Campaign War Chests Bursting

Cash on hand up 124%, fundraising up 78% over four years ago

February 19, 2002

Madison - Legislators used the state budget to lure large special interest contributions and enter the 2002 election year with a formidable $4.3 million in their campaign war chests - 124 percent more than at the same time four years ago, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows.

Figures gleaned from the legislators’ campaign finance reports showed they raised $1.53 million between July and December 2001. That is 78 percent more than the $860,766 they raised during a comparable period four years ago and 11 percent more than the $1.38 million they raised during the comparable period two years ago. 

At the end of 2001, their campaign accounts totaled $4,256,067, which is 124 percent more than the $1.9 million in their campaign accounts at the end of 1997 and 42 percent more than the $3 million they had at the end of 1999. 

In addition to individual legislative committees, legislative leaders raised another $138,072 through their legislative campaign committees (See table). These LCCs, whose combined cash balances total $268,635, attract contributions from special interests and provide hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of money and services to candidates. 

With the November elections nine months away, these incumbents’ bloated war chests bode poorly for voters because they scare off competition, a substantive debate on the issues and fresh ideas. In 2000, 40 percent of legislative races were uncontested, but it appears big money’s presence even before the 2002 contest starts in legislative races could discourage even more challengers this year and give voters fewer choices at the ballot box. 

Most of the contributions flowed to those in the legislature with power as well as those seeking higher office because they hold the most sway over state spending and policy. 

Democratic Sens. Kevin Shibilski of Stevens Point and Brian Burke and Gary George, both of Milwaukee, led fundraising among senators. Shibilski, a member of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee that crafted most of the 2001-03 budget, raised $245,912. He is also the lone Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. 

Burke, Joint Finance co-chair and a candidate for attorney general, continued to be one of the most aggressive fundraisers in the Legislature in the second half of last year when he was a key budget player. He accepted $138,317. 

George, a former Joint Finance member and candidate for governor, raised $75,519. 

Burke also had the highest year-end cash balance among senators with $403,664 followed by Shibilski who had $300,763 and Republican Sen. Michael Ellis of Neenah, who had $184,395. 

In the Assembly, Speaker Scott Jensen, a Waukesha Republican, continued to be the leading fundraiser. He accepted $97,173, followed by 86^th District Republican Jerry Petrowski who raised $27,522. Republican Assembly Majority Leader Steven Foti of Oconomowoc accepted $26,670 in the last half of 2001. 

Jensen also had the largest year-end cash balance in the Assembly at $346,909, which is second only to Burke for the entire Legislature. Following Jensen were Assembly Minority Leader Spencer Black, a Madison Democrat, with $141,142 and Democrat Sheldon Wasserman of Milwaukee with $105,253. 

An analysis of Republican and Democratic fundraising and total campaign balances shows that majority Senate Democrats collectively raised more than three times that of Senate Republicans and their cash balances were more than double that of Republicans. In the Assembly, majority Republicans raised 3.5 times more than Assembly Democrats and they collectively had 85 percent more money in their campaign accounts than Democrats.

Senate	Democrats	Republicans
Amount Raised (July - December, 2001)	$678,205	$191,483
Cash on Hand (Dec. 31, 2001)	$1,332,196	$624,929
Assembly	Democrats	Republicans
Amount Raised (July - December, 2001)	$146,775	$517,201
Cash on Hand (Dec. 31, 2001)	$805,384	$1,493,558

In addition to the legislators, two of the state’s top five constitutional officers running for election this year raised and held a considerable amount of cash by the end of 2001. Gov. Scott McCallum led fundraising in the last half of 2001 by accepting $906,534 and had $2.4 million in his campaign account. Attorney General James Doyle, who is among those challenging McCallum, accepted $624,886 and had a cash balance of $1.3 million as of Dec. 31. 

Rep. Tom Barrett, a Democratic candidate for governor, incorrectly filled out his campaign finance report and in doing so failed to properly identify at least $4,200 from contributors who gave him more than $100 last year. His latest campaign finance report set July 1 as the beginning of his state campaign’s calendar year. As a result, employer/occupation information was not included for about two dozen contributors who gave him multiple contributions that totaled more than $100 because one of their contributions of $100 or less occurred during his first reporting period and their succeeding contributions were made after July 1. 

