Aicher criticizes Werner for claims in Delafield mayoral race

In the Delafield mayoral race between incumbent Tim Aicher and challenger Aaron Werner, the question of how resigning aldermen are replaced has become a lingering topic.

It started with claims by Werner, expressed in an email interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for a candidates-profile story , that several aldermen appeared to have intentionally resigned mid-term in recent years to allow handpicked appointees to fill seats, giving them an incumbent's advantage in the next election.

That irked Aicher, who said such claims should be more fully vetted. He said Werner hasn't backed his claims with evidence.

In a follow-up to the story that was published online March 12, both candidates were given a chance to voice their take on the issue, which notably does not involve any claims of wrongdoing or ethics violations. Both candidates argue that their opponent has misrepresented the issue of aldermanic appointments.

Aicher sees Werner's claims as an 'insult' to city government

For Aicher, Werner's insinuation was more of an insult to the City of Delafield than a personal one. "I care less about my election than I do about the reputation of my city," he said in an email responding to Werner's claims.

Noting that Werner didn't name names, Aicher said he had to make assumptions about the people involved in his opponent's "delusions" about past resignations.

"Eight years ago, beloved Alderman [Al Zeitlow], a teacher and great guy, died while in office to afford [then] Mayor [Michele] DeYoe and her 'good old boy' network an appointment opportunity," Aicher said in the email. "Aldermen Chris Smith and Wayne Dehn had life and career changes that made them move outside the city, compelling them to resign. More recent private circumstances had another Council member move on."

The council makeup also changed because certain aldermen – DeYoe, Kent Attwell and Aicher himself – became mayors, he added.

"I am very displeased with the way that the article you just published adds merit to completely unfounded accusations about the circumstances of the way the City of Delafield has maintained equitable representation on the Common Council as volunteer, elected officials have had life changes both positive and tragic," said Aicher, alluding to the claims as an unfounded "conspiracy theory."

In a follow-up phone interview, Aicher also pushed back at what he viewed as an innuendo that aldermen in office may have been encouraged to resign. "Innuendoes, fine, but there's a factual, a misrepresentation, of causation with those particular situations that I think should be corrected," he said.

Werner says he discussed appointments issue with aldermen

Werner isn't backing down about his concerns, given what he sees as a pattern.

As part of his campaign, and in a follow-up phone interview with the Journal Sentinel, he specified that his concerns primarily date back to Atwell's terms of as mayor, not the resignations cited by Aicher.

He said his concern was reinforced by some members of the Delafield Common Council in private conservations when he began his campaign. He met or exchanged emails with four or five of the seven aldermen as part of an effort to introduce himself.

"I declared [as a candidate for mayor] in January," Werner said. "No one saw me coming. I came out of nowhere for these people. ... You know, if you're going to be elected mayor, you should meet with the council you're going to be working with."

But candid conversations changed, Werner added, once he ramped up his campaign. Most broke off any further conversations with him. Except for one, none endorsed him, with some backing Aicher instead.

The exception is Jacquelyn Valde, a District 13 alderwoman since 2013 who is chairman of Werner's campaign, backed Werner's claims of how mid-term appointments have shaped the makeup of the council over time.

"This is all true," Valde said in an email. "I've seen it personally. There are three of the Common Council members who have been elected outside the 'manufactured' members. They are from District 6 (Paul Price), 4 (Dirk Wilken), and 3 (myself)."

Aldermen refute Werner's claims on appointment discussions

Werner said he is sensitive about naming other aldermen he has talked to about the issue. The Journal Sentinel reached out to the remaining seven aldermen in emails on March 23 to confirm what contact they have had with Werner.

Unlike Valde, none have stepped forward to reinforce his claims. One said he had no such meeting with Werner and two acknowledged they had met.

"The only contact with Aaron that I can recall is when he came before the Common Council requesting we override the Planning Commission on a request he had, I believe for a zoning change," District 7 Alderman Stephen Laughland said in an email. "The request was declined by the Council."

Laughland, who was elected in April 2025 to fill an open seat, said he would have likely accepted the invitation in January, if he was contacted. But he wouldn't have agreed with Werner's assertions, if he had been questioned, based on his knowledge of the council's recent history.

"I have familiarity with some of the history of turnover," he said. "I replaced a gentleman who chose not to run again due to his military service obligations with the National Guard causing a change in his availability. I was elected, not appointed. I'm personally aware only one Council member resigned during my term, and that was due to serious health problems, and a need for high consequence surgery."

District 2 Alderman Mark Schaefer acknowledged he met with Werner for two hours, despite his avid support of Aicher.

"I met with Aaron and asked about his experience, motivation, and ideas for the City," Schaefer said. "I still completely support Mayor Aicher for re-election. So needless to say, I wasn't impressed with candidate Werner, his lack of ideas, poor reasons for running, and complete lack of experience. I spent a couple hours listening to Aaron. We didn't discuss Council appointments."

He noted that aldermanic appointments to fill terms are done by the council, not by the mayor.

District 4 Alderman Dirk Wilken acknowledged meeting with Werner and discussing the issue, but had no further comment.

Of note, none of the claims are tied to Aicher's first two-year term in office.

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at   james.riccioli@jrn.com .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Delafield mayor criticizes challenger for alderman appointment claims