Farrell Named Interim County Exec., County Board Meets To Decide Next Steps After Loss Of Allen Buechel

The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors met in an emergency session Monday morning, following the death of long-time County Executive Allen J. Buechel.

Buechel passed away Sunday following a heart attack Saturday evening at the age of 74.

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg noted that a vacancy in the County Executive position, in the way it occurred, has not happened, not just in the county, but in the state, so it’s a bit of unchartered territory, although state statutes are in place to assist in the navigation, but they are not always very clear.

Per the state statutes, current County Board Chairman Marty Farrell will assume the position of Interim County Executive, at least until the new Board Supervisors have been sworn in following the April election.

At the April 19 County Board meeting, the new County Board would also nominate a new County Board chairman, as Farrell will not be seeking re-election.

The County Board of Supervisors will hold a special session Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 pm to discuss the next steps on how the special election to fill the open position of County Executive will be handled.

A special election will need to occur, and that would need to happen within 77 days of the County Executive position becoming vacant, which would mean a special election date of June 7, 2022.

That also means a potential primary date could occur on May 10, 2022, and that would require all paperwork would need to be turned into the County Clerk by April 12. That paperwork would need to include the necessary 500 signatures needed.

Whomever is elected to the County Executive position, will complete the current term set to expire in 2025.