61 Deep Pockets Give 11% of State Campaign Cash
State’s Leading Democrat Boasts Most Fat Cat Donors; Seven Top Givers Exceed Legal Contribution Limit
April 9, 2001
Madison - About five dozen individuals and families representing four-tenths of 1 percent of donors made 11 percent of the total large individual campaign contributions to legislative candidates and statewide officeholders in 1999-2000, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reported today.
Leading the way in collecting money from donors who gave $10,000 or more was Attorney General James Doyle, who along with Governor Scott McCallum ratcheted up their fund-raising machines for the race for the governor’s office in 2002. Doyle received $221,532 from these wealthy contributors (Table 1), followed by former Governor Tommy Thompson who received $110,950 and McCallum who received $78,499.
Seven fat-cat donors, including Chicago Blackhawks hockey team owner and liquor wholesaler William Wirtz, violated campaign finance laws by contributing more than $10,000 in a single year or to a single candidate, according to campaign finance records filed with the state Elections Board (Table 2). Five of them contributed several thousand dollars to Doyle, one made all of his contributions to Thompson and another contributed to 14 Assembly and Senate Republican candidates.
Topping the list is Jim Thompson of Wegner & Associates in Madison who contributed a total of $11,750 in 2000, including $5,000 to Doyle and $6,750 to 13 Democratic Senate and Assembly candidates.
In all, 61 families and individuals contributed $10,000 or more during the 1999-2000 election cycle (Table 3). They represent four-tenths of 1 percent of the 16,938 individuals or families that made large contributions ($100 or more). Their contributions totaled $894,829, which was 11 percent of the $8.4 million in total large individual contributions.
Total contributions from these well-heeled donors averaged $14,669 in 1999-2000. By comparison, total contributions from the remaining large contributors averaged $444. The $894,829 contributed by the 61 families was equal to 35 percent of the $2.55 million in total small contributions (under $100). The average small contribution is $25.
“The way our elections are being financed is profoundly undemocratic,” WDC executive director Mike McCabe said. “Tremendous damage is done to the democratic ideal of one person, one vote when just 61 households in a state of over five million people play such a disproportionate role in paying for campaigns. Your average citizen will never have the access or influence that the handful of big donors who are giving the serious money enjoy. The sad truth is that $10,000 gets you a lot more clout than one vote or one $25 check."
Four of the top five fat-cat contributors were owners of construction companies, which are one of the most influential and generous special interests that lobby the State Capitol. Overall, a total of 12 - one in five - contributors who gave $10,000 or more were involved in the building or road construction industries.
The largest contributors were Robert, Thomas D. and Thomas J. Baker and their families, who are executives with CD Smith Construction Co. in Fond du Lac. They contributed $35,094, most of it to former Gov. Thompson and others on March 26, 1999, only two weeks after receiving a $29.5 million no-bid prison building contract by the State Building Commission then chaired by Thompson. In addition to the Bakers, Gary M. Smith, another CD Smith executive, and his wife contributed $13,775 in 1999-2000, much of it in March 1999.
Thirteen members of the Zignego family, which owns the Zignego Co. in Waukesha, made 96 contributions totaling $26,400. Though members of the construction industry, they primarily support pro-life candidates. Unlike previous election cycles when the family gave to candidates in their own legislative districts, the Zignegos contributed thousands of dollars to legislative candidates throughout the state in the 2000 elections.
The Cullen family, owners of JP Cullen & Sons, a Janesville construction company, contributed $25,850 to mostly Republican candidates in 1999-2000. The Cullens had been one of Gov. Thompson’s largest contributors and the family owned company was awarded more than $98 million in major state construction projects between 1991 and 1999.
The largest individual contributor in 1999-2000 was Jim Thompson at $16,830. He was followed closely by Darshan Dhaliwal, a Milwaukee-area gasoline station owner, who contributed $16,400 during the two years.
Follow these links for a more detailed look at the sources and amounts of campaign contributions to Doyle and McCallum.
