Eric Brooks, a member of the Waukesha School Board, was arrested in Eau Claire on Oct. 16 on suspicion of first-offense operating while intoxicated, and he was formally cited three days later. The board member is facing citations as an education advocacy group calls on him to step down immediately.
According to jsonline.com, Brooks was cited Oct. 19 for first-offense operating while intoxicated and operating without headlights.
First-Offense OWI in Wisconsin
Under Wisconsin law, a first-offense OWI is classified as a civil infraction punishable by a forfeiture rather than a criminal charge, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Separately, the Eau Claire County Clerk of Courts notes that failing to submit a written not-guilty plea by the stated deadline results in a default judgment for the fine or forfeiture amount listed on the citation, according to Eau Claire County.
Parent Group Calls for Resignation
The Alliance for Education in Waukesha has urged Brooks to immediately step down from the school board, according to jsonline.com. The group said Waukesha students and families deserve board members better than Eric Brooks. Brooks' term on the board is scheduled to end in 2027, and the Waukesha School District's board code of conduct states that members should conduct themselves with integrity, honesty, and in a manner that reflects positively on the board and on the district, per the same report.
From the Classroom to the Campaign Trail
Brooks won his seat on the Waukesha School Board as a newcomer in the April 2024 election, according to gmtoday.com, pulling in 10,656 votes, or 21.1% of the vote. Outside the board, Brooks works as a campaign staffer for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany, and he previously worked as a special education paraprofessional in the Wauwatosa School District, both according to jsonline.com.
Attempts to reach Brooks, the Tiffany campaign, and Waukesha Schools Superintendent James Sebert for comment were unsuccessful, the outlet reported. No response from Brooks, the campaign, or the district has been made public as of this writing.
