Marathon County’s top official is being investigated following his participation in a Hmong rally and peace march in Wausau this spring.
County administrator Brad Karger spoke in support of 15-year-old Hmong boy, Dylan Yang, who was convicted in adult court in a fatal stabbing incident. Yang could get up to 60 years in prison for the stabbing death of 13-year-old Isaiah Powell.
Karger shouted, “I am Dylan,” before a crowd of hundreds of people, at the May 31 rally.
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“What good is being a community leader if you don’t use it for something?” Karger said in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio the same day.
Marathon County Board chairman Kurt Gibbs confirmed that Karger is being investigated, but declined to comment on whether Karger’s job is in jeopardy.
“The executive committee authorized in a unanimous vote to conduct the investigation,” Gibbs said. “It’s an ongoing investigation and the county board executive committee takes the investigation very seriously.”
Karger said his actions were criticized by the Wausau police chief.
The rally attracted Hmong activists from as far away as California.
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