Last updated: August 4, 2026
Correction (July 26, 2026): A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Jerry Bieszk as County Board Chairman. Bieszk is the chairman of the Town of Kennan, not the Price County Board. The County Board Chairman is Brian Ernst. We regret the error and apologize to Mr. Bieszk for the misidentification.
Quick Answer: Waldemar Madsen, the challenger in Price County’s Aug 11 sheriff primary, accused incumbent Chief Deputy Robert Hawn of violating a “little hatch act of Wisconsin” by appearing at county board meetings in uniform on county time. Wisconsin has no Hatch Act equivalent, and the federal law doesn’t apply to elected county sheriffs. The race is now a contested Republican primary between Hawn and Madsen, with no Democrat or independent filed, so the Aug 11 winner will almost certainly become the next sheriff.
At the June 16, 2026 Price County Board meeting, sheriff candidate Waldemar Madsen stood at the podium during public comment and accused incumbent Chief Deputy Robert Hawn of violating the “little hatch act of Wisconsin” by appearing at Board meetings in uniform on county time. Madsen also accused County Clerk Meredith Hueckman of election bias, citing a Hawn campaign sign in her yard.
There is one problem with Madsen’s central claim. Wisconsin has no Hatch Act.
And the race isn’t the November affair the original coverage framed it as. On Aug 11, seven days from this update, Hawn and Madsen face off in a Republican primary. No Democrat or independent filed. The winner becomes the next sheriff.
What Madsen Alleged
Madsen, who identified himself as a District 11 resident and candidate for Price County Sheriff, told the Board he intended to discuss how “Bobby Han, Robert Han has come in here in uniform on county time and violated the little hatch act of Wisconsin.” He then said he would not pursue that line of argument, but instead pivoted to allegations against County Clerk Meredith Hueckman.
Madsen said he called Hueckman after seeing a Hawn campaign sign in her yard, believing her to be biased in the election. He said Hueckman told him she wanted to remain unbiased. Madsen asked if Supervisor Brian Ernst could draw names for ballot placement instead. According to Madsen, Hueckman agreed to the arrangement and said she would call Ernst. Madsen said he then called Ernst to let him know about the conversation, and Ernst said he would wait for Hueckman’s call. Madsen said that call never came.
When Madsen arrived to draw names for ballot placement, he said Hueckman had placed every candidate from every office in the same group rather than separating them by office. Sheriff candidates, coroner candidates, and a candidate for political court all drew names from the same pool. Madsen said he was standing with his son when Hueckman asked why Ernst was not present.
Madsen said he recorded his phone conversation with Hueckman and posted it on Facebook. He told the Board, “the whole county knows that you don’t keep your word.”
What the Hatch Act Actually Is
The federal Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, restricts political activity by federal employees and certain state and local employees whose positions are federally funded. It prohibits campaigning on the job, using official authority to influence elections, and running for partisan office. The federal law does not apply to Wisconsin county sheriffs, who are elected officials not employed in federally-funded roles.
Wisconsin has no equivalent statewide statute. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 19 covers ethics, conflicts of interest, and open meetings law, but contains no provisions restricting political activity by elected officials or limiting when they may wear a uniform. Wisconsin Statute 12.07 restricts employers from using intimidation or retaliation to influence employee votes, but does not address uniforms or campaign appearances.
In short, the “little hatch act of Wisconsin” that Madsen referenced does not exist as a statutory provision. A sheriff or chief deputy appearing at a county board meeting in uniform is not violating any state law, regardless of whether they are a declared candidate.
Board Chairman’s Response
County Board Chairman Brian Ernst addressed the allegations in his chair’s report later in the meeting. He said he had observed the video of the ballot drawing and spoken with the clerk. Ernst said the process Hueckman used was consistent with her training and what other counties do. “I watched the video, and I think it was above board,” Ernst said. He said he was satisfied with how the process went and would not pursue changes.
Ernst also defended Hueckman directly. “What she does in her professional life here has nothing to do with it. She doesn’t have a Bobby Han sign in her office or anything,” he said. “I don’t think he should use the county board floor for his election.”
