Former council member starts job as assistant city attorney
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Tim Wellnitz
JANESVILLE — City officials “absolutely” realized some people might question a decision to hire former council member Tim Wellnitz as assistant city attorney.
Wellnitz’s first day on the job was Monday. His last day as council member was April 14.
“But he was the best-qualified candidate for the position,” said Jay Winzenz, director of administrative services.
The assistant city attorney does most of the ordinance prosecution and any special research projects for City Attorney Wald Klimczyk.
Salary range for the position is $50,314 to $71,514, Winzenz said. Wellnitz said he is paid about $57,000.
Helen Hanau was the city’s former assistant attorney. She left the job in late summer or early fall, Winzenz said.
The city did not hold the position for Wellnitz and, in fact, offered it to somebody else who turned down, Winzenz said.
The city started advertising for the job in October 2007 at area university law schools and in the Wisconsin State Journal. Winzenz described the job as an entry-level attorney position.
In January 2008, the city offered the job to Janesville attorney Robert Howard. He withdrew his application in February, Winzenz said.
The city then brought in another candidate from the initial group of six finalists for a second round of interviews. That individual withdrew his or her name, too.
“That basically got us into the springtime,” Winzenz said.
Wellnitz said he applied for the job after his term on the council expired April 14. He had served for four years.
“At that point, he was no longer a city council member,” Winzenz said. “He was a citizen just like you and I. We can’t discriminate against him because he used to be a city council member.”
Wellnitz, 30, received his law degree from Southern Illinois Law University in 2003. He interned in the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office in 2002 and also worked in the governor’s office. Most recently, he was bureau director for the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Wellnitz said he always has been interested in public sector work and few government attorney positions exist in Janesville, his hometown.
“The job is a great fit for me,” Wellnitz said.
Now, he won’t have to commute to Madison. And the job there was a political appointment.
Wellnitz announced the day after Thanksgiving he would not seek re-election.
The job, he said, was not the reason he quit. He was looking for “a little bit less on my plate,” he said.
“I’m just fortunate it was open when my time was done on the council,” he said.
“Obviously, I think I was selected because I have a background in this area and (am) qualified for the positions,” he said.
Both of Wellnitz’s parents also work for the city.
His mother, Suzanne, is City Manager Steve Sheiffer’s longtime assistant. His father, Jeff, is a more recent hire and works at the wastewater treatment plant.
According to the city’s policy on hiring, a member of an employee's immediate family may be hired if they are qualified but may not be hired if the employment creates a direct or indirect supervisor-subordinate relationship, the conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.
May 21, 2008 at 9:12 a.m.
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Wellnitz being hired by the city as assistant city attorney is not surprising. Next thing you know, Steve Sheiffer will be working for Forward Janesville.
May 21, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.
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happycamper - the article states that Tim's mother and father both work for the City, so now with Tim's hiring, three members of an immediate family all work for the city. Personally, I don't see a need to get all worked up about it. Yes, all three of them work for the city, but one works on the city manager's staff, one works for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and one works on the city attorney's staff. That's like three separate entities within one organization, and none of them have supervisory authority over each other. Nothing to be up in arms about.
May 21, 2008 at 8:46 a.m.
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Congratulations Tim! You were a big help and support to the city on the council and I'm positive you wil do the same for the city as an attorney.
Oh yea, who's the third family member these bloggers keep mentioning?
May 21, 2008 at 8:45 a.m.
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Who cares if his Mom & Dad work for the city...Really...If he's the best for the job then I wish him all the success!! Seems to me his credentials speak for themself...
May 21, 2008 at 12:59 a.m.
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Zoom
There is nepotism, then there is the appearance of nepotism.
Unless you work for the city personnel department I doubt you are qualified to say Wellnitz, in fact was the most qualified candidate for the job. Many times appearances can be as damning as actual nepotism in the public eye.
May 21, 2008 at 12:38 a.m.
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localboy: Wow. What logic did you use to determine that three family members, working in different departments, is one too many?
Devilsadvocate: I think you need to review the definition of nepotism before even suggesting it might apply in this situation.
"Nepotism is the showing of favoritism toward relatives and friends, based upon that relationship, rather than on an objective evaluation of ability, meritocracy or suitability. For instance, offering employment to a relative, despite the fact that there are others who are better qualified and willing to perform the job, would be considered nepotism."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism
May 21, 2008 at 12:32 a.m.
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Could long time assistant city attorney Helen Hanau's sudden departure from city employment, with no mention in the media, be related to employees job concerns to the council president upon the city managers retirement? Seems the employee's were concerned with retaliatory firings. Any nexus here?
May 20, 2008 at 1:06 p.m.
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I am also not concerned about family members working for the city, but I think 3 might be one to many. I am glad they were able to hire a qualified local individual for the position, it just seems a little suspicous about the 3 members (immediate I might add)all working for the city.
May 20, 2008 at 11:10 a.m.
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Although some times there are 2 people, usually husband and wife, employed by the city or school board, 3 seems unusual. Mother, Father and Son all employed by the city. Is there a need to draw a line at some point? Not sure. For whatever reason nepotism isn't the concern it has been in the past.
May 20, 2008 at 10:45 a.m.
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Clearly, Tim Wellnitz is interested in local politics. He certainly is not doing this for the money-57K. Perhaps his long range views include a run for congress? (when Paul Ryan runs for Senate or governor).
Irrespective of his long term political aspirations (to be fair to Wellnitz is not speculating on his future-I am), the city needed a new assistant attorney, he is qualified (he is an attorney), and he has experience on the local city council (familiar with local issues).
Many who pursue and obtain professioanl degrees do not return to Janesville-Wellnitz did and he should be applauded.
May 20, 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
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The record should show that Helen Hanau was forced out, I know this for A fact from someone else whom was working for the city at that time. It was kind of messy in fact I was told they would not even let her into her office they cleaned it out for her and it was A very tense situation at that time. Just to set the record straight.
May 20, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
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I don't recall reading that Helen Hanau had left. She had been there for a long time, sorry to see her go.
May 20, 2008 at 9:44 a.m.
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Wow, that is one smart family - working for the only recession-proof industry left in America, government.
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Seriously, good for them.
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