From Ballotpedia
The
Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) is an independent board that is responsible for enforcing the state's elections, ethics and campaign finance laws.
History
The Wisconsin Legislature created the new Government Accountability Board (GAB) in January 2007, which assumed the combined responsibilities of the former State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board on January 10, 2008[1]. The former elections and ethics boards were formed in 1974[2].
Mission statement
The mission statement of the GAB is as follows:[3]
The mission of the Board is to ensure accountability in government by enforcing ethics and lobbying laws, and to enhance representative democracy by ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
Governance
The board consists of six members, all of whom are former judges.
Selection of members
Board members are nominated by a panel of four Wisconsin Appeals Court judges, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. They serve staggered six-year terms, with one member's term expiring each year.[3]
Accountability Board Members
As of June 20, 2011, the membership of the GAB is as follows:
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Five of the six current members were appointed by former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. Three of them, Barland, Deininger, and Nichol, have all previously served as Republican elected officials. Cane and Brennan have not been elected to partisan office.[4]
Gordon Myse's term expired on May 1, 2011, but he served until a successor, Timothy Vocke, was appointed. This was the first appointment made by current Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Along with Vocke, the Candidate Committee suggested Hon. Charles P. Dykman of Madison and the Hon. Denis Luebcke of Appleton for the position.[5] On June 17, Walker announced he had chosen Vocke for the seat.[6]
Former members
Previous members of the board:[7]
Campaign finance discipline
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board is responsible for handling all campaign finance discipline involving civil law violations. If someone feels a person or committee violated campaign finance law, the first step is to file a complaint with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board[8]. It is up to the Director and the Staff Attorneys of the G.A.B. to determine if there is enough probable cause to move forward any investigation[8].
Any elector may file a verified petition with the Board or the appropriate district attorney requesting that civil action be brought against any person or political committee or group to enforce campaign finance regulations under Chapter 11 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Board may conduct an investigation and pursue civil forfeitures, or refer the matter to the appropriate district attorney for criminal prosecution.[8].
Recall campaigns
- See also: Laws governing recall in Wisconsin
The Board is responsible for overseeing recalls. That process includes:
- Certifying signatures
- Hearing challenges and rebuttals to recall campaigns
2011
- See also: Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011)
In 2011, 16 recall campaigns were initiated against Republican senators in Wisconsin. Nine recalls had proper signatures filed against the sitting incumbent (3 Democratic and 6 Republican senators). Two Republicans - Randy Hopper and Dan Kapanke - were ultimately removed from office.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board "Government Accountability Board"
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board "Former Elections Board"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Introduction to the G.A.B.," retrieved May 11, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Nonpartisan Government Accountability Board faces partisan charges," June 7, 2011
- ↑ WisPolitics, "GAB: Governor receives nominees to Government Accountability Board," April 12, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Walker appoints judge to Government Accountability Board." June 17, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Past Members of the Government Accountability Board," retrieved May 11, 2011
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Complaints
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