NEWS
Doyle returns campaign cash
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Also by Heather Quitos:
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- J-Cheezy, UW kick off challenge (April 20, 2007)
- In-Depth: Looking inside UW's closet (April 12, 2007)
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- Tag-team academics (March 14, 2007)
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- Doyle campaign under scrutiny (October 14, 2005)
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by Heather Quitos
Friday, February 3, 2006
Amid allegations of questionable campaign finance practices, Gov. Jim Doyle returned $10,000 in donations from the Manitowoc-based Burger Boat Co.
"The governor became aware that there was a grant pending at the same time and thought that it would be appropriate to return [the donations]," Doyle campaign spokesperson Melanie Fonder said.
Burger Boat President David Ross and Vice President James Ruffolo each made donations of $5,000 last November after applying for a state Harbor Assistance Program grant.
The state Department of Transportation's citizen advisory board accepted Burger Boat's grant proposal Nov. 15 — two days after the donations were made.
According to Fonder, the donations did not have any effect on the board's selection, and Doyle returned the money "as soon as he became aware" of the grant.
The State Elections Board recently posted the campaign finance filings for the donation period from July 2005 through January 2006, which revealed the Burger Boat donations.
Aimed at helping harbor communities improve water commerce, the HAP grant is awarded twice a year to qualified applicants.
Burger Boat became the first private company to receive the grant since the state statutes were changed after the last biennial budget to open the program to private applicants.
However, according to DOT HAP analyst Larry Kieck, the applicant award process is a completely independent procedure.
"Applications are selected on a competitive basis and scored by a citizen advisory council," Kieck said. "[The donations] had absolutely no bearing on the deliberations. The HAP advisory council … has no connection with any kind of campaign or political related activity at all."
While the governor continues to deny any wrongdoing, critics remain suspicious, especially regarding the selectivity of his choices. Doyle recently came under fire for keeping campaign donations from Adelman Travel Group, a company that was awarded a state travel contract that was rescinded earlier this week due to rumblings of impropriety.
"What he's saying by returning the Burger Boat money is that sometimes the money looks improper. I think that's certainly the case with the Adelman money," Common Cause in Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck said. "If you're admitting some money 'looks wrong' in terms of the timing, it's tough to be selective about which money looks wrong."
By returning the Burger Boat donations, it is not likely Doyle will escape skepticism, Heck added.
"I am not really sure [returning the Burger Boat money] will put people's minds at ease about the Adelman money, and it's certainly not going to close the book on the Adelman Travel episode," he said, adding he thinks Doyle should return the Adelman donations.
In addition to Heck, the Republican Party of Wisconsin and other Doyle adversaries are calling for the governor to return the questionable campaign funds.
According to Fonder, however, Doyle will not return the Adelman money.
"I guess what he fears is that if he does that, then he's admitting there may have been some connection with the travel contract," Heck said.
Burger Boat President David Ross declined to comment.
