January 15, 2024

St. Croix County Board of Supervisors,

The Republican Party of St. Croix County Executive Board opposes the proposed creation of Chapter 41 – Local Health Officer Authority – of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances, which would attempt to give unconstitutional authority to the Local Health Officer to violate the fundamental right of the People to assemble, which has been established, guaranteed, and secured in both the United States and Wisconsin Constitutions. 

1. Article VI, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution states that the United States Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” and “Judges in every State shall be bound thereby” and therefore no federal law, state statute, or local ordinance may contradict or violate the clear language of the United States Constitution.
2. Likewise, the Wisconsin Constitution is the supreme law of our state, and no state statute or local ordinance may contradict or violate the clear language of the Wisconsin Constitution.
3. The 1^st Amendment of the United States Constitution, and Article 1, Section 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution, both establish and secure the unconditional “right of the people peaceably to assemble.”
4. Any attempt by government entities to “forbid public gathering” is a direct violation of the plain and simple language of both the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wisconsin.
5. Likewise, any attempt by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors to grant authority to the Local Health Officer, pursuant to Wis. Stat. 252.03, to “forbid public gathering when deemed necessary to control outbreaks and epidemics” is a direct violation of the plain and simple language of both the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wisconsin.
6. The St. Croix County Board of Supervisors therefore has no constitutional authority to grant power to any government entity, including a Local Health Officer, to “forbid public gathering” at any time or for any reason.
7. All Federal, State, and Local elected officials, including each member of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors, as constitutionally required, have sworn an Oath of Office before God and the People to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wisconsin, and are bonded to ensure their compliance.
8. Any member of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors voting in favor of the proposed unconstitutional Ordinance Creating Chapter 41 – Local Health Officer Authority – of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances, will be in direct violation of their sworn Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Wisconsin.
9. Any public official, including any Member of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors, found to be in violation of their Oath of Office, may be held personally liable and may be subject to legal action against their bond.

In closing, we reject and condemn attempts by any member of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors to “abridge” the People’s constitutional right to “publicly gather” and “peaceably to assemble,” and steadfastly pledge to defend and retain this constitutional right at all times and in all situations, regardless of what is “deemed necessary” by any local, state, or federal Health Officer.

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 to end government sanctioned slavery and to promote and defend the principles of individual freedom and liberty, established in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. As the local Republican Party, we continue in these efforts today.

Executive Board
Republican Party St. Croix County
In God We Trust