Tables

I. Total Raised By Constitutional Officers and Top Senate And Assembly Fund Raisers
II. Money Raised by Legislative Leadership Committees
III. Top War Chests as of Dec. 31, 2001
IV. Additional Challengers for Constitutional Offices Fundraising and Cash Balances
V. Total Raised and Spent by Partisan State Office Holders

I. Total Raised By Constitutional Officers
and Top Senate And Assembly Fund Raisers
July 1, 2001 - Dec. 31, 2001

Constitutional Officers		State Senators		State Representatives
Governor Scott McCallum*	$906,534	Kevin Shibilski* D - Stevens Point	$245,912	Scott Jensen R - Waukesha	$97,173
Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow*	$28,348	Brian Burke* D - Milwaukee	$138,317	Jerry Petrowski R - Marathon	$27,522
Attorney General James Doyle*	$624,886	Gary George* D - Milwaukee	$75,519	Steven Foti R - Oconomowoc	$26,670
Secretary of State Doug La Follette	$362	Kimberly Plache D - Racine	$62,953	Spencer Black D - Madison	$25,860
State Treasurer Jack Voight	$31,282	Peggy Rosenzweig R - Wauwatosa	$32,146	Antonio Riley D - Milwaukee	$21,660

II. Money Raised by Legislative Leadership Committees
July 1, 2001 - Dec. 31, 2001

Committee	Total Raised	Cash Balance
Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee	$29,575	$65,246
Republican Assembly Campaign Committee	$28,735	$106,410
State Senate Democratic Committee	$54,219	$77,757
Committee to Elect a Republican Senate	$25,543	$19,222

III. Top War Chests as of Dec. 31, 2001

Constitutional Officers		State Senators		State Representatives
Governor Scott McCallum*	$2,410,405	Brian Burke* D - Milwaukee	$403,664	Scott Jensen R - Waukesha	$346,909
Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow*	$48,431	Kevin Shibilski* D - Stevens Point	$300,763	Spencer Black D - Madison	$141,142
Attorney General James Doyle*	$1,344,610	Michael Ellis R - Neenah	$184,395	Sheldon Wasserman D - Milwaukee	$105,253
Secretary of State Doug La Follette	$11,135	Kimberly Plache D - Racine	$150,699	Scott Walker R - Wauwatosa	$81,880
State Treasurer Jack Voight	$60,360	Judith Robson D - Beloit	$90,398	Shirley Krug D - Milwaukee	$78,317

* Officeholders who are candidates for governor, lieutenant governor or attorney general.

IV. Additional Challengers for Constitutional Offices Fundraising and Cash Balances
July - December 2001

Candidate	Office	Party	Fundraising	Cash Balance
Thomas Barrett	Governor	D	$416,777	$1,203,371
Kathleen Falk	Governor	D	$348,101	$337,068
Peggy Lautenschlager	Atty Gen	D	$26,807	$13,613
Vince Biskupic	Atty Gen	R	$42,910	$42,538

