Off-color jokes with race-on-the-brain

Staff of ex-County Executive Scott Walker

February 19, 2014
Today, we see emails of what "hired public servants" of County Executive Scott Walker and a Michael Best & Friedrich paralegal shared in disrespect of those they work for, their positions and themselves. The emails were vile, cheap and inappropriate.  They were made by Chief of  Staff - Thomas Nardelli (ex-Alderman of Milwaukee), Deputy Chief of Staff - Kelly Rindfleisch and a paralegal - Kelly Teelin at Michael Best & Friedrich.

"Frankly, the irresponsible racists comments speak of the sophomoric thinking and wayward minds of those who made the statements in email.  It is clear that they had much too much time on hand, not fit for the positions held and did not have or value their role and responsibility to serve the People. The sleazy references by Teelin and Nardelli and agreement by Rindfleishch spoke of how they were three  insecure individuals.  As a Milwaukeean who is African American, I do get tired of the we-are all that by some Caucasians.  It is a sign of lack of class," said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC.

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Below are comments by Nardelli when he ran for mayor - apparently, he forgot his upbringing.

"One thing about Tom, he's an honest guy," said Dominic Frinzi, an attorney who has known Nardelli since he was a boy. "He's a man of integrity.  He's firm in his positions and he's a straight shooter." 

"I'm proud of my heritage," said Nardelli, 59. "I grew up around hard-working people with Christian values." 

"Some people take themselves too seriously," he said. "If you think you're better than anyone you serve, then you probably shouldn't be in office." 

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in 2010 emails - racist and disparaging comments that include reference to dogs, unemployment, speaking English and fatherless are the target of  this article. 

Journal Sentinel
According to the Journal Sentinel, Lee Bergguist, there were emails shared by Nardelli, Teelin and Rindfleisch.

Here are disclosures contained in emails made public on Wednesday as part of former Scott Walker aide Kelly Rindfleisch's appeal of her 2012 conviction of misconduct in office for doing campaign work on county time.

- In April 2010, Michael Best & Friedrich paralegal Kelly Teelin sent Rindfleisch a joke about someone whose dogs supposedly qualified for welfare because they are “mixed in color, unemployed, lazy, can’t speak English and have no frigging clue who their Daddys are.”

Rindfleisch wrote back: “That is hilarious. And so true.”

- In another email, sent in July 2010, Thomas Nardelli, Walker chief of staff for Walker at Milwaukee County, forwarded Rindfleisch and others a joke about someone who has a nighmare about turning into a black, Jewish, disabled gay man. “Oh God, please don’t tell me I’m a Democrat,” the email concludes.

- Walker’s operatives made it clear they favored Brett Davis over Rebecca Kleefisch — the ultimate winner — in the race of lieutenant governor. On March 2, 2010, Rindfleisch, who was working part time for Davis, wrote Gilkes asking whether Kleefisch would be allowed to use material for advertising from a campaign event Walker and Kleefisch attended.

“I know she’s the bane of your existence. But I have a question. Will Kleefisch be allowed to use anything for the event for advertising? Like post it on Facebook, TV commercial, etc.,” Rindfleisch wrote to Gilkes.

“I’m REALLY beginning to dislike her,” Rindfleisch wrote to Gilkes.

The next day, Gilkes wrote back, “No — that will be made abundantly clear to her.”

Then, in June 2010, Gilkes wrote to Rindfleisch: “We are not touching anything to do with Kleefisch — she is radioactive and not worth the time.”

Davis’ campaign should “work on Mayor Ross and turn it into a two person race to kick her ass,” Gilkes wrote, referring to then-Superior Mayor Dave Ross, who is now Walker’s secretary of safety and professional services.