tomorrow night is his opportunity to explain them to the voters.”

The Republican sheriff’s forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at The Stella Hotel & Ballroom in downtown Kenosha. Capt. Tony Gonzalez and Capt. James Beller have both vowed to attend and have told Kenosha County Eye several times that they will participate.

Independent candidate Gary Roberts failed to submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, and no Democrat submitted nomination papers to run for sheriff. As a result, the next sheriff of Kenosha County will almost certainly be determined in the Republican primary election on Aug. 11.

Mathewson said that reality makes Zoerner’s expected absence even more significant.

“Unless something extraordinary happens, I believe the next sheriff of Kenosha County will be either Tony Gonzalez or James Beller, and both of them will be sitting in that room tomorrow night,” Mathewson said. “The Republican primary will decide who becomes sheriff, and Sheriff Zoerner’s absence means voters may be watching the two men who are competing to replace him. The voters deserve to hear from the people who are willing to answer questions and explain their vision for the future of the Sheriff’s Office.”

The event is free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Rose & Rose Attorneys at Law, and a cash bar will be available. Before the sheriff’s forum begins, Republican State Senate candidate Sandy Wiedmeyer and Republican Assembly candidate Valerie Kretchmer will each address attendees, discuss their campaigns and answer questions from moderator Brian Filiatreault.

As of publication, Sheriff David Zoerner had not responded to requests for comment regarding whether he plans to participate.