Marinette Mayor Investigated For Assault Charges Denies Recall Petitioners Access To City Hall

Marinette Mayor Robert Harbick has denied recall organizers of Senator Dave Hansen access to city hall in order to circulate recall papers. His stated reason for not allowing them access is simply he doesn't believe in recalls.  

"The real reason is, I don't believe what their doing," Harbick said. "When you elect a person, let him do his job, give him his term to do it, how you get rid of him is don't vote for him next time, OK.

So never mind that a recall election is perfectly legal. If your mayor doesn't like the idea of a recall he can use his power as mayor to try and prevent it from happening? The mayor stated that he has a non partisan stance, but when you read what he says about Senator Hansen he sounds more like a partisan supporter.

"Hansen had every legal right to go to Illinois," he said. "I don't think it's right, don't get me wrong, I think he's a good senator, but I'm non-partisan.
"Hansen did a lot of stuff for Marinette last year. We got thousands of dollars because of him, because he took care of his district. If they want to recall him, and I don't think they should, I think they ought to let him finish his two years left in the office - and if you don't want him, don't vote for him."

 It should be noted that Mayor Harbick has been investigated for assault charges against a FEMALE city counsel member.

Upon entering the mailroom, she was trailed closely by Harbick, who - according to the complaint - "started to verbally harass me.""I stated 'I could be there and he couldn't tell me what to do,'" Kaufman wrote. "Mayor Harbick then started swearing at me and grabbed my upper (right) arm and tried to pull me out of the office, but I pulled back. He then let go. I stepped up to him - toe to toe - pointed my finger at his nose, but not touching it and said 'You don't swear at me, you don't use vulgarity and you don't lay a hand on me and I warned you about this before.'"He turned around and told (the two office employees) that 'they are to not ever allow Shirley Kaufman into the mailroom again,'" Kaufman continued in the statement. "He then walked out of the room."