Mayor of East Dubuque Asks For No Contact Order Against Van Ostrand

The Mayor of East Dubuque, Randy Degenhardt, has asked a court to issue a stalking/no-contact order against his predecessor, Kirk VanOstrand, after what Degenhardt describes as months of harassment and demands to fire the city manager. Reports say Degenhardt has filed a petition in Jo Daviess County Circuit Court against VanOstrand. A judge denied a request for an emergency order, but a hearing in the case is scheduled for April 25th. Degenhardt wrote in his petition that he has been harassed by VanOstrand since October. VanOstrand unexpectedly resigned his position as mayor in October, citing recent health issues. He had served in the role since 2019, following five years on the City Council. Degenhardt had served on the council for more than 46 years when in November he was appointed by his fellow council members to fill the remainder of VanOstrand’s mayoral term, which expires in 2023. In his petition, Degenhardt wrote that since October, VanOstrand has repeatedly contacted him over the phone, at his home and at City Hall, often screaming or using offensive language and demanding that Degenhardt fire City Manager Loras Herrig.