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Split decision reported in East Troy recall vote

EAST TROY — The town chairman is out but a supervisor will keep his seat following Tuesday’s recall election in the town of East Troy.

Town Chairman John Stoesser was ousted from the chairman’s seat by Supervisor Joe Klarkowski by a vote of 578-360. Supervisor Clayton Montez retained his seat after a challenge from resident Kim Hampel by a vote of 538-400.

With the election over, the makeup of the board is far from settled, however. Klarkowski’s election as the next town chairman creates a vacancy in his former seat as supervisor.

When the town board meets again Aug. 9, it will announce the open seat and take applications from those interested in filling it, according to Town Clerk Kim Buchanan.

The board then will appoint a replacement until the next election in April.

The contentious recall was spearheaded by two groups, each focusing on a different supervisor.

Montez came under the scrutiny of Bret Strong and Citizens for Responsible Government, which charged Montez with a “lack of interest in local issues such as high property assessments, jobs and homes lost to foreclosure.” Strong filed his recall petition May 17.

The group Town Taxpayers for Accountable Government filed a recall petition against Stoesser June 1. That group cited “weak leadership and opinionated communications.”

The Government Accountability Office approved the scheduling of the recall, despite Stoesser’s challenge of the validity of some of the signatures.