By Kim McDarison
The Dodge County Board of Supervisors has announced that it has identified four finalists from a pool of at least 12 candidates.
Among the four finalists is Whitewater City Manager Cameron Clapper.
According to information released Monday by County Board Chairperson Dave Frohling, the process to find a replacement for retiring County Administrator James Mielke began in March.
Mielke will serve his last day as county administrator in June.
The board’s Executive Committee, with help from hired contractor, Public Administration Associates, LLC, met in executive session Friday, May 20,
According to Friday’s Executive Committee meeting agenda, the committee met in closed session “for the purposes of considering employment of a county administrator, strategies for recruitment and potential candidates, all of which are of a competitive nature, specifically to: review candidate profiles, determine number of candidates for in-person interview, and determine the interview questions/schedule.”
According to information supplied to the county board by Mielke in his “County Project and Issue Update — May 2022,” which was included with information in the board’s May 17 meeting packet, the recruitment period concluded on May 9.
Mielke wrote: “Dave Bretl of Public Administration Associates reports that as of Monday Morning, May 9th, there were 12 applications. Mr. Bretl indicated he expected to receive additional applications by the end of the day. The Executive Committee is scheduled to meet on May 20th to review and select the candidates for interviews. Interviews are currently scheduled for Monday, June 6th and Tuesday, June 7th. Scheduling details for June 6th and 7th have not been finalized as of this writing. Subject to county board confirmation, a potential start date for the next county administrator remains early August.”
The board has installed Jon Hochkammer as interim county administrator.
“The Executive Committee has been methodical in its search, to date, to arrive at our list of final candidates. There was strong interest in the position and I am pleased with the quality of the candidates that applied,” Frohling was quoted as saying in Monday’s release.
Clapper was among finalists seeking a position as city manager in Fort Atkinson in 2020.
Clapper was named as one of four finalists in that city’s search in December of 2020. He withdrew from consideration after beginning the interviewing process that same month. The city ultimately hired Rebecca Houseman LeMire.
Public Administration Associates, LLC, was hired by the Fort Atkinson City Council to help with the search. The president of the company is Kevin Brunner who served as city manager in Whitewater between 2004 and 2012.
Finalists include:
Rebecca Bell
Bell has served as the Dodge County Human Services and Health director since 2016, according to the release. She has also served as deputy program director at the Fond du Lac County Department of Community Programs from 2008 to 2016 and as a psychiatric social worker for that county between 2006 and 2008. She began her career as an adult/child protective services and crisis intervention worker for Waushara County in the Department of Human Services in 1997. She is a licensed clinical social worker and holds a masters degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Cameron Clapper
Clapper has served as the city manager in Whitewater since 2012. Prior to that service, he was the assistant to the city manager in Whitewater between 2010 and 2012. Additionally, he served in the village of Waunakee as a management/analyst/deputy clerk from 2005 to 2010. He also served as the assistant to the village administrator in Waunakee. Clapper holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a masters degree in public administration, both from Brigham Young University.
Daryl DeDeker
DeDeker is an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has held that position since 2015. He served as the UW-Stevens Point controller from 2008 to 2015, and was the chief financial officer for Portage County between 1998 and 2008. Additionally, DeDeker has served as the director of finance and administration for Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. DeKeker has prior service as a supervisor on the Portage County Board of Supervisors. He is a licensed certified public accountant and holds a doctorate in sustainable education from UW-Stevens Point, a master’s in business administration from UW-Oshkosh, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UW-Stevens Point.
Scott Feldt
Feldt is the county administrator in Kewaunee County. He has held that position since 2015. He has served as the deputy state treasurer in Wisconsin between 2011 and 2015, and as director of economic development for the city of East Moline, Ill., from 2008 to 2010. Feldt has held board positions on the Janesville School Board and Rock County Board of Supervisors. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
About County Administrator James Mielke
The chosen candidate will replace Mielke, who began his administrative career in 1997 as interim city administrator for the city of Ripon. Prior to arriving at Dodge County, he held the position of county administrator of Ogle County, Ill. Former administrative experience in Wisconsin includes village administrator for Trempealeau and New Glarus. Mielke has also served in elected positions, including board trustee for the village of DeForest and supervisor on the Green County Board of Supervisors. Mielke holds a bachelor’s degree in geography/economics from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, according to biographical information provided on the Dodge County website.
Cameron Clapper
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