Retiring GAB Director deserved better

Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy has stepped down from that position after decades overseeing Wisconsin’s election and ethics laws. Kennedy didn’t so much step down as he was pushed aside by lawmakers who didn’t like some of his decisions. They scrapped the non-partisan Government Accountability Board in favor of two separate commissions comprised of political appointees. Somehow they figure having partisanship on the board which enforces the state’s elections and ethics laws will make for better government, or at least a government which allows them to get away with what they want. Kennedy’s retirement is timed to coincide with the abolishment of the GAB, which officially happened on Wednesday. Yesterday, the new commissions began their work. Kennedy led through some tumultuous times, including the unprecedented gubernatorial recall, and worked to bring fairness to Wisconsin’s legislative redistricting rules. For much of the past few years, Kennedy, who only sought to apply the law fairly, has been the subject of personal attacks by those lawmakers who forced him out. But the fact is, Kennedy worked tirelessly, in difficult circumstances, to ensure our elections are fair and our lawmakers ethical. That rubbed some the wrong way, and ultimately cost Kennedy his job. But he served the state well, for 37 years, and replacing him won’t be easy, especially with partisanship now the rule of the day.