Dane County Supv. Brett Hulsey is running for reelection against Greg Hull, but you might think his opponent is the Dane County Deputy Sheriff's Association.
The group has been sending out flyers attacking Hulsey, who supported the deal that led to deputies taking a pay cut, like all other county employees. He says the mailings are full of lies, misinformation and personal attacks.
"I do not believe it's proper for people who are sworn to protect the public to be misleading the public," says Hulsey, who has demanded a retraction, to no avail. "If they were to say those things in court, it could be perjury."
The association blames Hulsey, who chairs the County Board's Personnel and Finance Committee, for the county's spiraling budget, which led to the employee pay cuts. Hulsey counters that of most of the $117.6 million surplus spending was for airport expansion, paid for by airport users, and for refinancing that saved more than it cost. The only excess expenditure over which the county has control, he argues, was $13.6 million in deputy overtime.
Bob Richardson, the deputy's association president, scoffs at this: "The only thing the County Board had control over was the Sheriff's Office overtime overspending? If this were true, then what the heck does the County Board have control over?"
The deputies association is backing Hull in the April 6 election. Hulsey, meanwhile, is using the group's attacks as part of his campaign, producing a lit piece (PDF) that boasts, "Brett Stood Up to Deputy Association Threats."