V. Total Raised and Spent by Partisan State Office Holders
July -December 2001

Listed in descending order by total raised

Office Holders	Party	Office	Total Raised 7/1/01-12/31/01	Totals Spent 7/1/01-12/31/01	Cash on hand 12/31/01
McCallum, Scott	Rep	Governor	$906,534	$542,305	$2,410,404.83
Doyle, Jim	Dem	Attorney General	$624,886	$289,811	$1,344,609.89
Shibilski, Kevin*	Dem	S24	$245,912	$76,837	$300,763.08
Burke, Brian*	Dem	S03	$138,317	$93,291	$403,663.64
Jensen, Scott R.	Rep	A32	$97,173	$93,972	$346,908.82
George, Gary*	Dem	S06	$75,519	$75,872	$52,451.39
Plache, Kimberly	Dem	S21	$62,953	$12,933	$150,698.91
Rosenzweig, Peggy	Rep	S05	$32,146	$7,065	$33,612.46
Voight, Jack C.	Rep	Treasurer	$31,282	$2,452	$60,360.08
Kanavas, Ted**	Rep	S33	$31,190	$31,658	$2,182.41
Chvala, Chuck	Dem	S16	$30,203	$11,113	$24,624.86
Farrow, Margaret	Rep	Lieutenant Governor	$28,348	$12,165	$48,431.20
Petrowski, Jerry	Rep	A86	$27,522	$4,427	$26,484.11
Foti, Steven	Rep	A38	$26,670	$21,581	$7,492.54
Black, Spencer	Dem	A77	$25,860	$4,921	$141,141.70
Schultz, Dale	Rep	S17	$23,395	$9,864	$86,672.75
Decker, Russ	Dem	S29	$22,804	$1,811	$65,882.86
Riley, Antonio	Dem	A18	$21,660	$1,609	$76,284.84
Walker, Scott	Rep	A14	$21,121	$4,449	$81,879.74
Baumgart, James	Dem	S09	$20,662	$1,276	$34,726.64
Robson, Judith	Dem	S15	$20,279	$1,906	$90,398.03
Zien, David	Rep	S23	$19,436	$6,122	$32,709.46
Harsdorf, Sheila	Rep	S10	$18,627	$3,338	$20,818.45
Skindrud, Rick	Rep	A79	$17,646	$3,642	$22,154.23
Grothman, Glenn	Rep	A59	$16,596	$6,175	$43,189.66
Gard, John	Rep	A89	$16,387	$7,602	$43,302.17
Huelsman, Joanne	Rep	S11	$16,089	$1,928	$15,297.78
Wirch, Robert	Dem	S22	$14,657	$3,187	$15,468.99
Montgomery, Phil	Rep	A04	$14,265	$5,971	$16,712.92
Welch, Robert	Rep	S14	$14,174	$18,197	$74,519.41
Rhoades, Kitty	Rep	A30	$14,147	$7,255	$39,811.82
Huebsch, Michael	Rep	A94	$13,682	$9,681	$8,115.92
Lazich, Mary	Rep	S28	$13,265	$5,254	$39,609.07
Moen, Rodney	Dem	S31	$12,930	$2,894	$28,925.38
Lassa, Julie	Dem	A71	$11,750	$1,340	$30,240.83
Sykora, Tom	Rep	A67	$11,661	$398	$13,970.19
Hansen, Dave	Dem	S30	$11,561	$6,747	$18,357.90
McCormick, Terri	Rep	A56	$11,220	$8,077	$6,149.06
Leibham, Joseph	Rep	A26	$10,715	$4,695	$21,835.76
Johnsrud, DuWayne	Rep	A96	$10,714	$7,747	$8,642.67
Kreuser, James	Dem	A64	$10,476	$8,783	$46,597.97
Erpenbach, Jon	Dem	S27	$10,436	$5,395	$46,635.54
Gundrum, Mark	Rep	A84	$10,022	$2,035	$71,306.59
Albers, Sheryl	Rep	A50	$9,951	$4,397	$36,414.30
Ladwig, Bonnie	Rep	A63	$9,025	$6,657	$57,450.28
Starzyk, Samantha	Rep	A66	$8,586	$1,933	$10,211.26
Gunderson, Scott	Rep	A83	$8,574	$4,089	$11,255.36
Colon, Pedro	Dem	A08	$8,530	$2,863	$9,379.44
Duff, Marc	Rep	A98	$8,415	$3,721	$16,422.47
Kreibich, Robin	Rep	A93	$7,968	$981	$61,276.78
Fitzgerald, Scott	Rep	S13	$7,881	$2,273	$8,909.70
Loeffelholz, Gabe	Rep	A49	$7,874	$843	$10,792.71
Wieckert, Steve	Rep	A57	$7,528	$6,756	$26,851.93
Olsen, Luther	Rep	A41	$7,525	$1,789	$20,419.70
Nass, Stephen L.	Rep	A31	$7,418	$518	$56,398.86
Pettis, Mark	Rep	A28	$7,132	$4,645	$11,695.18
Suder, Scott	Rep	A69	$7,004	$1,736	$6,313.10
Hundertmark, Jean	Rep	A40	$6,667	$7,151	$13,358.14
Lippert, MaryAnn	Rep	A70	$6,590	$2,012	$18,223.31
Meyer, Mark	Dem	S32	$6,540	$7,253	$1,102.45
Steinbrink, John	Dem	A65	$6,455	$213	$19,993.00
Lasee, Frank	Rep	A02	$6,431	$4,946	$12,532.96
Lehman, Michael	Rep	A58	$6,187	$4,779	$6,379.86
Musser, Terry	Rep	A92	$6,075	$7,193	$10,928.43
Wasserman, Sheldon	Dem	A22	$5,901	$429	$105,253.25
Shilling, Jennifer	Dem	A95	$5,660	$1,957	$5,477.38
