Several media organizations have returned complimentary tickets distributed by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker since the Green Bay Press Gazette refused the free tickets and wrote an article questioning Walker’s intentions.
After the story ran in the Green Bay newspaper, controversy arose as to whether Walker used a motorcycle tour to gain support for his candidacy for governor.
The tickets were given to more than 30 media organizations as a means to boost tourism in Milwaukee County during a six-day statewide motorcycle tour of Wisconsin in late June. However, on the tour, Walker answered questions about his campaign to run the Republican ticket for governor in the 2006 election.
Walker, though, stated he did not intend to use the ride to advance his political career.
“Our intention was just to promote what Milwaukee has to offer,” said Fran Rudig, a communications specialist for the Milwaukee County Executive’s office. “Nobody was given tickets covertly.”
Rudig also said some media organizations, especially radio stations, planned to give the tickets away as prizes to their audiences, though many tickets were given away to reporters.
While Walker did not commit an illegal action, he may have crossed an ethical line, said Jay Heck, the executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin.
Heck said in the wake of the Milwaukee County pension scandal and other controversies, public officials should be more careful about their actions.
“In this atmosphere, candidates for governor or any public office should be clean as a whistle–there ought to be a real distinction in how they handle themselves,” Heck said, noting that public confidence in politicians is at an all-time low.
On the tour, Walker and his staff distributed press packets to news and media groups containing information about Milwaukee and also included the free tickets, such as passes to Summerfest, the State Fair and the Milwaukee County Zoo. In all, 1,207 tickets were given away.
Representatives of the individual attractions and event coordinators donated the tickets to the county executive’s office, however, the motorcycle ride itself was funded by Milwaukee County taxes, which cost about $2600, Rudig said.
“The primary focus of the ride was to promote the county,” Rudig said. “If giving the tickets shifts the focus from this then that would be something we would consider for future rides.”
Rudig said organizations were informed of the intentions by the executive’s office. Groups refusing tickets for ethical reasons still received information on Milwaukee County attractions and venues, Rudig added.
However, Heck said another issue arising from the controversy is the role of the State Ethics Board and the State Elections Board. Each Board investigated Walker’s ride and his actions during it and claimed they could not make a decision on the matter, he added.
“No one fears that the Boards are going to investigate or ferret out wrong doings,” Heck said. “Consequently, things happen in this state that would not happen if people knew there was a strong State Elections Board and State Ethics Board watching them.”