Several supervisors echoed the chairman’s defense. One noted that elected officials have a right to free speech, including displaying campaign signs on their own property. Another said she was “not very happy with how our clerk was treated” and criticized Madsen for recording and posting a conversation with Hueckman.
The Primary Changed the Stakes
When the original article ran in July, it framed the race as a November decision. That’s no longer the shape of it. Sheriff Brian Schmidt isn’t seeking re-election. Hawn, endorsed by Schmidt, is running. So is Madsen.
They’re both Republicans. No Democrat or independent filed by the deadline. So the Aug 11 primary winner effectively becomes the next sheriff, barring an unusual write-in. That makes the primary the real election, and the June 16 Hatch Act exchange now sits inside that race.
Only One Candidate Showed Up at the July 27 Forum
The race sharpened on July 27. A candidate forum was billed as a debate in Harbor View, live-streamed to the “Voice of Worcester 2.0” Facebook group by Anthony Sleck. Hawn didn’t attend. Madsen did.
“We were going to have a debate today,” Madsen told the small group gathered, according to the live-stream transcript. “But hey, let’s make this a Q&A.”
He spent an hour and 41 minutes on unscripted questions. He came out against Flock cameras — “they violate our rights” — proposed merging Phillips and Park Falls police into the sheriff’s office, and pressed for 24-hour coverage in the county’s south end. Hawn’s positions on most of these issues remain unknown. We sent a request for comment to Chief Deputy Hawn on July 27 and have not received a response.
What Hawn’s Absence Means
Hawn has appeared at county board meetings in uniform for years. That’s the very practice Madsen attacked as a Hatch Act violation. But on the forum stage, where the accusation could be tested in person, Hawn was absent.
Voters who want to hear both candidates on the same night got one. Madsen’s answers now stand as the most complete public record of a candidate’s positions in this race. Hawn’s record remains mostly his board appearances and the department’s budget line.
Ballot Placement Rules in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, ballot order is determined by a public drawing when multiple candidates file for the same office. The county clerk or municipal clerk typically conducts the drawing, with witnesses present. Price County video records the drawing for record-keeping purposes, as confirmed by Clerk Hueckman during the meeting discussion.
State law does not require candidates to be separated by office for the drawing, though some clerks choose to do so. The process Hueckman used, placing all candidates in a single pool, is within the range of accepted practice according to Ernst’s review.
What Happens Next
The Aug 11 primary decides the sheriff. Polling places open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM. The registration deadline is Aug 7 for in-person registration at the county clerk’s office, and the same date for write-in candidates to file for the primary.
Madsen’s allegations have not triggered any publicly filed complaint. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission handles complaints about campaign finance and ethics violations, but no complaint has been filed regarding Hawn’s uniform appearances or Hueckman’s ballot drawing process.
Madsen posted a recording of his phone conversation with Hueckman on Facebook, which he acknowledged during public comment. Recording a conversation with one-party consent is legal in Wisconsin, which is a one-party consent state for audio recording. The Ethics Commission has not indicated whether the posting constitutes a campaign violation.
County Board meetings continue to include public comment periods. Chairman Ernst raised the possibility of restricting public comment if the Board floor continues to be used for campaign purposes, though no formal action was taken on that suggestion.
See also: our full Price County 2026 Election Guide
See also: our coverage of the July 27 sheriff forum
See also: our guide to Price County public records
See also: our investigation into Flock cameras in Price County
Why This Matters
The exchange at the June 16 meeting highlights a gap that exists in many Wisconsin counties. Elected law enforcement officials operate under few statutory restrictions on political activity. A chief deputy running for sheriff can attend county board meetings in uniform, give departmental reports, and present budget requests, all while being a declared candidate. Whether that creates an unfair advantage is a political question, not a legal one.
The absence of a Wisconsin Hatch Act equivalent means that voters must rely on norms, departmental policies, and their own judgment rather than statutory guardrails. Price County has no published sheriff’s office policy on uniform use during campaign activity, according to a review of county board meeting records from 2024 through 2026.
For now, the allegations Madsen raised remain a matter of public debate rather than legal action. The Board has taken no action on his claims. Hueckman continues as County Clerk. Hawn continues as Chief Deputy. And the primary is Aug 11.