In a twist of events in Milwaukee County, a municipal judge has stepped down after charges of dishonesty in her reelection campaign surfaced. The allegations revolve around false claims of residence and signature collection, shaking up the local political scene.
Kelly Martyka, previously serving as a South Milwaukee municipal court judge, faces charges of false swearing, a misdemeanor that could lead to a nine-month prison sentence and fines up to $10,000. Online records show she entered a not guilty plea on October 8.
Originally elected in 2022, Martyka barely secured her position in an April reelection. However, prosecutors allege she falsified her residency status and misrepresented the process of collecting signatures for her nomination papers, which led to the criminal charge.
According to the legal complaint, Martyka signed her nomination papers on December 18, claiming she “personally circulated that page and obtained each signature.” The complaint counters this, stating, “This was not true,” as five of the eight names listed were gathered by others, and Martyka did not witness those signatures.
The complaint further reveals that the original circulator’s name and address were obscured with white-out, replaced by Martyka’s information. This alteration led to improper certification of the nomination papers, crucial for her ballot eligibility.
Despite resigning from her role on September 19, Martyka, who also works as the director of development for the Milwaukee Parks Foundation, insists on her innocence. “I want to be very clear: I am not resigning because I feel I have done anything wrong,” she expressed in her resignation letter, describing the investigation as “a targeted and intrusive attack” on her and her husband’s integrity.
The South Milwaukee Common Council has scheduled a special election for April 7, 2026, to fill the vacancy. In the meantime, a temporary replacement will be appointed in November, according to city clerk Steven Braatz. Attempts to contact South Milwaukee Mayor Jim Shelenske for comments were unsuccessful.
Martyka’s attorney, Jacob Manian, stated that her resignation was voluntary to “avoid distracting from the important work of the court while she addresses allegations made by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.”
While the Milwaukee Parks Foundation refrained from commenting on the charges, Martyka is set to appear in court again for a pre-trial conference on October 29.
Martyka’s Alleged Residence in Racine
The complaint further alleges that Martyka primarily lived in Racine instead of South Milwaukee during her reelection campaign and when she voted on April 1. The position required her to reside in South Milwaukee.
Prosecutors highlighted that “a review of documentary evidence and witness statements shows that, in the 28 days preceding the election, Martyka was not residing in South Milwaukee,” but instead “resided in Racine with her spouse.”
In March, Martyka’s husband applied for a police officer position in South Milwaukee, listing Racine as his residence, which raised questions about their living arrangements. Investigations, including checks at addresses associated with Martyka, suggested she mainly resided in Racine.
The complaint noted that “the pattern shown in this instance is that Martyka is usually at the Racine residence in the morning hours,” aligning with a person living there. Additionally, cell phone records indicated Martyka was in South Milwaukee on election day but returned to Racine for the subsequent week.
This evidence led to conclusions that she “lived in Racine, came into South Milwaukee the day of the election to vote and await the results of the vote, and then returned to their residence in Racine after the election,” the complaint stated.
