John, You're Fired!

 

John Nelson Must Resign as Franklin Mayor

Residents of Franklin.  You are encouraged to attend the upcoming Franklin Common Council meeting this Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:30pm and DEMAND that John Nelson RESIGN as Mayor of Franklin.

As stated by Edward Gonzalez on his change.org petition to Demand Nelson's Resignation:

"Mayor Nelson's tenure has been marred by multiple allegations of harassment, and yet he continues to dismiss them as fabrications. Despite years of claims, with individuals stepping forward with compelling stories, the lack of action against him raises serious questions about our town's commitment to justice. Imagine if these stories involved your loved ones; would you not demand accountability?"

"Moreover, allegations of dishonesty cast a shadow over his leadership, such as claims of cheating, raising questions about his ethical standards. What message are we sending to our community if we overlook these issues?"

"Franklin deserves a leader who embodies integrity, respect, and fairness. Leadership should not be based on a history of allegations and deceit; it should be about trust, vision, and progress. Unfortunately, the current situation surrounding Mayor Nelson does not reflect these values."

Franklin Community News (FCN) has been covering the dishonesty, lack of integrity and lack of ethical standards of John Nelson prior to his election as Mayor. Many individuals in this community denounced FCN as fake news and did not take stock in what FCN was reporting.  Now two years later, let’s revisit what FCN has reported along with what local media, and Nelsons own investigations are revealing.  Nelson wants anyone with a pulse to believe that "its all lies, the fix is in for him, no one ever told him what he was doing was wrong".  Please wake up and see the City of Franklin has been taken by a con, as well as a group of cons who worked to have him elected to seek favored treatment by the Mayor and the City of Franklin.

FCN reported on April 5, 2023 "At about 9:45pm election night, while waiting for the 4,500 absentee ballots to be reported from Franklin Central Count to the County Elections Office, Mayor Olson and some of his campaign advisors received the following text from Mr. Taylor on behalf of the “Rat Pack” (Nelson, County Supervisor Steve Taylor, and Mike Zimmerman (CEO ROC Ventures).

On March 23, 2023, two weeks prior to the mayoral election FCN confirmed and reported Nelson's Mayoral election campaign team two years ago was led by County Supervisor Taylor/ROC Foundation Executive Director, Mike Zimmerman, ROC CEO, Kelly Hersh, now City of Franklin Director of Administration (former lead in law suit against Franklin for Strauss which was heard by Judge Hannah Dugan), and former Franklin Alderperson Kristen Wilhelm.  

FCN also reported in May 2023, one month prior to the Franklin Mayoral election, that if Nelson won the election he was going to push Kelly Hersh in as Director of Administration.  Hersh has no degrees or previous experience in public administration.  FCN also confirmed that Nelson, on Taylor’s recommendation was going to recommend another individual for the Director of Economic Development and work out current Director John Regetz.  Again the individual recommended by Taylor had no experience in workforce/economic development and had no degrees in that area. Nelson denies making the offer for the position but is on an audio recording indicating he offered the position because the person "looked good".  

On April 14, 2023, County Supervisor Steve Taylor, who also is the Executive Director of the ROC Foundation (A position he was given in return for shepherding the rezoning and sale of the County land to Mike Zimmerman.  Taylor at the time was both a County Supervisor and Alderman for Franklin) sends multiple threats to the publisher of FCN on behalf of Nelson, Zimmerman, and Taylor.  The threats were for exposing corruption, collusion, and favored status of Nelson, the City of Franklin, and ROC Ventures.  FCN published multiple blogs and filed ethics complaints.

April 23, 2023 the publisher of FCN filed an ethics Complaint against Taylor and Nelson to the Milwaukee County Ethics Board on nepotism, collusion, conflict of interest, retaliation and harassment. 

Working in a conspiracy Taylor, Nelson, Supervisor Vincent, would obtain a restraining order against the the publisher of FCN on May 15, 2023.  The ethics board dismissed the ethics complaint on May 12, 2023.  The restraining order was in retaliation for Taylors threats on behalf of himself, Nelson and Zimmerman.

