At least 9 Waushara Co Sheriff’s employees donated to GOP candidate

Sgt. Zach Gunderson was the winner of the Republican Party’s primary for Waushara County Sheriff. He faces a write-in Democratic challenger in the November general election.

By Wanwa Omot, THE BADGER PROJECT

Before the primary election last month, nine Waushara County Sheriff’s Department employees donated to the campaign of Zach Gunderson, the sheriff’s department sergeant running for the top spot, according to his mandatory campaign finance reports filed with the county.

Gunderson, who won the Republican primary, faces Nina Monacelli, the Democratic Party’s write-in challenger and a special ed teacher and former law enforcement officer, in the November general election.

In the run-up to the primary, Gunderson received $2,700 from nine employees in the department. If he is elected, they would report to him when he becomes sheriff in January.

In total, Gunderson reported raising more than $18,000 before the primary. Political candidates must file two more campaign finance reports before the Nov. 3 general election.

Chief Deputy Scott Eagan, Deputy Katrina Ernst and Det. Sgt. Brian Wenzel each contributed $500, the maximum allowed by state law, to Gunderson’s campaign, according to the reports. Deputy Alex Midthun gave him $400.

Other Waushara County Sheriff’s Department employees who donated to Gunderson:

• Deputy Lance Nelson – $250
• Deputy Scott Rasmussen – $200
• Deputy McKenna Brecht – $150
• Deputy Jesse Gilchrist – $100
• Dispatcher Elizabeth Miller – $100

It is not illegal for employees to donate to a political candidate who may become their boss, Wisconsin Ethics Commission Administrator Daniel Carlton told The Badger Project in an email. However, state law bans candidates from soliciting donations while on the clock or engaged in official duties. Quid pro quo donations, i.e. if a contribution is made in exchange for a promise of something from the candidate, are also illegal.

Gunderson did not respond to questions for this story.

Asked by email about the donations from potential subordinates, Monacelli wrote: “I think we could all make assumptions as to why sheriff’s department staff would be donating to a sheriff candidate within the department… but my hope would be that their financial support is because they believe in him as a leader.”

State law also imposes an individual contribution limit of two cents multiplied by the population for districts with more than 25,000 people. Waushara County has a population of about 25,200, according to a 2025 Census estimate. That equation sets the donation limit on individuals in the county at $500.

Gunderson has also contributed more than $10,000 to his campaign, according to his reports. Political candidates in Wisconsin can donate to their own campaigns without limit.

The Waushara County Sheriff’s Deputies Association, the labor union for the deputies of which Wenzel is president, has endorsed Gunderson, the candidate announced in an Aug. 5 Facebook post.

Gunderson emerged victorious from the three-man Republican primary with 2,269 votes, about 40% of the total vote. Sam Wood, a businessman and muckraking citizen journalist with a large Facebook following, finished second with 2,205 votes, about 35%. Lafe Hendrickson, a former Waushara County Sheriff’s deputy and current Wautoma Police officer who unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 2018, got 1,448 votes, about 25%.

Questionable actions at the sheriff’s office

Waushara County Sheriff Walter Zuehlke, who has held the position since 2019, is not running for reelection.

Last year, The Badger Project reported that, for years after winning election to the top spot in the office, Zuehlke continued to take a care stipend for his K9 Argo despite not continuing the mandatory trainings for the dog. The Badger Project calculated that he had received $22,000 in stipends after quitting the trainings. The county board then ordered Zuehlke to repay the funds with interest. After some negotiation, Zuehlke agreed to pay half the $22,000 he owed. The county says it is being garnished from his wages.

Zuehlke is earning a salary of about $108,000 in 2026, and the next sheriff will also in 2027. During that coming 4-year term, the county board has voted to increase the sheriff’s salary by about $3,000 per year.

An investigation from The Badger Project uncovered other questionable issues at the sheriff’s department. Its second and third in command, former Chief Deputy Jim Lietz and Lt. Stacy Vaccaro, respectively, worked part-time in recent years as the police chief and sergeant in the little village of Coloma in the county, but the pair appeared to do little to no actual police work, writing no tickets and making no arrests from 2021-2024, while taking more than $100,000 in salary and benefits, the investigation found.

The village shuttered its police department in 2024 and now contracts with the sheriff’s department to enforce the law inside its borders.

The Badger Project is an independent, reader-supported news nonprofit in Wisconsin.