Union claims retaliation against officer, alleges media leak harmed reputation, calls for mayor’s intervention to address low morale.
Browsing Category Mayor Jim Paine
Mayor Jim Paine—The “Self-Care” Mayor Who Sends You the Bill
(SoupNutz fires up the snark furnace for Superior’s top seat-warmer.)

42 % Raise, 0 % Added Value
Since 2018, the Mayor’s Office ballooned 42 percent—no new staff, no new services, just fatter paychecks for two people. That’s administrative inflation even Weimar would side-eye.
$50K “Nap Money”
The city spent $50,000 on a “neutral” investigation so Mayor Jim could—his words—“sleep well at night.” Call it taxpayer-funded melatonin.
Text-Gate: Scripted Democracy
Leaked messages read like City Hall rehearsing a coup. Apparently the mayor prefers his public forums pre-taped and spoiler-free.
Budget Extras: Champagne Taste, Two-Person Crew
2026 budget lists $312,168 for just Mayor Paine and his “Chief of Overtime.” Extras jumped 17 percent in one year, mostly health insurance. Nice benefits—shame about the roads.
Wetlands & Family Deals
Emails hint the mayor may have used city muscle to smooth a family property project. If true, that’s not public service— that’s home-improvement–with-benefits.
Tourism Titanic
Under his watch, Superior’s visitor numbers sank like the Edmund Fitzgerald. Leadership? More like absence-ship. tourism flop column
“I Can Sleep at Night”—We Can’t
When residents crowd-fund alley repairs and sip lead-flavored water, hearing the mayor brag about shut-eye feels like a lullaby played on our last nerve.
Mic-Drop
Hey, Jim Paine: Self-care is cool, but maybe try self-funding next time. Superior doesn’t need another mission-statement mug; it needs paved streets and pipes that won’t pickle the kids.
#SelfCareMayor
#BudgetBloat
#TourismTank
FEDERAL COURT – Mayor Paine Takes Over Police Grievance
Mayor Jim Paine addresses a sensitive police grievance, highlighting the intricate relationship between authority and personnel issues.
FEDERAL COURT: Police Union Letter to the Mayor Paine
Union disputes over police discipline in Superior raise concerns about trust and morale within the department, impacting taxpayers.
FEDERAL COURT:Written Warning Paine in the LeRette Case
Investigation reveals serious policy violations by Officer LeRette, raising accountability concerns for taxpayers in Superior, Wisconsin.
FEDERAL COURT: LeRette Forces City to Produce Records
City of Superior faces scrutiny over public records in LeRette case, raising key questions on GPS data and transparency in police operations.
This Memorial Day City Hall Gets a Legal Sunburn
Memorial Day weekend reveals dramatic union tensions in Superior, WI, amid LeRette case filings and controversial city actions.
Superior’s Civil Rights Storm Clouds Are Gathering
Examining patterns in police actions reveals a troubling trend in accountability and transparency that demands urgent attention.
Soupnutz Add-On: The Weird Stuff In Mayor Jim’s Office Budget
Superior’s mayor’s office budget is costly, featuring unique line items like overtime and a Chief of Staff, raising questions about taxpayer value.
Superior’s Paine Premium Strikes Again
Superior’s mayor’s office budget outpaces peers, costing residents more for less. Explore the spending disparity and its implications.
Mayor Jim Paines Re-Election Platform Is Direct Deposit
Local politics morph into a lifestyle as teachers and city workers keep communities running while politicians evade regular life.