On May 2, 2023 the City of Franklin now under the leadership of Hersh and Nelson  forward a resolution to the Common Council setting a moratorium on the Franklin Ethics code until it can be further studied.  Resolution was passed.  Franklin has no Ethics Code.  When will it be studied? 

On September 22, 2023 Nelson along with top Franklin officials calls a closed door meeting with owners of the Rock Sports complex to come up with a concrete plan to address noice issues.  At the meeting County Supervisor Taylor calls fellow county supervisors "terrorists" and Zimmerman labeled Supervisor Logsdon as "crazy".  Taylor also called concerned neighbors "idiots" and "Fuc*ers".  Nelson indicated he could not "recall" the insults at the meeting but was quoted as saying:

“The paradigm has shifted,” Nelson said to WRN. “I will come up with an aggressive timeline. I want to get this whole sound monitor stuff done right away.”

In another famous Nelson shift to favored nation status for the Rock and Zimmerman, there are two items on Tuesdays Common Council meeting agenda to increase the sound from 55 dBA to 60dBA for the Rock' n Food Truck Rally and from 55 dBA to 65 dBA for Franklin Field 2025 Season.

From September 2023 to February 2024 Taylor and Nelson sent emails from their government email accounts, personal email, business email accounts, and alias email accounts to the publisher of FCN's employer to interfere with his employment.

January 15, 2024 - FCN submitted an ethics complaint to Milwaukee County Ethics Board making allegations of pay for pay, conflict of interest, misuse of office, and filing incorrect ethics statements against Taylor and Vincent.  According to the most recent annual report of the Milwaukee County Ethics Commission the ethics complaint is currently pending release at the DA’s office. 

On February 22, 2024, Nelson used his authority and position as the mayor, overseeing the Franklin Police Department, and the City of Franklin in retaliation for the publisher of FCN's First Amendment rights, by having a police officer threaten him just prior to delivering public comment to the Franklin Common Council.

On March 5, 2024, FCN sent an email to the Franklin City Clerk requesting records from both Nelson's and Hersh's personal email accounts.  Nelson replied no records existed.  Nelson was unaware that FCN already had a record in its possession from another source that Nelson cc:d to his personal email.  Nelson lied about possessing open records. Nelson also lied if he had responsive record that were sent to his Waterford email, nelson agains lied as the record in FCN's possession also had the records cc:d to Nelsons Waterford police email.

On March 5, 2024, at a Franklin Common Council meeting, defendant Nelson interrupted the publisher of FCN during public comment (3:55 mark), called him a liar, and threatened to kick him out of a public meeting. The publisher was being retaliated against publicly for exercising his First Amendment Rights and because what he was saying was against the Mayor Nelson.

April 4, 2024 - A formal complaint was sent to the City of Franklin alleging that Nelson, in a conspiracy with Taylor and Zimmerman silenced the the publisher of FCN's first amendment rights, interfered with his employment, and provided false information to a police officer to weaponize the Franklin Police Department against the publisher, and participated in a conspiracy with Vincent and Joe Russ from Greendale to harass the publisher, and worked in a conspiracy to stalk the publisher online.

FCN also made a records requests to the Waterford Police Department and received the following response on April 4, 2023 from former Acting Chief Lieutenant Jeschke: “no record of any of these requested items was located”.  FCN asked the Chief if he could look agains as FCN already had 6 records in its possession from another source.  FCN also contacted the Town of Waterford Clerk.

On April 9, 2024, as a result of FCN submitting an ethics complaint to the Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel against Alderperson Eichmann for interfering in a city quote to benefit her employer, Stu’ Flooring, and blogging about the same, defendant Eichmann conspired with defendants Taylor and Nelson and Joe Russ of Greendale to entrap the publisher of FCN to violate the restraining order issued against him.

After indicating no such records exist, on April 22, 2024, the Town of Waterford Police Department released 94 responsive open records pertaining to Franklin Mayor, John Nelson, who is also a Full-time Lieutenant for the Waterford Police Department.

