Wisconsin GOP Rep. Dean Kaufert to retire following Heartland Signal inquiry into sexual harassment investigation
Wisconsin state Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) announced his retirement three days after Heartland Signal asked his office about an investigation into inappropriate sexual comments he allegedly made about underage girls in 2019.
Wisconsin state Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) announced his retirement three days after Heartland Signal asked his office about an investigation into inappropriate sexual comments he allegedly made about underage girls in 2019.
Kaufert, 68, has a political career dating back to 1991, when he began his first stint in the Wisconsin state Assembly. In 2015, he left the Assembly when he was elected mayor of Neenah, Wis., a tenure that lasted until April 2022. In 2024, he was reelected to the state Assembly after defeating his Democratic opponent by just 364 votes.
The 2019 investigation
According to an open records response from the City of Neenah, obtained and analyzed by Heartland Signal, multiple city employees said Kaufert made an inappropriate sexual comment regarding minors while he was serving as mayor in 2019. During the investigation, which was conducted by the city’s Director of Human Resources and Safety Heather Barber, multiple employees of the city pool confirmed hearing Kaufert say he couldn’t be trusted around 16-year-old girls.
Barber conducted interviews with several employees who were present, which show that the comment was made during a staff meeting at the pool while it was searching for new lifeguards.
“Dean [Kaufert] walked in and stated that he was there for his pool interview, which is a common thing that people do at that time just to be funny, um and then, said he really wouldn’t last much longer than sometime in July due to the 16-year-old girls working there,” one employee said.
Another employee said Kaufert made the comment after somebody said he would have to wear a Speedo to be a lifeguard.
“So, from what I can figure out here is Dean [Kaufert] had walked into our office, guessing he saw the signs that were posted that we were doing interview in the evening or whatever, he mentioned that he wanted to apply for the pool lifeguard,” the transcript says. “And [REDACTED] said that well just so you know this year the guys wearing, speedos you know this year for uniforms, and he said ‘oh no no no, I don’t think that would work besides I don’t think I would last very long, or more than a day with the 16-year-old lifeguard girls.’”
Several employees also indicated that they had either previously heard or been told about Kaufert making other comments of a sexual nature in the past. Barber declined to be interviewed for this story.
Kaufert’s office did not respond to a request to comment for this story. A statement from Kaufert was included at the bottom of the documents obtained through an open records request. In the statement, Kaufert confirmed that he made the comments, but said his comments were worded as “that would not happen due to working with a bunch of 16 year olds.” Keufert also volunteered and completed an anti-harassment training course. He remained Neenah’s mayor for three years after the investigation.
A shift in the Assembly landscape
On Monday, three days after Heartland Signal sent a media inquiry, Kaufert announced that he would not seek another term in the Wisconsin Assembly.
“After a great deal of thought and reflection, there comes a time when you simply know it is time,” Kaufert said. “Family and health concerns have led me to this decision, but it is not one I make lightly. Representing the Fox Valley has been an honor and privilege.”
Kaufert’s departure adds to a growing wave of Republican retirements. He is the 11th Assembly member to announce their retirement or intentions to seek higher office — most of them are Republicans.
The GOP has held the Wisconsin Assembly since 2010, during which the legislative maps were notoriously gerrymandered to favor Republicans. After the maps were overturned in 2023, the Republicans saw their Assembly majority shrink by 10 seats and Democrats are hoping to flip the chamber in 2026.
The 53rd district will be difficult for Republicans to hold without an incumbent; Kaufert narrowly won his seat in 2024, while Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) carried it.
