Assistant to Sheboygan Mayor terminated after investigation
According to the City of Sheboygan, an investigation concluded Veronica Valdez disclosed confidential information
SHEBOYGAN — The former assistant to Sheboygan Mayor Ryan Sorenson was terminated according to the City of Sheboygan.
Veronica Valdez served as the Assistant and Communications Specialist for Mayor Sorenson since July 2022. Her last day with the city was May 5th, the same day she was terminated. According to a letter written by Kelly Hendee, the city's Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations, Valdez was accused of disclosing confidential information. “The reason for this termination is two-fold,” said Hendee. “First, the results of an investigation concluded that you have disclosed confidential information and acted in bad faith when accusing other City officials and employees of misconduct.”
The letter continues to explain the reasons Valdez was terminated. “The allegations you made were in many instances demonstrably false and/or misleading,” said Hendee. The letter also mentions Valdez’s failure to appear at two separate meetings with outside legal counsel. According to the city, she abandoned her position. When WKTS News requested documents relating to the investigation, our request was denied. “It is subject to the attorney/client privilege and the request is therefore denied,” said Malia Malone of Milwaukee firm Attolles Law.
"Veronica is a great benefit to the city," Sorenson wrote in a January 2023 evaluation. "She brings positive energy and motivation to the office." In February 2025, Sorenson wrote Valdez needed to prioritize email communication instead of text messaging and ensuring work related communications was done on a city-issued work cell phone.
WKTS News first reported on Valdez’s sudden departure from City Hall last month.
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Valdez was hired as Sorenson’s second assistant in July 2022. When Sorenson was first elected in April 2021, Sarah Schwefel had served as his assistant for one year until her departure in May 2022. Prior to working under Sorenson, Schwefel had served as Mayor Mike Vandersteen’s assistant for three years. Valdez was hired as Schwefel’s replacement just weeks later.
According to the job posting, the full-time Mayoral Assistant and Communications Specialist position pays $59,259 a year with full benefits. In addition to answering phone calls and messages, the assistant is responsible for researching, writing, designing and creating communications about all aspects of the city. They also write letters, memos, proclamations, and other correspondence on behalf of Sorenson.
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