Shawano County District 16 Supervisor Lowel Hammett wasn’t willing to leave the county board without putting up a fight.
Supervisors gathered Dec. 17 to vote on whether to remove Hammett from the board for violating the county ethics code. They voted 16-11 to have him remain on the board.
In November, the ethics committee said Hammett violated the ethics code by:
• Promoting his business on a business card that also noted his position as a county supervisor, thereby suggesting a connection between the two even though there was no evidence of substantial financial gain from doing so.
• Attempting to use his position to circumvent county board rules in trying to set up a special board meeting when he knew he had no authority to do so or to even attempt to solicit votes from other supervisors to establish such a meeting. Emails to supervisors asking them to vote in a certain manner could have resulted in a violation of the state’s open meetings law, had the matter come up for a vote.
• Demonstrating disloyalty to the board and county employees by sharing unauthorized confidential personnel information with supervisors, the media and the public. He further questioned an alleged missing $1 million from the county treasury, causing unnecessary discord and disrespect among elected and appointed officials.
Hammett issued the following statement to the other 26 supervisors the morning of Dec. 17. Supervisor Jeremy Gretzinger read the entire letter to the board during the meeting.
“I am offering this statement in advance of the board’s discussion and vote on whether or not to remove me from office based on the ‘Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law’ rendered by the ethics committee following my ethics trial on Nov. 4, 2025.
“I have received and reviewed the findings of the ethics committee. Put simply, I vehemently disagree with the conclusions reached, and I do not believe the findings are supported by the actual evidence and testimony presented during the open hearing on Nov. 4, 2025. Rather than debate that issue publicly, I am in the process of obtaining a certified transcript of the hearing in its entirety based on a recording in my possession.
“Once I am in possession of said transcript, I would be happy to provide a copy to any person who is interested so that each interested person can reach their own conclusions about whether or not my conduct violated the Shawano County Code of Ethics in any respect based on the actual evidence and testimony that was presented at the Nov. 4 hearing. Having reviewed a video of the hearing, I simply cannot rectify what is in the findings of fact with what actually transpired at the hearing.
“As I have stated in the past, ‘Don’t give me a job and expect me not to do it.’ When I was appointed as the head of the ethics committee, I took that role seriously. Based on my review of the Code of Ethics, I understood that it was, in part, my role to contribute to the improvement of the standards of public service and promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the people of this county in their county public officials and county employees.
“After several individuals came to me with credible concerns about working conditions in the county, I did what I understood to be appropriate to address those concerns and have those complaints properly investigated. While my objectives were to increase transparency and accountability, it is clear that several individuals within the county took issue with the process I followed and the methods I implemented to try and effectuate change.
“It remains my concern that what got lost in all of this is the focus of what I was actually trying to accomplish — better working conditions for the employees of this county. I further fear that this county is harboring a culture where individuals are afraid to speak up about legitimate concerns out of fear of retribution.
“I stand by everything I did in my official capacity. I was given a job, and I did it, or I at least tried to do it the only way I know how – with no bias or agenda. I have nothing to apologize for, and I maintain that none of my conduct amounted to an ethical violation of any kind. I will live with whatever position the board takes, and if I am removed from my position, I will be removed with my integrity intact and with confidence that a complete and fair accounting of the facts will ultimately speak for itself.”
Hammett represents District 16, which includes Ward 1 in the Town of Waukechon, and Wards 3 and 4 in the Town of Belle Plaine.
In April 2024, District 16’s race between registered write-ins Curth Korth and Hammett saw Hammett winning 35-25.
Hammett said he will not seek reelection in April.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
