Government Accountabilty Board flip flops on Fradette
From Sunshine Review
15 July 2008
The Government Accountability Board oversees political campaigns in Wisconsin for ethical integrity.
Fradette's event
Republican state Senate candidate Chad Fradette recently held an event where he passed out $128 worth of gas vouchers -- or 34 cents on every gallon of gas people pumped during the event on July 2nd in order to protest the required 9% mark up of gas prices by the state.[1]
The Board perceived the event as an attempt to bribe citizens for votes.
Board's Ruling
Fradette thought the board had signed off on the arrangement because of an e-mail to his campaign from Jonathan Becker, director of the board's ethics division. But he said he was not aware until after the event that Becker had suggested to the campaign that he call the district attorney on the matter.
"We felt we were in the right," Fradette said. "It was never our intent to bribe anybody for votes -- that's ridiculous."
However, the board rule unanimously against Fradette. The board does not have enforcement authority on the issue, however, meaning a prosecution decision will fall to Brown County District Attorney John Zakowski.[2]
References
- ↑ WBAY News, Gov't Accountability Board Believes Fradette's Payments Were Illegal, July 15, 2008
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Fradette accuses judge of bias, July 15, 2008
