Chvala tight-lipped on allegations by former aide
11:39 AM 10/24/01
Phil Brinkman State government reporter
In his first meeting with reporters since a former aide accused him of electioneering from his state office, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala Wednesday refused to answer questions about the allegations and then left his office.Saying at least three times, "You have our statement," the Madison Democrat ignored a volley of questions from state Capitol reporters, who followed him out of his office and down a hallway.Reporters packed into Chvala's Senate office for a news conference on an unannounced topic, which turned out to be about the formation of a task force to recommend changes to the state's school finance system.The event was abruptly halted when Chvala's spokesman, Mike Browne, announced Chvala had another meeting to attend and he got up to leave.Reporters then peppered him with questions - to no avail - about allegations last week by the former aide and other matters related to the investigation of campaign activity by the legislative caucuses.Dan Kroll, who worked as Chvala's press secretary in 1996, said he and other staffers conducted campaign activity at Chvala's direction, including writing campaign fund-raising letters, calling supporters and going door-to-door during the work day.In a written statement last week, Chvala denied several specific allegations by Kroll. Asked Wednesday to respond to the totality of Kroll's comments, Chvala said only: "You have our statement."Chvala was then asked whether he found any conflict of interest in having the state pay legal fees of legislative caucus staffers similarly accused of campaigning on state time or with state resources."You have our statement," he said.Pressed further about the reimbursement for legal fees being sought by Senate staffers, he repeated: "You have our statement."An assistant attorney general said Wednesday that the state should not pay legal fees for caucus staff members under investigation for possible illegal campaign activity.Chvala's office rejected a request by the Wisconsin State Journal for an interview after his meeting.