98th Assembly Seat Candidate Claims Discrimination in Lt. Governor's Office

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch’s 2010 campaign manager said she was discriminated against and transferred last month from her state job because of her age and gender, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Jeanne Tarantino — who is a candidate for the 98th Assembly District special election — said this while being questioned in December as part of legal dispute with her ex-husband.

When asked why she was terminated from the lieutenant governor's office, Tarantino said it was because she was an older woman and they wanted a younger man in the position.

Kleefisch and Gov. Scott Walker’s office has denied the accusation from Tarantino that she was discriminated when she was transferred out of her $69,900 salary job in the lieutenant governor’s office, reported the Journal Sentinel.

Tarantino was transferred to the Department of Workforce Development as a project leader in the state. She later left that job to run for an Assembly District seat, which represents parts of Waukesha and Sussex, against four other candidates.

Kleefisch has endorsed Tarantino in her Assembly race.

In the deposition, Tarantino also said she felt the discrimination continued onto her second job, the Journal Sentinel reported. A spokesperson for Walker’s office said Kleefisch’s office handles their own staffing.

When asked why she did not file a discrimination complaint after being transferred, the Journal Sentinel reported that Tarantino said in the deposition, "Because I'll never work in Wisconsin again."