Green Bay mayor responds to election day lines

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Mayor Eric Genrich took to social media Wednesday morning to respond to criticism over long lines at the city's two polling places during Tuesday's election.

In a Facebook post, Genrich said the decision to consolidate voting at East and West high schools was a "last resort." Because of coronavirus fears, the usual 270 poll workers was down to 17 total. That led the city to consolidate the usual 31 polling places.

"Our contingency plan, once first realizing a significant decline in available poll workers, involved the use of our four high school gyms," Genrich wrote. "That number fell to two locations as the number of experienced and trained poll workers fell further."

Genrich also defended the city's decision to turn down help from the National Guard, whose soldiers were serving as poll workers across the state.

"We had the option of bringing inexperienced individuals into the process, but our city clerk and I did not feel comfortable implicating untrained city employees, members of the public, or members of the National Guard in a dangerous and stressful environment," he wrote.

Among the critics of the city's election process was Brown County Republican Party Chair James Fitzgerald, who said in a statement:

I reached out to Mayor Genrich on March 30, imploring him to apply all the necessary resources to run a smooth election on April 7, and heard nothing. Today, we see the results of his inaction. While other large municipalities, including Madison, had no difficulties processing the vote today, Green Bay, fell short leaving long lines and frustrated voters. Mayor Genrich’s refusal to use trained National Guard’s men and women exhibited a classic failure in judgement and leadership. We applaud all the resilient poll workers who persevered the integrity of the ballot box.

In the weeks leading up to the election, city officials tried measures to adjust the format. Last month, Genrich called for the election to be mail-in only. And the city sued unsuccessfully to stop the election.

"I rang every alarm bell at my disposal to prevent yesterday’s election from occurring in-person, for fear of how it would endanger those who participated," Genrich wrote. "I understand the frustration people feel about yesterday’s election, and I share it 1000%, but please know that we made every effort to keep the community safe, in the face of our obligation to hold a mass gathering in the midst of a pandemic."

Last-minute efforts by Gov. Tony Evers to postpone the election were also overruled.

Results of the election are not expected to be made public until Monday.

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