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Election board probes Cieslewicz ads
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by Tom Schalmo
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's re-election campaign learned Tuesday of an investigation into using a firehouse and firefighters in a campaign flyer.
The flyer in question contains Cieslewicz posing with four firefighters standing in front of a fire engine. Cieslewicz's campaign manager Megan McGrorty said Cieslewicz has received the endorsement of Madison firefighters, so they wanted to promote that in the flyer.
McGrorty said the campaign was notified of the issue Tuesday and said if the flyer turns out to be a violation, it was not done intentionally.
"We made our best attempts to comply, and if it was an ethics violation, it was an honest mistake," McGrorty said.
McGrorty added she checked with the State Elections Board prior to publishing the flyer.
"They said everything was legal as long as the firefighters were not on duty and the city of Madison was not shown on the piece," McGrorty said. "After checking, we went ahead and we did it."
None of the firefighters was on duty at the time the photo was taken, McGrorty added.
According to WISC-TV's website, former city alder Dorothy Borchardt asked city attorney Mark May to look into the situation. However, McGrorty said she was not aware of who made the complaint.
Semmi Pasha, spokesperson for Cieslewicz's opponent Ray Allen, took issue with the mayor using the fire department in the flyer.
"It looks like a clear-cut violation," Pasha said. "We are very concerned that the current mayor is using taxpayer resources to fund his campaign."
Pasha also said he is concerned with timing, as the possible violation was reported just eight days before the election.
"The problem is he pulls this stuff at the end of the election," Pasha said. "He muddies the water and then leaves. You can't put this back in the bottle."
Allen's campaign hopes May will investigate the issue promptly.
Cieslewicz and Allen will face off on Election Day, next Tuesday, April 3.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 9:49am):
Don't worry, Mayor Dave you could kick a puppy and still get the Student Vote.
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 11:11am):
Actually you are completely wrong Germain. He wont get the student vote. He has done nothing to combat the recent violence on campus. I encourage everyone to vote for Ray Allen, he will keep you safe, especially from trolleys. man, mayor dave is an idiot.
"None of the firefighters was on duty at the time the photo was taken, McGrorty added."
Um how about WERE on duty.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 12:22pm):
Hey Semmi Pasha - none is a singular word, not plural, so "none was on duty" is correct. Have you graduated yet?
Vote Mayor Dave!
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 3:06pm):
None can be singular or plural. It's actually a fairly heated English Language debate.
Anonymous (March 28, 2007 @ 5:52pm):
The Police Union didn't endorse the Mayor this year either. Just like last time.
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