Galesville council member files restraining order against city mayor

Citing multiple incidents in which he claims to have been harassed, slandered or intimidated, Galesville city council member Tory-Kale Schulz was granted a temporary restraining order against city Mayor Vince Howe last week.

The petition for the order was applied for and granted by Trempealeau County Circuit Court Judge Rian Radtke last week Wednesday and will be effective until an injunction hearing at the county government center in Whitehall this coming Tuesday.

Neither Schulz nor Howe responded to the Times’ request for comment.

In the petition filed with the court, Schulz stated he has “tried to stop (Howe’s) behavior in multiple ways, but nothing has worked.” He wrote that he has attempted to get the Galesville Police Department involved, but because Schulz’s brother is an officer with the department and his mother-in-law has a relationship with the Galesville Chief of Police “I have been told that conflict of interest prevents me from having a conversation with the Galesville Police Department. Nobody will take the concerns I have seriously. Most people just say, ‘that’s just Vince.’” 

Schulz wrote about several instances, dating back to September of 2022. Among those Schulz included in his petition was an incident last December, which he reported to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department. That incident was covered by the Times, the story reported that Howe told a deputy that he planned to consider a restraining order against Schulz. That information was found in a police report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

“Many people have found this article online, including my children and distant family members,” Schulz wrote. “It has caused me significant harm and stress explaining that I have never once committed an act that would warrant a restraining order to be placed against me by Vincent Howe, whereas I have been advised to seek one against him.”

That story followed an article regarding Howe’s decision to remove Schulz from three committees. Schulz said at the time and again in the report filed with the county circuit court that he was never given a reason. However, Howe met with Benjamin Pierce of the Times to “give his reasons.” 

“He was quoted as saying it was because of my ‘behavior’ and went on to give false statements that have absolutely harmed my reputation in the community,” Schulz wrote. 

Schulz went on to write that the business he and his wife own has suffered due to statements Howe made in the Times. 

Schulz also wrote that Howe has driven by his house on numerous occasions, saying that he and his wife noticed Howe slow down and look “in our direction at concerning hours of the day, such as on March 27 at 8:25 p.m.” Schulz wrote that Howe also drives by their business and slows down considerably “to stare inside, causing my wife and I alarm.” 

The report filed with Judge Radtke ended with a paragraph in which Schulz wrote that he “understands” that he needs to work with Howe and that he knows he can do so. 

“It is my hope that this order will forcefully restrain him from continuing his past behavior,” Schulz wrote.