KENOSHA, WI — Brian Sheffler, Kenosha County’s Register in Probate and Juvenile Clerk, formally announced his candidacy for Kenosha County Clerk of Circuit Court. The announcement follows the decision by current Clerk Rebecca Matoska-Mentink not to seek another term, opening the door for new leadership in one of the courthouse’s most critical administrative roles.

A graduate of Bradford High School and the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Sheffler has devoted his professional life to the Kenosha County judicial community and is eager to bring a fresh perspective and modern approach to the Clerk’s office. “I’m eager to share my vision for a more accessible, efficient, and navigable judicial system in Kenosha County,” he said. “My story started as a courthouse intern, and it has been a life’s honor to serve in various capacities in the legal and justice community.” Absent a Democratic primary, the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Sheffler’s more than 25 years in the legal and courthouse community provide a depth of experience. He first came to the Kenosha County Courthouse as a high school intern through Bradford’s Co-Op program, later worked as a legal assistant at law firms across Kenosha and Racine Counties, and became Municipal Court Clerk for the Village of Pleasant Prairie in 2010. In 2018, he was unanimously appointed Register in Probate and Juvenile Clerk by all eight Kenosha County circuit court judges — a role in which he has overseen hundreds of probate cases, guardianships, and sensitive juvenile matters each year. When our courts faced disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and the riots of 2020, Sheffler helped ensure operations continued and was instrumental in safely reopening the courts. “I look forward to meeting thousands of neighbors across our county to hear what they feel needs to be improved, and to tell them about why I want to be their next Clerk of Circuit Court,” he said. With decades of experience, Sheffler is best positioned to strengthen partnerships between judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and the broader Kenosha community that make the judicial system function. “Access to justice is your constitutional right and I will ensure Court operations guarantees that,” he said. “Court administration is more than just filling out forms, it’s about helping people.” His platform prioritizes access to the courts, a high standard of public service, and fiscally responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Active in the Kenosha County community, Sheffler is a founding member of the Pleasant Prairie Historical Society, a longtime supporter of the Kenosha Chamber Choir, Kindred Kitties, the Lakeland Animal Shelter, and the Wisconsin Humane Society. He also currently serves as President of the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association and President of the Board of Directors for the HOPE Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs. He is a member of the Wisconsin Juvenile Court Clerk’s Association and a past member and committee chair of the Wisconsin Municipal Court Clerk’s Association. Sheffler served as a district mentor for new clerks in Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties. He has sharpened his expertise through the Municipal Court Clerks Institute, Kenosha County’s Living as a Leader Program, the Master Class for Civic and Public Affairs at UW–Green Bay, and programming through the National Association of Counties and the National Center for State Courts. 

Voters can learn more about Brian Sheffler at www.brian4kenosha.com or join us at an announcement event to be announced shortly.