Washington County Board Halts Memorial Highway Sign Proposal

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Washington County Board's executive committee voted to forward a proposal to name a portion of County Trunk Highway K as 'Charlie J. Kirk Way' to the full county board, but the board chairman has now issued a statement saying the matter is no longer under consideration, raising questions about the chairman's authority to unilaterally dismiss an issue already forwarded to the board.

Why it matters

The proposal to name a highway after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew strong opposition from the public, with over 250 emails and phone calls against the idea. The county board's decision on this issue could impact upcoming supervisor elections, where all 21 seats are up for grabs.

The details

The executive committee voted to forward the naming proposal and a related $50,000 funding request to the full county board, despite an overwhelming public backlash. However, board chairman Jeffrey Schleif has now issued a statement saying the matter is no longer under consideration, though it's unclear if he has the authority to unilaterally dismiss an issue already forwarded to the board.

• The executive committee discussed the proposal at its March 18, 2026 meeting.
• The full county board was expected to vote on the proposal at its April 21, 2026 meeting.
• The April 7, 2026 spring election will determine all 21 county board supervisor seats.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Calls have been placed to multiple county supervisors to determine if the board chairman has the authority to dismiss an issue already forwarded to the full county board for a vote.