ABOUT SAMANTHA
Samantha is a lifelong resident of Kenosha County. She is a proud graduate of Wilmot High School and UW Whitewater, where she majored in Political Science. Her education, experience, genuine spirit, and tenacity led her to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly. First elected in 2000, she was the longest serving Republican in the Assembly until her election as County Executive in April of 2022.
During her time serving in Wisconsin Legislature, Samantha developed a common theme in her work: a passionate desire to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. Knowing how easily government can get out of hand, Samantha considered it her calling to seek and eliminate abuses of taxpayer money and trust. She was a member of many committees during her time in the Assembly, and chaired three in her dedication to this issue:
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Budget Review, 2003 and 2005
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Ways and Means, 2009
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Joint Audit, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021
As County Executive, Kerkman’s focus has been on public safety, infrastructure, and human services. Highlights in these areas include:
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Funding for additional deputies, detectives, a data analyst and an internship program in the Sheriff’s Department.
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Support for the continued maintenance of county highways as well as road improvement projects in partnership with the state, local municipalities, and private developers.
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The strategic deployment of opioid settlement funds, the enactment of an innovative contract with Lake Behavioral Hospital, and the ongoing development of a state-of-the-art Human Services facility in the heart of the community.
She is the mother of two sons: Ian, a 2024 Wilmot Union High School graduate and a UW-Madison student, and Evan, a 2025 Wilmot Union High School a future UW-Madison student.