MADISON, WI (WSAU) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Wausau resident can remain on the state’s Natural Resources Board despite the fact that his term expired more than a year ago.
Fred Prehn, who was appointed to the board by the-Governor Scott Walker in 2015, will remain on the board in a 4-3 decision handed down on Wednesday. According to the majority opinion, Gubernatorial appointees can hold their positions indefinitely until a replacement is confirmed by the senate.
Prehn’s term expired in May of 2021 and he has since refused to resign, remaining a voting member of the board.
Governor Tony Evers has appointed a replacement, though the Senate has not moved to confirm her and no such hearings are currently scheduled.
The move keeps the board under the control of those appointed under the Republican Walker and likely lays out a roadmap that the GOP will follow when terms expire for the remainder of the Walker appointees in 2023 to keep a conservative majority on the board.
In a statement released on Wednesday Evers called the High Court’s decision “politics at its most dangerous,” adding that win or lose the peaceful transfer of power is a basic function of government.
“Today, I remind the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Republican Party of this state that we do still live in a democracy, a very basic function of which is the peaceful and respectful transfer of power, even—and most especially—when you lose.
“Since becoming governor, I’ve worked to appoint experienced, hardworking Wisconsinites from every corner of our state to serve in important roles in our government—just like every governor has before me, and every governor will after me. These Wisconsinites are exceptionally qualified, should be considered on their merit, and should have the opportunity to serve the people of our state, regardless of whether or not they were appointed by a Democrat or share the same ideas as Republicans in the Legislature. They should’ve been confirmed a long time ago now.
“Today’s decision continues to underscore the erosion of democratic institutions at the hands of Republicans in this state. It’s wrongheaded, it’s shortsighted, and it’s politics at its most dangerous,” said Evers.