The records prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Nelson lied in his "Town Hall" that he simply did not know and it was ok as Nelson's friend and former Acting Chief Lieutenant Jeschke said it was ok for Nelson to double dip on Waterford time and to campaign for Mayor and then conduct Franklin business using Waterford resources (time and computer), because his ex-wife took his personal computer.  The 94 records received prove:

1. Mayor Nelson of Franklin is using his Waterford Police Government email address for Franklin Public Business.
2. Mayor Nelson is Cc: many of his Franklin emails to the Waterford Police Government email.
3. Mayor Nelson and his Mayoral election campaign committee of County Supervisor Steve Taylor, Mike Zimmerman Rock CEO, and former Franklin Alderwoman Kristin Wilhelm appeared to be completing final edits on Nelson's campaign literature, and Nelson cc: email to his Waterfordpd email account.
4. It appeared that on more than one occasion Alderwoman Eichmann would send Franklin business to the mayor's Waterford Police email.
5. Many of the emails contained Nelson's personal email address john.1968Nelson@gmail.com, proving that the Mayor indeed had emails to his personal email address and was untruthful in his response that he did not.
6. Franklin Director of Administration Kelly Hersh appeared to use Nelson Waterford's email address on multiple occasions to conduct City of Franklin Business.
7. Nelson was corresponding with the Milwaukee County Republican Party as candidate Nelson as part of his election campaign using his Waterfordpd email.

FCN would subsequently find out that it was Lieutenant Nelson not Acting Chief Lieutenant Jeschke that was responsible for filling open records request for the police department.

Mayor Nelson in his position as Mayor, on July 5, 2024, bribed the publisher of Franklin Community News to retract a records request made for his personnel file when he was employed as a Sheriff Deputy with Milwaukee County, in exchange for access to police services to investigate claims that this publisher has attempted to bring to the Franklin Police Department (FPD) for over a year.  The publisher tried to file a police report with the Franklin PD.  The Franklin PD indicated they would not take a complaint and they would not refier the complaint to another jurisdiction.

August 22, 2024 - FCN submitted an additional ethics complaint was submitted to the Milwaukee County Ethics Board (Gilmore), Milwaukee County Fraud Waste and Abuse (Hart), and Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel (Tabeck) alleging misuse of office, conspiracy, and bribery by Nelson, Eichmann, Taylor, and Vincent. The DA’s office is pending release of this complaint to the Milwaukee Count Office of Fraud Wast and Abuse.

“It is important to understand that investigations were started because of serious allegations against some of our employees,” Terri Jendusa-Nicolai, Board Chair wrote in a Sept. 27, 2024 post on her page. “If these allegations were not looked into properly the town board would not be doing its job and legal action against the town would be a real possibility.”

September 17, 2024 at a Franklin Common Council meeting, Mayor Nelson Calls Franklin Community News, “Franklin Fake News” and Alderwoman Eichmann states “FCN is Fake News and we cannot get them for slander but we are working on other ways to get them.”  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShCQ3eRmy1k - 10:00 mark

On October 13, 2024, as a result of publishing a blog on Franklin Community News, an anonymous complaint letter, later to be determined to be written by Defendants Eichmann and Nelson, was filed with the Franklin Police Department. Police investigate and come to the house of the FCN publisher and after a short conversation, shake the publishers hand, in the presence of his wife “case closed nothing here”.

October 26, 2024 - Franklin Police Department sent via US mail a citation for disorderly conduct on, with no police report or indication of what the ticket was issued for. The ticket was initiated by Nelson and Eichmann. This disorderly conduct citation is in direct retaliation for FCN's Blogs about Nelson, Eichmann, and their friends Taylor, Vincent, and Zimmerman. After two open records requests, the the FCN publisher has yet to have been provided with this police report. as of March 8, 2025, knowing what the citation was issued for and the facts surrounding the issuance of the citation. It was sent to ADA and marked no process.

During the November 11, 2024 Intergovernmental Cooperation Council (ICC) Meeting, Mayor Nelson shares two examples of his retaliation to citizens that he does not agree with.  The second one where he indicates the State decided not to prosecute a Franklin issued a citation. Nelson is referring to the publisher of FCN. The ICC is the forum where the Mayors, Village Managers and Village Presidents gather to share monthly information in Southeastern WI. 