Freese, Stephen	Rep	A51	$5,635	$3,342	$2,966.89
Huber, Greg	Dem	A85	$5,612	$874	$23,983.51
Hines, J.A.***	Rep	A42	$5,330	$5,484	$52.88
Fitzgerald, Jeff	Rep	A39	$5,325	$2,179	$7,287.08
Vrakas, Daniel	Rep	A33	$5,262	$3,625	$23,792.97
Hoven, Timothy	Rep	A60	$5,046	$6,318	$45,669.43
Friske, Donald R.	Rep	A35	$4,983	$2,151	$11,309.71
Ellis, Michael	Rep	S19	$4,765	$3,093	$184,394.65
Coggs, Spencer	Dem	A17	$4,720	$4,785	$6,483.04
Panzer, Mary	Rep	S20	$4,577	$2,511	$11,577.80
Meyerhofer, Lee	Dem	A05	$4,510	$1,035	$8,224.45
Hahn, Eugene	Rep	A47	$4,330	$625	$8,851.32
Richards, Jon	Dem	A19	$4,229	$2,861	$11,406.88
Schooff, Dan	Dem	A45	$4,213	$1,599	$11,784.88
Darling, Alberta	Rep	S08	$4,152	$7,816	$75,420.64
Carpenter, Tim	Dem	A09	$3,694	$958	$7,000.31
Ainsworth, John	Rep	A06	$3,610	$609	$11,891.35
Pocan, Mark	Dem	A78	$3,303	$1,809	$2,845.14
Boyle, Frank	Dem	A73	$3,216	$2,593	$6,159.35
Moore, Gwendolynne	Dem	S04	$3,210	$6,957	$31,959.52
Balow, Larry	Dem	A68	$3,165	$109	$5,292.54
Townsend, John	Rep	A52	$3,077	$137	$4,921.50
Ward, David	Rep	A37	$2,979	$564	$23,118.19
Wade, Joan****	Rep	A42	$2,865	$3,143	$11,951.00
Seratti, Lorraine	Rep	A36	$2,500	$1,237	$1,681.63
Krawczyk, Judy	Rep	A88	$2,497	$8	$12,822.10
La Fave, John	Dem	A23	$2,460	$76	$31,268.42
Kedzie, Neal	Rep	A43	$2,267	$679	$23,483.75
Bies, Garey D.	Rep	A01	$2,225	$3,468	$11,131.00
Breske, Roger	Dem	S12	$2,197	$7,431	$32,992.39
Hubler, Mary	Dem	A75	$2,121	$859	$14,610.01
Powers, Mike	Rep	A80	$1,915	$969	$2,678.58
Plouff, Joe	Dem	A29	$1,673	$315	$11,226.63
Plale, Jeffrey	Dem	A21	$1,670	$1,412	$1,158.11
Owens, Carol	Rep	A53	$1,630	$493	$9,993.72
Krug, Shirley	Dem	A12	$1,605	$1,508	$78,316.54
Meyer, Dan	Rep	A34	$1,555	$1,293	$13,817.59
Roessler, Carol	Rep	S18	$1,160	$1,606	$14,014.78
Underheim, Gregg	Rep	A54	$1,135	$628	$17,496.02
Jeskewitz, Suzanne	Rep	A24	$1,050	$6,838	$12,414.44
Kestell, Steve	Rep	A27	$950	$704	$13,592.21
Ott, Alvin	Rep	A03	$925	$258	$14,254.68
Schneider, Marlin	Dem	A72	$878	$677	$18,136.27
Stone, Jeff	Rep	A82	$875	$1,615	$16,204.99
Williams, Annette Polly	Dem	A10	$812	$288	$2,124.94
Sherman, Gary	Dem	A74	$780	$1,097	$17,674.08
Kaufert, Dean	Rep	A55	$697	$1,313	$41,148.80
Cullen, David	Dem	A13	$471	$0	$17,411.19
Lehman, John	Dem	A62	$452	$268	$13,965.33
La Follette, Douglas	Dem	Secretary of State	$362	$20	$11,134.88
Ryba, John	Dem	A90	$337	$534	$38.91
Lasee, Alan	Rep	S01	$326	$2,359	$17,863.89
Cowles, Robert	Rep	S02	$300	$0	$7,325.59
Hebl, Tom	Dem	A46	$250	$154	$6,489.22
Travis, David	Dem	A81	$208	$680	$545.85
Turner, Robert	Dem	A61	$93	$1,032	$3,163.46
Urban, Frank	Rep	A99	$50	$837	$6,145.39
Risser, Fred	Dem	S26	$25	$460	$2,339.38
Krusick, Peggy	Dem	A97	$10	$0	$23,884.40
Berceau, Terese	Dem	A76	$0	$568	$9,575.86
Bock, Peter	Dem	A07	$0	$0	$13,959.14
Grobschmidt, Richard	Dem	S07	$0	$901	$6,007.92
Gronemus, Barbara	Dem	A91	$0	$0	$6,635.77
Jauch, Robert	Dem	S25	$0	$4,087	$25,197.13
Miller, Mark	Dem	A48	$0	$120	$2,923.67
Morris-Tatum, Johnnie	Dem	A11	$0	$230	$438.31
Reynolds, Martin	Dem	A87	$0	$1,068	$1,202.20
Sinicki, Christine	Dem	A20	$0	$0	$2,388.81
Staskunas, Tony	Dem	A15	$0	$125	$6,165.39
Wood, Wayne	Dem	A44	$0	$0	$21.95
Young, Leon	Dem	A16	$0	$837	$4,164.10
Ziegelbauer, Bob	Dem	A25	$0	$0	$347.22

* Candidate for constitutional office
** Ran in special election for the 33rd Senate.  Only sums raised and spent since August 1, 2001 reported here.
***Ran in special election for the 42nd Assembly in 2001.  Only sums raised and spent since November 29, 2001 are reported here.
****Rep. Wade resigned in September 2001.