KENOSHA, Wis. — A public Republican primary sheriff candidates forum has officially been finalized for Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at The Stella Hotel & Ballroom in downtown Kenosha. With no candidates running on the Democratic ticket, the winner of the Republican primary is expected to become the next sheriff of Kenosha County.
The event, hosted and sponsored by Kenosha County Eye, will feature confirmed appearances by Republican sheriff candidates Captain James Beller and Captain Tony Gonzalez. Incumbent Sheriff David Zoerner has also been invited, though he has not yet confirmed whether he will attend.
Brian Filiatreault, a longtime Kenosha County resident, local business owner, and undecided voter in the race, will moderate the event. Filiatreault will have full autonomy over moderation and questions in an effort to ensure fairness and eliminate any appearance of bias or impropriety.
The forum is intended to be conversational and informative rather than combative, giving voters an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their backgrounds, priorities, and vision for the sheriff’s office.
Before the sheriff candidates take the stage, Republican State Senate candidate Sandy Wiedmeyer and State Assembly candidate Valerie Kretchmer will each briefly address attendees and answer several questions from the moderator.
The event will be free and open to the public. A cash bar will be available, and appetizers will be sponsored by Rose & Rose Attorneys at Law.
A large turnout is expected for the event, which will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube for those unable to attend in person.
22 Responses
David Beth should run sheriff again. He has my vote!
Only if he builds that warehouse he talked about
Very convenient that this is scheduled the same night as the County Budget Vision Session that is held every year and Zoerner presents at it. Kevin scheduled this debate on a night Zoerner couldn’t make it on purpose to make Zoerner look bad.
Maybe? it was scheduled after the debate date, maybe Zoerner doesn’t want to debate these two serious contenders.
The meeting was rescheduled many times. Most recently it was rescheduled to June 4th at the sheriff’s request. That’s suspicious to me. And any regards, I asked the sheriff if you would like to reschedule it to a different day other than June 4th, he never responded. Furthermore, he could send his chief Deputy or one of his captains too the budget meeting. The budget meeting is not substitive in any way
Dear team Zoerner. The sheriff asked for this meeting to be rescheduled for June 4th at 6:00 p.m., the exact date and time that this form was set. Him in the county executive worked hand in hand to change the date of this meeting to the date of the forum. That said, I then texted and emailed the sheriff asking him which day would be better for him as his two opponents agreed to change the date. No response. In my opinion there is simply a coward and doesn’t have the balls to debate two people clearly intellectually smarter than him. After he changed the date of the budget meeting to be concurrent with this forum, I asked him via text and email if you would like to reschedule. He declined to reschedule the forum at the same time that the other two candidates agreed to change the date. You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. If Dave doesn’t show up on June 4th, that is because he is a coward
Perhaps Zoerner could send a life sized photo of him and his son in their pink hats
If Zoerner shows up, can someone ask him about the Pussy Hat kerfuffle?
The basic playbook of elections is that the incumbent has a substantial leg up on all comers.
Zoerner deciding not to show up for the debate was expected but to then behind the scenes act as if it is not his doing or it is out of his hands that he cannot make the debate day and time shows a lack of respect to the educated electorate.
As mentioned above he could send another representative to the budget meeting. To say another subordinate isn’t capable of standing in in that regard says that his Leadership as the head of his department is lacking if not downright disrespectful to his command staff.
Zoerners decision here is just political theater and hopefully the two candidates that do show up work towards defeating the incumbent instead of each other.
This election is about changing the status quo not redefining the role of sheriff
Sorry Kevin, I’m a Zoerner supporter. That said, if he decides not to attend what appears to be a fair, professional debate, it will make Zoerner look weak. If he skips it, I’ll have to reconsider my support, since these are all Republicans. Anyone unwilling to show up for a debate is a serious concern. If Kevin uses his influence to turn it into a hit piece on Zoerner, Zoerner comes out ahead; but if he stays home, I believe Zoerner will lose.
Interesting ?!?
After 3 plus years in office and multiple stories and reports of questionable if not outright bad decisions and leadership, you are basing your support on if he shows up for a debate ??
Sure that’s your prerogative but you are admitting that nothing in the last 3 plus years has made you consider that he needs to go.
Have you been living under a rock ?
Letting that pervert Christian Enright out of jail on work release and then letting him out early, that alone pisses me off to make my decision not to vote again for this clown, says enough!!!
Neutral on the sheriff, but, this can’t be pinned on him. The judge sets the parameters for release…..no sheriff has that authority
I Feel the same way! I’m not voting for Zoerner either!
Great job in setting this up👍🏻
Zoerner is going to lose no matter what and he knows that!! He has done a shit show of a job and he is too embarrassed, because he knows both of his opponents are more qualified than he is, so he may as well just give up his re-election bid! I voted for him the last election, but there is no way, I’ll vote for him again!!
Unless the two opponents split the vote.
In a perfect world the candidates would have this debate than agree one drops out to assure Zoernor doesn’t win by the split.
But my understanding of Act 43 signed by Evers October 31, 2025 the deadline to withdraw is very near June 4th .
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/acts/43
Based on that link the dealing to withdraw would be June 3.
The debate should be rescheduled to May 28 and say it’s being done not to conflict with Zoerner. Then if he is a no show everything in order.
Both candidates should be assessed for being a spoiler or a plant to split vote. (No accusations here but politics is politics)
Team Zoerner, let’s cut through the excuses. The sheriff didn’t “have a conflict.” He created one. He pushed to move the county meeting to the exact date and time of the forum -then ignored every attempt to offer him a new date that both of his opponents immediately agreed to. That’s not bad scheduling. That’s deliberate avoidance.
At some point, you have to call it what it is: a sheriff who wants the title but not the scrutiny. A sheriff who wants the badge but not the questions. A sheriff who wants the office but refuses to stand next to the people running against him and defend his decisions in front of the voters he claims to serve.
Beller and Gonzalez didn’t flinch. They didn’t hide behind staff or calendars. They are willing and able to show up. They committed. They’re willing to be challenged. Meanwhile, your team Zoerner candidate is doing everything possible to avoid being in the same room as them answering real world questions, not fluff -fluff you’re a great guy BS. Real questions- Real issues, should hopefully be asked.
If Sheriff Zoerner truly believed in his record, he’d be on that stage. If he believed he could out‑argue, out‑lead, or out‑vision his opponents, he’d welcome the chance. Instead, he’s maneuvering to avoid the one thing he can’t control: an unscripted, public conversation.
If he skips June 4th, it won’t be because he “couldn’t make it.” It will be because he didn’t have the backbone to face the voters or the competition. And that silence will say more about his leadership than anything spoken at the forum.
VOTE CAPTAIN JAMES BELLER!!
I’m super shocked that Zoerner hasn’t changed back to a democrat so that he doesn’t have to worry about a primary, hahaha
Just wondering if someone will ask how Beller is going to handle his own son being an inmate in the Kenosha County Jail if he somehow wins this election? Also, why is he making a video trying to act like a farmer? He is arrogant and thinks he is above the law. If he was so great – why isn’t he the City Chief of Police?