Preview attachment 11.11.2024 ICC Meeting nelson rant.mp3

FCN obtained information indicating that on the day of Mayor Nelson's investigation interview, with the Town of Waterford on November 27, 2024, prior to his "retirement", Nelson attempted to unlawfully gain access to documents of one of the ongoing investigations in a non-public area in the Town of Waterford Administration buildings.

December 27, 2024 - Nelson had obtained personal information of the publisher of FCN and was texting it to multiple individuals. The information provided could have only been obtained from a law enforcement system.  This was not a public record or a record available on the public domain.  The Franklin Police were contacted.  Franklin Police Detective Brian Zalewski declined to investigate and indicated after multiple requests that they would not refer to another agency for investigation of the Mayor. 

FCN has received a public record and a police officer transcript from the Town of Waterford that debunk Nelsons message that his investigation in Waterford was a "Witch Hunt". Nelson was interviewed by WTMJ investigative reporter Ben Jordan  April 24, 2025, Nelson claimed:

 “They were looking for anything they could do to slander us, to put us in a box, put us in a corner, and make us look terrible,”

“You’ve got no control as a police officer what gets put in your file,” Nelson replied. “So, as ridiculous and baseless of a complaint, that’s in there.”

“What’s going on now is an absolute hit-job character assassination attempt, number one,” Nelson said. “I’ve lived in this community my entire life. I was an alderman for six years, now the mayor for two. Judge me on the job I’m doing for your city, for our city, and where it’s going.”

In an email from a redacted Waterford patrol officer to former Town of Waterford Board Chair Teri Jendusa Nicolai on April 22, 2024, the patrol officer alleges the following against Nelson:

• "On April 22, 2023 Nelson was on buoy day for the Town of Waterford.  He was in the office the entire time.  What did he charge the Town for not leaving the office to "assist" buoy day on the water.  Which he received time and half for that April 22.  Should match my hours put in for that day."
• "He asked Janene and I to add 29 administration hours to the DNR yearly report December 1, 2023.  My question is how many hours has he charged the Town/Village for DNR water patrol hours?
• "I have not only experienced verbal comments from both Lieutenants (Nelson), many of the other female officers also experience it.  Just verbal comments."
• "Like the other officers, I fear the communication will travel to their other jurisdictions and we will likely get expelled from their position."
• I was advised by both Lieutenants (Nelson) I can not work the road because I was only hired to work the water patrol.  I have searched this in the contract and cannot find any verbiage on it.  

FCN confirmed on April 28, 2025 that City of Franklin Contracted Public Relations flack, Mary Christine, has been out on social media as a Nelson surrogate supporting Nelson from social media attacks and spinning a pro Nelson bad Waterford narrative.  Christine has also attacked former Waterford Town President, Terri Jendusa-Nicolai on Waterford Facebook Pages as a surrogate for Nelson.  Waterford is where Nelson "resigned" from his position as Lieutenant amid an investigation by the Town of Waterford.

FCN has obtained August 2023 records that show Mayor John Nelson conducted an investigation into former Franklin Planning Manager Laurie Miller.  The investigation paints a picture that Nelson and his Director of Administration Kelly Hersh would fight staff and direct staff to bypass code and state statues in approving items that do not meet code for development and construction.  FCN has obtained over 350 pages of open records that substantiate Millers claims.  Millers claims essentially show pay for play and bribery by Mayor John Nelson and his Director of Administration Kelly Hersh.  If the allegations are proven, Nelson and Hersh, who is also defined as a "pubic official" under state statues, are in violation of Wisconsin Statue 946.12 Misconduct in Public Office. If convicted carry a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and 6 months, or both 939.50(3)(I).

