Dane County Executive, County Board Chair Announce Transition Plan
November 30, 2010
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606; Karin Peterson-Thurlow (608) 266-4533
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and County Board Chair Scott McDonell announced today a plan to ensure a smooth transition of the management of county government given Falk’s previous announcement that she would step down next spring.
The County Executive announced on October 4th her intention to step down mid-term in April of 2011 after 14 years of service as Dane County’s chief elected official.
Under the transition plan announced today by Falk and McDonell, the County Executive will resign on December 21st. McDonell will then forward to the county board his appointment of Falk as interim County Executive to serve until the next County Executive is sworn into office on April 19th, 2011. It’s expected the county board will take action on McDonell’s appointment of Falk as County Executive at the board’s January 6th, 2011 meeting. Falk won’t earn a county salary from December 21st through January 6th.
McDonell will serve as acting County Executive during that time and receive the salary for that position. County Board Vice Chair John Hendrick will assume the duties of Board Chair until the County Board acts on the appointment of Falk. Pending county board approval, Falk will return as County Executive on January 7, 2011 and resume collecting compensation.
“This accomplishes the goals I laid out when I made my initial announcement - - to serve until April to see through a number of important initiatives, ensure a smooth transition of the management of county government and step down in a manner that doesn’t require a special election that costs taxpayers,” Falk said.
“Our governor-elect has placed public servants, working people, transit, health care and even science in the crosshairs,” McDonell said. “That’s why we need a strong, steady hand at the helm of the county, and an orderly transition to new leadership.”
Upon Falk’s resignation the morning of December 21st, the County Clerk will issue an order for an election to fill out the remaining two years of her term. That election will coincide with the regularly scheduled spring election with the primary being held on February 15th, 2011 and the general election on April 5th, 2011.