(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Rebecca Matoska-Mentink, the longtime Kenosha County Clerk of Courts whom courthouse employees have nicknamed “The Warden,” announced Tuesday evening that she will not seek re-election this fall and plans to retire at the end of her term in December.
At approximately 5:45 p.m., Matoska-Mentink posted on social media that she had filed her Notification of Non-Candidacy and would be stepping away from county government after 20 years as Clerk of Courts.
“So, I did something today…I filed my Notification of Non-Candidacy for Clerk of Circuit Court and will not be running this Fall,” Matoska-Mentink wrote. “I will retire from Kenosha County at the end of my term in December.”
She continued by thanking supporters and reflecting on her career, saying she had “been honored to serve in this position for 20 years,” and describing her time in county government as “a wonderful experience.”
Matoska-Mentink began her county career in an entry-level clerical position with the Child Support Agency before later working in the District Attorney’s Office and eventually being elected Clerk of Courts.
Her retirement announcement came just werks after Kenosha County Eye published a story detailing widespread allegations from current and former courthouse employees who described her management style as invasive, retaliatory and rooted in surveillance and selective enforcement.
Over the years, dozens of courthouse employees have privately described Matoska-Mentink as “one of the most hated bosses in county government.” Inside the Clerk of Courts Office, many referred to her simply as “The Warden.”
Employees alleged that Matoska-Mentink monitored courthouse cameras from a laptop, including from home, questioned employees about private hallway conversations, demanded excessive medical documentation for absences, selectively enforced dress code rules and flooded staff with petty emails regarding issues like coffee, coats and clocking in a few minutes early.
Employees also alleged that her management style worsened after her failed run for Kenosha County executive in 2022.
Tuesday evening, as courthouse staff members learned of her retirement announcement, many privately celebrated.
“The warden is leaving. It’s about time,” one courthouse employee told Kenosha County Eye.
Others described the mood inside the courthouse as relief.
Matoska-Mentink did not address the allegations raised by employees in her retirement post. In prior interactions with Kenosha County Eye, she has not meaningfully responded to press inquiries.
Her retirement announcement also follows criticism of her leadership in other roles, including her tenure as president of the Gateway Technical College Board during a period of low faculty and staff morale. She later was not re-elected as president of that board.
Matoska-Mentink also made an unsuccessful run for Kenosha County executive in 2022.
Her term as Clerk of Courts expires in December.
5 Responses
Another longtime fixture of the Kenosha swamp calling it a career. Maybe now we can get leadership that answers to voters instead of dodging them and doesn’t spend our tax dollars fighting KCE open record requests.
One less RHINO for Kenosha
The Board at Gateway Technical College is a joke just like the useless Executice staff.
Taxpayers should be sick how the tax dollars are spent by Gateway Technical College.
I have some mixed feelings about whether this position should be elected. Court administration is a complex occupation and should be left to professionals. It might also lessen some of the meddling by some judges,
It is a bizarre office to have a partisan election for sure.