Updated: January 30, 2009 Michael J. Gableman /supreme/gableman.jpg) Wisconsin State Supreme Court 2008 Election Notes and Background Justice Gableman was appointed to the Burnett County Circuit Court by Governor Scott McCallum in 2002 where he served until he was elected to the State Supreme Court in 2008. He defeated incumbent Louis Butler in the general election. NRA Political Victory Fund ($73,458) and Volunteers for Agriculture ($3,766) made independent expenditures supporting Gableman. Center Advocates PAC ($129), Citizens to Defend the Constitution ($15,588), Greater Wisconsin Committee PAC ($104,823), Kenosha AFL-CIO ($67), Milwaukee Police Association ($63), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin ($863), and WEAC ($349,325) made independent expenditures favoring his opponent. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (estimated $1.76 million), Club for Growth Wisconsin (estimated $507,000) and Coalition for America's Families (estimated $480,000) spent undisclosed amounts on "issue ads" supporting Gableman, while the Greater Wisconsin Committee (estimated $1.45 million) spent undisclosed amounts supporting Butler. For more on the role of independent expenditure and issue ad groups in the 2008 Supreme Court election see Hijacking Justice 2008 and WDC's special report Justice for Just Us. | 2008 Campaign Finance Summary | Gableman
Raised: $441,051 - Spent: $410,959
Vote: 51.2% - Cost/Vote: $1.03
Independent Backing: $77,224
Issue Ads (Estimated): $2.75 million | Butler
Raised: $780,296 - Spent: $770,057
Vote: 48.5% - Cost/Vote: $1.91
Independent Backing: $470,857
Issue Ads (Estimated): $1.45 million | Where did Gableman’ come from?* /supreme/pro08-103914.gif) | | Cash on hand 1/1/04** | $278 | | Self | $1,575 | | Under $100 | $36,237 | | $100 or more | $334,792 | | PACs & Parties | $68,447 | | Other Income | $0 | | WECF*** | $0 | **Candidate in 2003 election.
***voluntary spending limit system. | | *All figures represent candidate income before any returns. | Interest Group Contributions from
Individuals and Committees*
1/1/04-6/30/08** | Interest | Amount | | Banking & Finance | $82,778.10 | | Political/Ideological | $46,987.89 | | Manufacturing & Distributing | $43,835.30 | | Natural Resources | $41,659.52 | | Retired/Homemakers/Non-income earners | $40,915.00 | | Construction | $38,150.00 | | Business | $26,825.00 | | Health Professionals | $16,649.31 | | Lawyers/Law Firms/Lobbyists | $13,200.00 | | Real Estate | $10,300.00 | | Transportation | $8,100.00 | | Health Services/Institutions | $7,390.00 | | Insurance | $6,161.64 | | Tourism/Leisure/Entertainment | $4,800.00 | | Unknown | $3,587.64 | | Civil servant/public employee | $3,050.00 | | Energy | $2,750.00 | | Road Construction | $2,400.00 | | Agriculture | $2,100.00 | | Non-Profit/Social Services | $700.00 | | Telecommunications & Computers | $650.00 | | Education | $250.00 | *Excludes any returned contributions.
**Elected to the Burnett County Circuit Court in spring 2003. Top Contributors 2004-2008 | Contributor(s) | City | Business | Amount | | Singer, Gordon, Jenny & Paul | New York, NY | Elliott Associates | $30,000.00 | | Johnson, WB, Patricia, William & Tali | Hayward, WI | Johnson Timber Corp | $25,000.00 | | Saeman, Carolyn & John | Denver, CO | Medallion Enterprises | $20,000.00 | | Uihlein, Henry Jr & Richard | Mequon, WI | U-Line Corp | $10,100.00 | | Bryan, John | Lake Oswego, OR | Retired | $10,000.00 | | Kern, Patricia & Robert | Waukesha, WI | Generac Corp | $10,000.00 | | Loeb, Bonnie | New York, NY | Elliott Associates | $10,000.00 | | Newman, Jay | New York, NY | Elliott Associates | $10,000.00 | | Kohler, Mary & Terry | Sheboygan, WI | Windway Capital | $7,000.00 | | Knox, Brian, Randy & Carol | Fort Atkinson, WI | WD Hoard & Sons | $6,000.00 | | Walton, Christy, Jim & Lynne | Jackson, WY | Wal-Mart Stores | $6,000.00 |
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