Politics & Government
Sheila Stubbs Rejected From Human Services Director Position By Dane County Board
County board members had expressed concern about whether Stubbs would try to continue serving in the Legislature after taking her new job.
May 5, 2023
The Dane County Board of Supervisors voted Thursday night to reject Rep. Sheila Stubbs (D-Madison) as the director of Dane County Human Services following several weeks of controversy and tension about her nomination. Two county board committees had already rejected Stubbs’ nomination ahead of the full board meeting.
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She was first named to the position by County Executive Joe Parisi in mid-April. County board members had expressed concern about whether Stubbs would try to continue serving in the Legislature as she took on the new job following comments she made to members of her church and conflicting statements on the matter from Stubbs and Parisi. Stubbs finally said last week ahead of the committee votes that she planned to resign from the state Assembly once confirmed.
Stubbs, who will continue to serve in the state Assembly, told WKOW 27 News after the meeting that she was frustrated by the confirmation process. She said she knows she was qualified for the job, but the board was not upfront with her or their constituents about the process.
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“Everything that this body has asked me to do, I have done,” Stubbs said. “But this is a hostile body, and I want you to know this. At the end of the day, I am still Wisconsin State Rep. Shelia Stubbs. I still represent the 77th Assembly District. I will continue to fight for marginalized communities and anyone who reaches out to my office.”
Parisi said in a statement, “After allowing a reset for healing, I will announce next steps to fill the position and minimize the impact of what has occurred on county operations.”
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