Updated: January 17, 2006
HIJACKING CAMPAIGN 2002
Independent Expenditures
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Listed below are the PACs that reported independent expenditures in the 2002 legislative campaign. Links to information on any past independent spending since 2000 are provided when available and total PAC contributions to legislative candidates during the last election cycle are provided when applicable. Total Independent Spending: $47,058 SEIU District 1199/Quality Professionals for Healthcare is a statewide labor union representing the interests of health-care workers in public and private employment. 1199 was the first PAC to report spending in the 2002 gubernatorial race with support in the primary going to Democratic candidate Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. This PAC supported the winner of that primary and the general election, Jim Doyle, with independent expenditures of $7,634. Spending on: Governor No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $14,500 Total Independent Spending: $43,409 The treasurer of this group is Mark Sostarich, former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Todd Rongstad's Valkyrie Group, known for its highly negative attack ads against Democrats in the 2000 elections and its controversial 2002 involvement with the Alliance for a Working Wisconsin, crafted its advertisements. The group's oath stated that it intended to spend money against several Republican candidates for the State Assembly and in support of a write-in campaign for Senator Peggy Rosenzweig (R-Wauwatosa), who was defeated in the September primary by the eventual winner of that race, Tom Reynolds. Spending on: Assembly District 79 and Senate District 5 No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $200 This Manitowoc-based PAC registered with the State Elections Board on November 4 2002, the day before the election. It placed a single ad in the Manitowoc paper, the Herald Times Reporter supporting Republican Scott McCallum and opposing his Demcoratic challenger Jim Doyle. The treasurer of the organization, Randy Brice, bore the entire cost himself. Spending on: Governor No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $9,376 Healthy Wisconsin State PAC (formerly Friends of Health & Hospitals) is the political action committee of the Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association. It not only makes independent expenditures but also makes substantial direct contributions to candidates. The Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association also has a conduit through which its individual members can make candidate contributions. During the 2001-2002 election cycle, this conduit, Healthy Wisconsin Direct Givers Program, contributed at least $73,138 to candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and legislature. Spending on: Assembly Districts 13, 23, 30, 36, 38, 51, 67, 79, 87, 90 and Senate Districts 5, 17, 23 No 2000 Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $11,905 Total Independent Spending: $1,014 Sponsored by the Milwaukee chapter of the Human Rights League for Lesbians and Gays, this PAC seeks to elect candidates who will defend and promote equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals. Although it has made some very modest candidate contributions in the past, this is its first foray into Spending on: Governor, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Assembly Districts 8, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 48, 62, 73, 76, 77, 78, 81, and Senate Districts 3 and 5. No 2000 Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $3,500 Total Independent Spending: $15,918 This group was mostly funded by labor PAC money from such committees as the Northern Wisconsin Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 139, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, and Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin. The group was chaired by former State Senator Kevin Shibilski (D-Stevens Point) who was appointed Secretary of Tourism by Governor Doyle, a post he resigned in April when his connection to the "issue ad" group Alliance for a Working Wisconsin was revealed. Spending on: Governor No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $1,097 UniServ (regional association) of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that represents public school teachers, educational support personnel, technical college employees, and student teachers in Kenosha. It last made independent expenditures in the 1998 gubernatorial race when it spent $750 on behalf of the Garvey-Lawton campaign. It favored the Democratic candidate for governor. Spending on: Governor No 2000 Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $7,000 Total Independent Spending: $16,816 UniServ (regional association) of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that represents public school teachers, educational support personnel, technical college employees, and student teachers in the Sheboygan area. Spending on: Senate District 9 No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $4,000 Total Independent Spending: $4,627 The Milwaukee Police Association is the union for the City of Milwaukee police officers. It favored the Republican candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Spending on: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Assembly Districts 9, 14, 21, and Senate Districts 3, 5 and 7 No 2000 Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $20,150 Total Independent Spending: $15,039 Political action committee of the pro-choice movement. This is the first year this PAC has made independent expenditures in Wisconsin. It favored the Democratic candidate for governor. Spending on: Governor No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $1,151 This organization first registered with the State Elections Board on October 25, 2002, in favor of Republican Rep. Lorraine Seratti. This PAC is chaired by Richard Krawze, a Seratti contributor and vice-president of the Pine River Lumber Co. Like Krawze, most of the individuals contributing to this PAC are past or present Seratti contributors and all of those with identifiable occupations are in lumber-related industries. Spending on: Assembly District 36 No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $88 This is the union that represents construction workers in the Superior area. It favored the Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Spending on: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Assembly Districts 28, 