At least someone is asking questions.
Say this for Sean Burke, who is challenging incumbent Tommy Ryland for county board in District 12 east of the Dane County Airport: Sean Burke is a muckraker.
Burke is asking why Dane County does not have a Human Services Board — or if it does, why it has only two members — well below the statutory threshold of seven. He also asks why it hasn’t met in five years.
“The Human Services Board is not optional — it is a state-mandated oversight body designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and public input,” Burke charged. “Other counties are following the law. They’re holding meetings. They’re providing oversight,” Burke said. “So why isn’t Dane County?”
Burke is charging that $2 billion has been spent on human services in the last five years “without the legally require oversight board in place,” which under Wisconsin Statute §46.23(5m), is appointed by the county executive. It is charged with budget guidance, long-range planning, and policy oversight. It also advises its equivalent county board committee, which is appointed by the county board chairman and which has more direct budgetary authority.
Can’t be an oversight because Patrick Miles appointed two members to Human Services in May 2024 while he served as acting county executive: Kierstin Huelsemann and David Peterson. They remain the only members. There is no record of any Human Services Board meetings held or scheduled on the county website. The Werkes has reached out to the county board office for an explanation. Supv. Miles has returned as County Board of Supervisors chairman.
Of note, incumbent Supv. Rylander is vice chair of the Health & Human Needs Committee. Supv. Huelsemann is also a member. County Board elections are underway and wrap up April 7.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: The Werkes disparaged the UniParty of incumbents — all endorsed by Madison’s power players, as go along to get along. Burke strikes us as a disrupter. Madison and Dane County could use a few.
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