March 18, 2026 – West Bend, WI – A proposal to designate part of County Trunk Highway K as an honorary highway named “Charlie J. Kirk Way” — along with a related request to spend $50,000 in general fund dollars to finance the proposal— drew strong reactions and a divided tone during Wednesday’s Washington County executive committee meeting.
The elected members of the executive committee included supervisors: Denis Kelling, Jeffrey Schleif, John Schodron, Mike Schwab, and Jodi Schulteis.
Click HERE to find contact information for Washington County Supervisors
Committee members acknowledged an overwhelming public response ahead of the discussion. “I’ve received over 250 emails and phone messages the last days… and they’re all against it. Statistically, how is that possible?” said county board chairman Jeff Schleif. “Every email and phone message I’ve gotten has been against this.”
Click HERE for email addresses and phone numbers for Washington County Supervisors
Despite the volume of opposition, leadership made clear early on that taxpayer funding would not move forward. “We’re not going to spend any taxpayer money on this. That’s already been decided,” Schleif said.
Several supervisors echoed concerns about using public funds, particularly amid recent budget cuts.
“We just cut $3.2 million from our budget… it was hard on the employees… and the public, quite frankly,” said supervisor Denis Kelling. “So, I do not see a need for extending this $50,000.”
Kelling then added support for a privately funded effort. “If a private organization wishes to raise the money… I’m going to donate… but the taxpayers don’t owe one thing.”
Tensions in the room were evident at times, with audience interruptions prompting warnings from the chair and reminders that the meeting was not a public hearing.
“We know you hate Charlie Kirk,” shouted Schleif. To which many reacted with shouts of “NO” and “Wrong” to his blanket statement.
County executive can be reached at joshua.schoemann@co.washington.wi.us 262-483-3092
People in the audience called for a public forum. Supervisors said, “The public forum has been your phone calls and your emails.”
Committee members stressed the importance of allowing the full county board to weigh in.
“I would not want to deprive any of the board members the opportunity to voice their opinion,” Kelling said, supporting a procedural move to forward the proposal without endorsement.
Supervisor Brian Gallitz, who was not on the executive committee, asked toward the end of the meeting who brought the Charlie Kirk name to the table.
County executive Josh Schoemann said he had discussions with supervisor John Schodron following the September 10, 2025 assination of Charlie Kirk. Schodron confirmed Schoemann approached him in October with an idea to name a highway after Kirk.
Ultimately, the committee voted to forward both the naming resolution and the funding component to the full Washington County Board without recommendation.
The chairman confirmed the next step: “It will go from us to the county board unless we unanimously vote it down… and the county board will decide.”
The full board is expected to take up the matter at its April meeting, where a supermajority vote will be required for any roadway naming change.
Several other supervisors were in attendance including Brian Gallitz, Nick Stewart, Doug Neumann, Anne Trautner, and Tina Pridemore.
Discussion lasted about 40 minutes.
The meeting before the full county board is April 21, 2026 – which is after the April 7, 2026 spring primary. All 21 county board supervisors are up for election; two seats are contested including Dist. 1 Joseph R. Vespalec and Dist. 13 Brian Gallitz.
Click HERE for email addresses and phone numbers for Washington County Supervisors
On a side note:
-Members of the executive committee made it clear, the honorary naming of the road would not affect current addresses. So no business address or calling cards or stationary with addresses would have to be changed, if the proposal comes to fruition.
-During 2022 listening sessions for the Washington County Anti-Crime referendum the county executive often spoke of “needs vs. wants” scenario and how the referendum was a need, and the county only spends on needs and asks for needs. So a taxpayer asked, is renaming this county road a need?
-Below is the amendment to the proposal that was voted on at the meeting.
Below is the initial story published on WashingtonCountyInsider.com
March 17, 2026 – Washington Co., Wi – During the upcoming Wednesday, March 18, 2026, meeting of the Washington County executive committee, there is a discussion / possible action item regarding a resolution to consider spending $50,000 from the general fund to add “Charlie J. Kirk Way” as the road name overlay to a portion of County Trunk Highway K (CTH K). See agenda below.
