Burke quits race for attorney general
0:27 AM 5/11/02
Richard W. Jaeger Wisconsin State Journal
indent Sen. Brian Burke, the leading candidate for state attorney general, dropped out of the race Friday, citing health reasons hours after he was linked to an investigation of possible illegal campaigning.
indentBurke, 44, of Milwaukee said in a news release that he was dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination because he's suffering from complications related to surgery last month to remove a herniated disc from his neck.
indentThe announcement came after Burke was listed among 64 lawmakers and current or former state employees who charged the state for legal bills stemming from an investigation into the use of state resources for campaigns.
indentBurke's campaign spokeswoman, Andrea Rowe, said he withdrew from the race because his health problems and legal bills could make it difficult for Democrats to keep the attorney general's office. Democrat Jim Doyle, who is running for governor, has held the job since 1991.
indent"What was released today would distract from the campaign," Rowe said. "The office of attorney general is a very important office, and it's very critical, he feels, that the office be kept in Democratic hands."
indentAccording to documents released by the Legislature's chief clerks under an order by Dane County Circuit Judge Sarah O'Brien, Burke, a 14-year veteran of the Senate and co-chairman of the Legislature's powerful budget committee, submitted legal bills to the state totaling $9,497 from his lawyer, Robert H. Friebert of Milwaukee.
indentAmong them was a bill charging 3.5 hours to review a subpoena and discuss the handling of documents taken from Burke's Senate office during a search by investigators from Doyle's office this year. The bill showed authorities seized computers and documents, including the resume of a staff member believed to be engaged in fund-raising activity.
indentBurke was not available for comment. Several calls to his cell phone Friday night were not returned.
indentBurke said in his news release that he has been in extreme physical pain for more than a year. "Regrettably," he said, "my recovery will compromise my ability to campaign hard for a position that is so heavily targeted by wealthy special interests." The only reference to Friday's disclosure of his legal bills was that it "would later distract from his own campaign."
indentDane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard and Doyle, whose office would have executed the warrant, both declined comment.
indentBurke had indicated he would not seek re-election to his Senate seat when he announced his campaign for attorney general, Rowe said. Burke's news release said he now plans to practice law in Milwaukee and complete his Senate term.
indentThe legislative caucus investigation, being led by district attorneys in Dane and Milwaukee counties, was launched after a series of stories last year in the Wisconsin State Journal.
indentFour members of Burke's staff also were on the list of legal bills released Friday. They include former Assembly Democratic Caucus staffers Tanya Bjork and Raghu Devaguptapu, and aides Cindy McGinnis and Julie Swiderski.
indentBurke has been criticized by two watchdog groups for using his role with the Joint Finance Committee, which oversees fiscal policy, to open doors with special interest groups to raise campaign money for the attorney general post.
indentAccording to documents reviewed by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause in Wisconsin, Burke had raised more than $400,000 as of Dec. 31, outdistancing his Democratic opponent and the Republican candidate.
indentJay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said Burke could keep that money to run for future offices, donate it to other campaigns or return it to contributors.
indentHis Democratic opponent, former U.S. Attorney Peg Lautenschlager, said her "heart and prayers and the prayers of my family go out to Brian as he tries to cope with his health problems at this time." Lautenschlager, now the lone Democrat in the race, said she will continue with her campaign.
indentOutagamie County District Attorney Vince Biskupic, the Republican candidate for attorney general, couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
indentThe Associated Press and State Journal reporter Beth Williams contributed to this article.