73 , 74 and Senate District 25. No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $200 Total Independent Spending: $1,986 Carpenters union based in Kaukana, Wisconsin. Although it has given direct contributions to candidates in the past, this is the first time this PAC has made independent expenditures. All of its independent expenditures were in support of Jim Doyle's gubernatorial campaign. Spending on: Governor No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $11,250 Total Independent Spending: $768Independent Spending Rank: 29 UniServ (regional association) of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that represents public school teachers, educational support personnel, technical college employees, and student teachers in northwestern Wisconsin. Spending on: Assembly Districts 28, 67, 87 and Senate District 23. No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $18,750 Total Independent Spending: $39,227 The NRA Political Victory Fund supports pro-gun candidates. Spending on: Governor Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $7,500 Total Independent Spending: $1,341 Independent Spending Rank: 25 The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) is a trade union that represents heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors in the construction industry. Local #139 has the second largest construction labor union political action committee (PAC) in Wisconsin. The Operating Engineers also have a conduit that gave a minimum of $975 to candidates during the 2001-2002 election cycle. This is the first time this PAC has made independent expenditures since 1996. All of its independent expenditures were in favor of Jim Doyle for governor. Spending on: Governor No 2000 Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $63,178 Total Independent Spending: $13,510 PAC registered in 2002 by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, a reproductive health care advocacy organization. At the time of its registration, Planned Parenthood already had another PAC, Planned Parenthood Advocates, through which it had made both independent expenditures and candidate contributions in the past. Apparently, this PAC was registered for the sole purpose of making independent expenditures in the races listed below. It uniformly supported the Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. During the 2001-02 election cycle, Planned Parenthood Advocates made contributions of $8,338 to candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and the legislature. The PAC also made $3,600 in independent expenditures during the two special elections for the legislature held in 2001. Spending on: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Assembly Districts 13, 28, 67, 70 , 79 and Senate Districts 5 and 21. 2000 Independent Spending as Planned Parenthood Advocates Total Independent Spending: $600 As its name suggests Pro-Life Wisconsin's Victory Fund support candidates opposed to abortion. It made its first appearance in the 2000 election when it was much more active. In the governor's race it favored Scott McCallum, the Republican incumbent. Spending on: Governor and Senate Districts 5 and 15. Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $4,600 Total Independent Spending: $29,834 This is the political action committee of the Wisconsin Realtors Association, one of the most financially active interest group organizations in Wisconsin politics. In the last two election cycles, the Realtors PAC placed among the top six highest political committee contributors, 2nd in the 1999-2000 cycle and 6th in the most recent. The association's conduit, the Realtors Direct Giver Program, is yet another way it seeks to influence campaigns. The conduit gave more than $182,400 to candidates in the last election cycle. Spending on: Assembly Districts 28, 43, 49, 79 and 87. Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $90,850 Total Independent Spending: $656,664Independent Spending Rank: 2 This union represents service workers in health care, public service, security services and a wide variety of other economic sectors. The SEIU made an early commitment to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk's Democratic candidacy for governor with a number of SEIU branches from around the country registering PACs with the Wisconsin State Elections Board so they could make contributions to her campaign. This particular SEIU PAC is based in Washington, D.C. and sponsored by the national union's head office. All Spending on: Governor's Democratic primary race only No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $81,067 Total Independent Spending: $41,015 A branch of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), this Labor union represents over 5,000 health care workers in Wisconsin. As with all the other SEIU branches involved in this election, it backed the unsuccessful primary candidacy of Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for the Democratic nomination for governor and all of its independent expenditures were on behalf of her campaign as were all its direct contributions to the gubernatorial campaign ($10,000). Spending on: Governor's Democratic primary race only No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $13,000 Total Independent Spending: $270 Political action committee comprised of educators in the Sheboygan school district and an affiliate of WEAC. This is the first time this group has made independent expenditures. The last time it contributed to a candidate for state office was in 1998. Spending on: Senate District 9 No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $12,005Independent Spending Rank: 18 The Sierra Club is a grassroots environmental organization, a branch of the national organization based in California, and a registered lobbying organization with the Wisconsin Ethics Board. It has been making independent expenditures since the 1996 election cycle and pioneered the use of "issue ads." The Sierra Club consistently supported Democratic candidates. It spent only $100 on state races preferring to concentrate on legislative contests. Spending on: Governor, Attorney General, Assembly District 79, Senate Districts 9 and 21. Total Independent Spending: $5,433 UniServ (regional association) of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that represents public school teachers, educational support personnel, technical college employees, and student teachers in southwestern Wisconsin. It made at lest $600 in individual contributions through its conduit and five times that through its