TABLE 1
TOP RECIPIENTS OF 'FAT CAT' CONTRIBUTIONS
| CANDIDATE | OFFICE | PARTY | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doyle, Jim | Attorney General | D | $221,532 |
| Thompson, Tommy G | Governor | R | $110,950 |
| McCallum, Scott | Governor/Lt Governor | R | $78,499 |
| Kapanke, Dan | SD 32 (open seat - loser) | R | $27,050 |
| Harsdorf, Sheila | SD 10 (challenger - winner) | R | $26,280 |
| Jensen, Scott R | AD 32 - Assembly Speaker | R | $18,977 |
| Drzewiecki, Gary | SD 30 (incumbent - loser) | R | $18,459 |
| Chvala, Chuck | SD 16 - Senate Majority Leader | D | $18,400 |
| Nelson, Lisa B. | SD 16 (challenger - loser) | R | $17,500 |
| Darling, Alberta | SD 8 (incumbent - winner) | R | $17,150 |
| Lazich, Mary | SD 28 (incumbent - winner) | R | $16,450 |
| Hansen, Dave | SD 30 (challenger - winner) | D | $14,150 |
| Panzer, Mary | SD 20 - Senate Minority Leader | R | $13,400 |
| Meyer, Mark | SD 32 (open seat - winner) | D | $12,625 |
| George, Gary | SD 6 (unopposed) | D | $11,650 |
| Duecker, Dave | SD 22 (challenger - loser) | R | $10,950 |
| Roessler, Carol | SD 18 (incumbent - winner) | R | $10,325 |
TABLE 2
CONTRIBUTORS WHO EXCEEDED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
| CONTRIBUTOR | CITY | BUSINESS | AMOUNT | PROBLEM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson, James C | Madison | Wegner & Associates | $11,750 |
Exceeded $10,000 limit for 2000: -$5,000 to Doyle, -$1,000 to Sen. Hansen, -$5,750 to 12 Assembly Democratic candidates. |
| Weinstein, Frances | Madison |
Housewife (General Beverage) |
$11,250 |
Exceeded $10,000 limit for 2000: -$7,500 to Doyle, -$3,250 to Sens. Hansen, Chvala and the SSDC, -$500 to Reps. Riley, Waukau and the ADCC. |
| Weinstein, I Bernard | Englewood, NJ | Daniel Weinstein Associates | $11,250 | Exceeded $10,000 limit for 2000, contributions same as Frances Weinstein. |
| Minkoff, Joel | Madison | General Beverage | $10,875 |
Exceeded $10,000 limit for 2000: -$7,500 to Doyle, -$3,250 to Sens. Hansen, Chvala and the SSDC, -$125 to Rep. Waukau. |
| Dahlberg, James | Madison | UW Professor | $10,500 | Exceeded $10,000 campaign limit to a candidate by contributing $10,500 to Doyle. |
| Wirtz, William R | Chicago, IL | Wirtz Corp | $10,500 | Exceeded $10,000 limit for 2000 and campaign limit to a candidate by contributing $10,500 to Thompson. |
| Ziegler, Margaret | West Bend |
Housewife (Ziegler/Limbach Co) |
$10,425 | Exceeded $10,000 limit for 2000 by contributing $8,475 to nine GOP Senate candidates and $1,950 to five GOP Assembly candidates. |
TABLE 3
Contributors of $10,000 or More in Contributions of $100 or More
1999-2000
| CONTRIBUTOR | CITY | STATE | BUSINESS | TOTAL |
Number of Contributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Family | Fond du Lac | WI | CD Smith Construction | $35,094 | 21 |
| Zignego Family | Waukesha | WI | Zignego Co | $26,400 | 96 |
| Cullen Family | Janesville | WI | JP Cullen & Sons | $25,850 | 72 |
| Bader, Daniel & Linda | Milwaukee | WI | Bader Foundation/Social Worker | $23,650 | 14 |
| Mathy Family | La Crosse | WI | Mathy Construction | $22,900 | 49 |
| Paul, Judi & Terrance | Madison | WI | Advantage Learning System | $22,700 | 11 |
| Kohler, Mary & Terry | Sheboygan | WI | Windway Capital | $22,350 | 38 |
| Broydrick Family | Delafield | WI | Broydrick & Associates | $21,050 | 77 |
| Thompson, Lea Ann & Jim | Madison | WI | Beautiful Control Cosmetics/Wegner & Assoc | $20,660 | 23 |
| Ziegler Family | West Bend | WI | BC Ziegler Co | $20,425 | 51 |
| Abele, Dacy & Chris | Milwaukee | WI | Steri Logic Waste Systems | $20,000 | 2 |
| Dhaliwal, Darshan & Debra | Mequon | WI | Bulk Petroleum | $19,400 | 22 |
| Sadoff Family | Fond du Lac | WI | Badger Liquor | $19,346 | 27 |
