Judge Denies Degenhardt’s Petition For No Contact Order

A judge on Monday ruled that East Dubuque Mayor Randy Degenhardt is not a victim of stalking by his predecessor, Kirk VanOstrand. Earlier this month, Degenhardt filed a petition in Jo Daviess County Circuit Court asking for the issuance of a stalking/no-contact order against former Mayor Kirk VanOstrand, whom Degenhardt said had harassed him for months with demands that he fire City Manager Loras Herrig. At a hearing Monday, Judge John Hay denied Degenhardt’s petition, finding that he did not meet the burden of proof that VanOstrand’s behavior constituted stalking. VanOstrand’s attorney, Craig Brown, argued that his client’s behavior was political speech and protected under the First Amendment.