Commission orders recall election for Trempealeau County DA

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The Wisconsin Elections Commission ordered on Wednesday that a recall election be carried out for Trempealeau County District Attorney Taavi McMahon.

The order comes in response to a recall petition the commission received on July 23. The commission found the petition had 3,149 valid signatures, 466 more than were needed to initiate a recall election.

McMahon, who was elected Trempealeau County District Attorney in 2012, has long been the subject of complaints by other local officials. In a letter sent to Gov. Scott Walker in October, members of the county’s Executive and Finance Committee accused McMahon of being “derelict in his duties.”

The La Crosse Tribune has reported that McMahon closed his office on Sept. 15 for the funeral of Jackson County District Attorney Gerald Fox. McMahon is believed to have ordered his staff workers, who are county employees, to attend the funeral and to have suspended an employee who refused to attend.

McMahon’s recall election is now scheduled to take place on Oct. 2. If more than one challenger from a particular political party emerges, a primary will be held on Oct. 2 and the general election then on Nov. 6.

Candidates seeking to run against McMahon must file nomination papers by 5 p.m. September 4.