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports on April 29, 2025 based on the Waterford Investigation Transcripts released:

• Fostering a hostile work environment.
• Sexually harassing or making inappropriate comments toward female officers, making them feel “verbally violated.”
• Sexual comments and ongoing flirting toward female civilians.
• Showing inappropriate images of females Nelson allegedly dated or had sexual relations with to other officers.
• Improper use of Town of Waterford resources while campaigning for mayor and conducting mayoral business for Franklin.
• Derogatory/unprofessional phone conduct while on duty in the presence of other personnel.
• Preferential treatment in scheduling officers.
• Retaliation against some officers.
• Failure to use the FTO program, a full-time officer program related to training.
• Oversight of an unauthorized private security service getting paid in cash.
• Dissemination of sensitive information containing an employee’s personnel file to other department members.

"There was also mention of allegations relating to issues with time recording for reimbursement from the Department of Natural Resources, grant hours, a labor agreement, improper conduct and improper use of force, among other complaints." 

"In the transcript, Riffel said that over a half dozen officers reiterated these claims, saying, “it's just not one or two officers, employees that have reported these things to us.”

According to an article released by Urban Milwaukee on May 1, 2025, Nelson was the subject of nine internal affairs investigations between 1998 and 2011, when he was a Deputy Sheriff for the Milwaukee County according, to federal court records.

"Beginning in 2024, Nelson has filed several lawsuits attempting to block the release of these internal affairs case files that, according to the civil complaint filed by his attorneys, “could result in irreparable harm to Nelson’s reputation.”

According to the article Nelson resigned in 2012 before the investigators could interview him about the harassment complaint. He later alleged, in his suit against Clarke, that the investigation was retaliation for filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against Clarke. Nelson’s EEOC complaint alleged he was passed up for a promotion because he is white. 

The MCSO investigation concluded that the allegations against Nelson should be sustained. Later, a county employment relations manager decided Nelson deserved “further discipline.” However, that decision was based on a different, though related, sexual harassment violation.

Nelson resigned before he could be interviewed for the investigation and it was closed in March 2012.

 Franklin deserves a leader who embodies integrity, respect, transparency and fairness. Franklins leadership is based on a track records and history of allegations, conspiracy, retaliation and deceit. It should be about trust, vision, and progress. Unfortunately, the current situation surrounding Mayor Nelson does not reflect these values.  

Residents of Franklin, there is no longer an excuse of :

“They were looking for anything they could do to slander me, to put me in a box, put me in a corner, and make me look terrible,” -  No Mr. Nelson stop blaming everyone else for your actions that go back twenty five years.  Many of the exact same actions that are being alleged against you now from the Waterford Investigation mirror and shadow your past.  You have failed to take responsibility for not even one of your actions.  

“You’ve got no control as a police officer what gets put in your file,” Nelson replied. “So, as ridiculous and baseless of a complaint, that’s in there.” - Mr. Nelson what is ridiculous and baseless is that you believe that the residents of this city are that dumb, naive, and apathetic that they will believe you.  We have not even talked about your retaliation against individuals you do not agree with or how you have assaulted and abused individuals based on investigations and police reports. 

“What’s going on now is an absolute hit-job character assassination attempt, number one,” Nelson said. “I’ve lived in this community my entire life. I was an alderman for six years, now the mayor for two. Judge me on the job I’m doing for your city, for our city, and where it’s going.” - Whats going on now is not a hit job, its about you Mr. Nelson trying to maintain whats left of your power base for you and your conspirators.  It finally has all caught up to you, all of the records you have been trying to withhold with law suits because you did not want the truth exposed and your repeated pattern of abhorrent behavior as an elected official and a human being exposed. John, the citizens are judging you on your job which is self serving for you and your friends, not the residents of Franklin.  Our city is going no where,.  To make any progress you need to cut special deals with developers and tell your staff "they voted for me, let it slide".

John....the residents have spoken.  You are corrupt, dirty, self-serving, lying, vindictive and will do anything to anyone who exposes you and your conspirators.

JOHN you Must Resign as Mayor, for the Greater Good of Franklin.

Residents of Franklin.  RESTORE INTEGRITY to FRANKLIN

 You are encouraged to attending the upcoming Franklin Common Council meeting this Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:30pm and DEMAND that John Nelson RESIGN as Mayor of Franklin.