PAC. Spending on: Assembly District 49 Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $3,000 Total Independent Spending: $1,619 Formed in 1997, this Wauwatosa based political action committee was established to spread a message of "fiscal restraint and conservative ideals" and claims it opposes candidates of either party who fail to meet these criteria. Tosans is allied with Citizens for Responsible Government, a Milwaukee County based group that led the successful 2002 recall of the Milwaukee County Executive. Early in 2002 Tosans for Responsible Government created the Wisconsin Conservative Leadership Coalition to spread its ideals to the rest of the state. It publishes the Wisconsin Conservative Digest for this purpose. During the 2002 campaign it restricted its activity to the 5th Senate District where it spent over $900 in aiding Tom Reynolds successful primary challenge to the long-time district's Republican incumbent, Peggy Rosenzweig, and over $700 in opposition to his Democratic opponent in the general election. Spending on: Senate District 5 No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $128,419Independent Spending Rank: 3 This is the political committee of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau an organization devoted to agricultural interests and claims a Wisconsin membership of more than 48,000 families. It is affiliated with the American Farm Bureau. Volunteers for Agriculture has a long history of doing Spending on: Governor, Assembly Districts 1, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 49, 53, 67, 69, 70, 79, 86, 87, Senate Districts 9, 11, 13, 17, and 23. Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $11,116 Total Independent Spending:$1,396,273 The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) represents public school teachers, educational support personnel, technical college employees, and student teachers in Wisconsin. WEAC is among the largest contributors in Wisconsin politics. In addition to independent expenditures and contributions through its PAC, WEAC's two conduits, the Children's Great School Fund and United Staff Union (USUDGP) provided more than $68,546 in direct contributions to candidates in the last election cycle. WEAC has not restricted its campaign activity to independent expenditures and campaign contributions, activities it is required to report under current Wisconsin law, but has also branched into "issue ads." Spending on: Governor and Senate District 9. Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $112,100 Total Independent Spending: $37,704 Political Action Committee affiliated with the Wisconsin Builders Association, a statewide organization comprised of twenty -four local home builders associations throughout Wisconsin. The Builders Association's PAC is also generous with direct contributions to candidates, placing 9th in total PAC contributions during the 2001-02 election cycle. The association also has a conduit, the Builders Direct Fund, which transferred more than $164,289 to candidates for state office during the 2001-02 election cycle. Spending on: Governor, Assembly Districts 28, 43, 47, 49, 67, 69, 79, 86, 87, Senate Districts 17, 21, 23, 27. Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $53,325 Total Independent Spending: $21,619 This is Wisconsin's political action committee of the League of Conservation Voters, a pro-environment organization that informs the public about the environmental voting record of public officials. This is the first time this PAC has made independent expenditures. Spending on: Assembly District 79, Senate Districts 9 and 17. No Past Independent Spending Total Independent Spending: $7,397 Wisconsin Nurses Political Action Committee (WINPAC) is the political action arm of the Wisconsin Nurses Association. This PAC prefers independent expenditures as its primary method of influencing campaigns. It made no direct contributions to candidates during this election and no more than $300 during the previous three general election cycles. Spending on: Governor, Assembly Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 57, 60, 61, 62, 64, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 84, 85, 88, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, Senate Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 27, 29, and 31 Total Independent Spending: $756 Political action committee for AFSCME Councils 40 and 48, labor unions which represent state, county, and municipal employees. Council 48 represents local government employees in Milwaukee County. Council 40 is the Madison office representing county and municipal employees in the rest of the state. The Wisconsin People Conference prefers to make direct contributions to candidates. This is first time it has made any reported independent expenditures. Spending on: Assembly District 61 No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $55,700 Total Independent Spending: $15,812 The Wisconsin Professional Police Association represents the interests of Wisconsin law enforcement personnel, a task that requires lobbying the state government. This is the first time this group has made independent expenditures. Spending on: Governor No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $5,500 Total Independent Spending: $16,738 WI Right to Life is a pro-life advocacy organization. Spending on: Assembly Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 75, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, Senate Districts 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 29, 31 and 33. Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $26 Total Independent Spending: $18,386 Political action committee of Service Employees Union (SEIU), a labor union which primarily represents health care workers in public and private employment in Wisconsin. As with all the other SEIU affiliates (see above), this union chose to back the primary candidacy of Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for the Democratic nomination for governor. $15,694 of its independent expenditures went to her campaign. $607 backed then State Senator Kevin Shibilski's failed primary bid for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. The remainder was spent on behalf of then Attorney General Jim Doyle's successful campaign for governor. This is the first time this group has made independent expenditures. Spending on: Governor and Lieutenant Governor No Past Independent Spending Direct PAC Contributions to Candidates 2001-02: $10,141 Back • • Search our site
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