Click the arrow in lower left corner to advance the page.
According to Wikipedia, “Charlie Kirk… was an American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality. He co‑founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and served as its executive director until his assassination in 2025.”
Information provided in the agenda packet does not specifically indicate who selected Charlie Kirk as the person to be honored by the highway sign. The packet simply said, “Introduced by members of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE as filed with the County Clerk.”
The information provided also does not indicate how Charlie Kirk was selected, since he hails from a suburb of Illinois and lived in Arizona.
One committee member said they initially thought the honorary road proposal was to name a highway after local Olympian Jordan Stolz, who won 2 gold medals and a silver during the recent 2026 Winter Olympics.
The agenda item indicates a cost of $50,000 from the General Fund, however at the bottom of the resolution is a note, (No direct fiscal impact; however, there are related costs associated with road signage. Those fiscal impacts are included in the separate general fund transfer request.)
Interesting to note, it was just last Wednesday, March 11, 2026 during the meeting of the Washington County Board when supervisors voted on “An ordinance to create 157-10, relating to: Honorary Naming of County Trunk Highways.”
Then, within less than a week, a proposal is made before the executive committee regarding the honorary naming of country trunk highways.
Wash Co HWY signs 518Packet_20260310173225508Click the arrow in the lower left corner to advance the page.
In order for the item to move forward the agenda reads: VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR PASSAGE: 2/3 of members elect.
The elected members of the executive committee includes supervisors: Denis Kelling, Jeffrey Schleif, John Schodron, Mike Schwab, and Jodi Schulteis.
Click HERE to find contact information for Washington County Supervisors
If the item moves forward it still has to be approved by the County Board.
As of Monday evening, there was no information about a possible grant or private funding to cover the cost. The packet information indicated the $50,000 would come from the General Fund.
The executive committee meets Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – 4 p.m. in the Herbert J. Tennies Government Center – Room 1019 432 E. Washington Street, West Bend, WI 53095. The meeting is open to the public.
On a side note: During the March 11, 2026 meeting, the County Board approved salary increases for elected officials including the sheriff and the clerk of courts.
Wash Co salaries sheriff_20260310173225508 (1)Click the arrow in the lower left corner to advance the page.
On a history note: Remember the $3.6 million Washington County Anti-Crime Plan referendum that was on the November 8, 2022 ballot?
The proposal left it up to the voter to determine whether to raise their own property taxes by about 10% each year moving forward.
Those voting in favor of placing the referendum on the ballot include Joseph R. Vespalec, Marietta Bailey, Denis Kelling, Christopher Bossert, Linda Gurath, Doug Neumann, James Burg, Jodi Schulteis, Jeffrey Millikin, Carroll Merry, Jeffrey Schleif, Tony Thoma, and Michael Schwab.
Supervisors voting against: John Schodron, Brian Krebs, Kenneth Mikulec, Brian Gallitz, Pamela Konrath, and Lois Krueger-Gundrum.
That referendum failed 56% to 43%.
This has been nothing but a slap in the face to the citizens of this great county. There are real issues in this county and the County Board and Executive are wasting their time talking about naming a Highway? Really?
There is nothing better for the County Board to spend time and potential money on? I didn’t hear anything about taking money from the general fund to help any of the flood victims, but why help the ones footing the bill already.
I lived in WASHINGTON County for more than 50 years. I can’t imagine a more divisive, and yet inconsequential action by the County Board to name a road after someone who know one in Washington County knew personally. Did he make Washington County a better place? I don’t believe he even knew where it was.. His death was tragic, but so were the deaths of many Washington County residents who fought in wars, fought for the rights of others and helped lead the County over the years. Seems like honoring someone by naming a road after them should be done because of how they served the County, not because a few folks want to make a political statement and, perhaps, are looking for a publicity way to increase their own name recognition.