| Samson Family | Milwaukee | WI | Liberty Bank | $17,035 | 21 |
| Bechthold Family | Delafield | WI | Payne & Dolan | $16,777 | 101 |
| Kraemer Family | Plain | WI | Kraemer Brothers Construction | $16,250 | 25 |
| Michels Family | Brownsville | WI | Michels Pipeline Construction | $15,800 | 43 |
| Murphy, Ann & Patrick | Green Bay | WI | Murphy Development | $15,359 | 21 |
| Garton, Joseph & Deirdre Wilson | Madison | WI | Quiveys Grove/Attorney | $15,200 | 13 |
| Kennedy Family | Janesville | WI | Rock Road Companies | $14,606 | 71 |
| Rosenberg, Jack & Lucille Glicklich | Milwaukee | WI | Telecheck Wisconsin/Psychiatrist | $14,500 | 20 |
| Kraemer Family | Maple Bluff | WI | Edward Kraemer & Sons Construction | $14,475 | 53 |
| OToole, Robert & Ruth Collopy | River Hills | WI | AO Smith Corp | $14,425 | 39 |
| Hanson, Thomas & Lois | Madison | WI | Hanson Service Corp | $14,190 | 67 |
| Smith, Gary M & Janet | Fond du Lac | WI | CD Smith Construction | $13,775 | 9 |
| Gellatt Family | La Crosse | WI | Northern Engraving/Northern Micrographics | $13,750 | 28 |
| Heller, James & Avis | River Hills | WI | Data Exchange Corp | $13,450 | 20 |
| Hastings, Frank C & Dawn | Madison | WI | JH Findorff & Son | $13,450 | 11 |
| McKeithan, Daniel & Patricia | Milwaukee | WI | Tamarack Petroleum Co/Miller Brewing | $13,400 | 35 |
| Zeppos, Evan & Adina | Milwaukee | WI | Zeppos Public Relations | $12,998 | 54 |
| Ahern Family | Fond du Lac | WI | JF Ahern Co | $12,875 | 31 |
| Weinstein, Frances | Middleton | WI | Housewife (General Beverage) | $12,550 | 14 |
| Weinstein, I Bernard | Englewood | NJ | Daniel Weinstein Associates | $12,550 | 14 |
| Fitzsimonds, Roger L & Leona | River Hills | WI | Firstar Bank | $12,410 | 43 |
| Jones, Allan & Janis | Cleveland | TN | Check into Cash Inc | $12,400 | 42 |
| Marcus Family | Milwaukee | WI | Marcus Corp | $11,950 | 50 |
| Taylor, Don L & Carol | Waukesha | WI | Waukesha State Bank | $11,895 | 53 |
| Knox Family | Jefferson | WI | WD Hoard & Sons/Riverside Consulting | $11,530 | 46 |
| Brogan, John & Gisela | Green Bay | WI | Wisconsin Converting Co | $11,500 | 4 |
| Wigdale, James & Elizabeth | Milwaukee | WI | M&I Bank | $11,450 | 33 |
| Mann Family | Elkhorn | WI | Mann Brothers Construction | $11,450 | 52 |
| Essie, Patrick & Mara | Madison | WI | Essie Public Affairs | $11,425 | 33 |
| Talley, J Ernest | Plano | TX | Renters Choice | $11,300 | 16 |
| Darrow Family | West Bend | WI | Russ Darrow Group | $11,284 | 27 |
| Noel Family | Stevens Point | WI | Noel Group | $11,250 | 5 |
| Kuester, Dennis & Sandra S | Mequon | WI | M&I Bank | $11,225 | 44 |
| Johnson Family | Racine | WI | Johnson Wax | $11,050 | 19 |
| Mitchell, George & Susan | Whitefish Bay | WI | Mitchell Group | $11,000 | 62 |
| Minkoff, Joel | Madison | WI | General Beverage | $10,875 | 7 |
| Uihlein Family | Milwaukee | WI | U-Line Corp | $10,750 | 29 |
| Dahlberg, James | Madison | WI | University of Wisconsin Professor | $10,650 | 5 |
| Habush, Robert | Milwaukee | WI | Habush, Habush, et al | $10,600 | 21 |
| Hanson, David & Linda Bochert | Madison | WI | Michael, Best & Friedrich | $10,550 | 9 |
| Cornellier Family | Beloit | WI | Cornellier Fireworks | $10,545 | 88 |
| Wirtz, William R | Chicago | IL | Wirtz Corp | $10,500 | 3 |
| Ames, Steve & Debbie | Wesley Chapel | FL | No Employer Listed | $10,000 | 2 |
| Walsh, David | Madison | WI | Foley & Lardner | $10,000 | 3 |
| Ocepek, Anthony S | Palm Beach | FL | OmniAmerica | $10,000 | 1 |
| Cohen, Bliss | Appleton | WI | Kimberly Clark Corp | $10,000 | 1 |
| Doyle, Ruth | Madison | WI | Retired | $10,000 | 2 |
| Huelsman, Joanne & A William | Waukesha | WI | Legislator/Berg Management | $10,000 | 11 |
| Total Contributions: $894,829 | |||||
