MADISON — Wisconsin's longtime chief elections official Kevin Kennedy is retiring before the board he currently heads is eliminated in July.



Kennedy announced his intentions Tuesday, May 10th to retire on June 29th. That is two days before the Government Accountability Board which he heads is dissolved and reconstituted as two separate commissions.



In a letter Kennedy wrote and was delivered on Sunday, he said the following:



"For the past 37 years and three months I have been privileged to work with a cadre of exceptionally dedicated and knowledgeable co-workers. The quality of their endeavors is reflected in the high degree of public confidence in the programs administered by the agency as well as the national reputation the agency has earned as a leader and model in the areas of campaign finance, elections, ethics and lobbying. Simply put, I could not have done my job without their exemplary work."



The 64-year-old Kennedy has worked for the state on elections for 37 years. He first served on the state Elections Board as an attorney and then executive director from 1982 to 2007. He then served as head of the GAB from 2007 until his retirement.



Kennedy drew the ire of many Republican state lawmakers who voted to do away with the nonpartisan board and replace it with the new elections and ethics commissions consisting of partisan appointees.