Group's negative ads drew heavy criticism
2:04 PM 5/22/01
Dee J. Hall Wisconsin State Journal
Advocates of campaign finance reform say groups such as Project Vote Informed have "hijacked" Wisconsin elections in recent years.
Such independent expenditure groups, which operate on both sides of the political aisle, parlayed millions of dollars in unrestricted - and in some cases completely unregulated - spending into negative ad campaigns last year.
Project Vote Informed, run by Todd Rongstad from his Madison office, drew the most attention and criticism - even getting flak from some of the candidates it sought to help.
Republican Assembly candidate Brent Weycker said he was "a little disturbed" by the attack ads the group ran against his opponent, Rep. John Ryba, D-Green Bay.
"They (the ads) had my wife in tears," said Weycker, who lost in a close race to Ryba. "Everyone thought I had put this out."
Project Vote Informed also was criticized for a printed ad aimed at then-Rep. Sarah Waukau, D-Antigo, that criticized Waukau after the drug death of a teen-ager who was with Waukau's daughter. When the ad hit just before the election, Waukau's Republican opponent, Don Friske of Merrill, considered quitting the race because of his disgust over the ad designed to benefit him, said his campaign manager, Amy Petrowski. Friske remained in the race, however, and defeated Waukau on Election Day.
Some radio stations refused to air the Project Vote Informed spot that sought to publicize past marital problems of Rep. Lee Mey- erhofer, D-Kaukauna. Meyerhofer, who kept his seat, called the spot "vicious" and said it was "devastating" to him and his family.
Project Vote Informed director Rongstad has publicly defended the ads, saying they were successful and addressed important issues.
In a Jan. 31 statement filed with the state Elections Board, Rongstad reported spending $122,053 on radio ads and mailings in a variety of Assembly races around the state. He reported raising $156,238, of which $145,000 came from the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Rod Hise, who resigned as executive director of the state Republican Party in December, said the party provided the money to Rongstad's Project Vote Informed last fall with "no strings attached," and no one at the party "participated in the development of any of the material."
But Hise said he was "profoundly disappointed" with the tenor of the advertisements.
Not all candidates had the same reaction.
Another Rongstad group, Alliance for a Working Wisconsin, mailed printed ads against unsuccessful Democratic Assembly candidate Robert Dueholm that featured a blood-stained sheet with a body under it on one side and, on the flip side, a gun-toting gang member. "Tell Dueholm to Quit Favoring Criminals Over Law Abiding Citizens," the flier said.
Dueholm said he was shocked by the ads, which he said were "legal" but "criminal." The ads were intended to benefit state Rep. Mark Pettis, R-Hertel.
Pettis said he had nothing to do with the ads run against Dueholm. Asked what he thought of the sometimes nasty fliers run on his behalf, Pettis answered: "I got elected."

Relevant Laws
Wisconsin laws governing independent expenditure groups
Anyone making an independent expenditure for or against a candidate may not "act in cooperation or consultation with any candidate or agent or authorized committee of a candidate who is supported or opposed" by the expenditure.
Violators can face civil penalties up to $500 per violation or triple the amount illegally contributed. Criminal penalties for intentional violations can bring fines of up to $1,000 or six months in jail. Wisconsin laws governing campaign activities of state employees and legislators
"No state public official may use his or her public position or office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of himself or herself or his or her immediate family, or for an organization with which he or she is associated."
The state Ethics Board has interpreted this to mean legislative employees cannot engage in campaign activities using state facilities (such as office space, telephones and computers) or during times when they are supposed to be at work.
Violators can be censured, suspended or removed from office or employment. They also could face fines of up to $5,000 for each violation. Criminal penalties for intentional violations can result in jail terms of up to one year.
Wisconsin laws prohibiting solicitation of state employees while at work
"No person may solicit or receive from any state officer or employee ... any contribution or service for any political purpose while the officer or employee is engaged in his or her official duties. ... Every person who has charge or control in a building, office or room occupied for any purpose by this state ... shall prohibit" anyone from entering to make or receive a contribution.
Violators can be fined up to $500 per offense.