MADISON (AP) - The secretary of the Republican Party of Wisconsin is the first appointee to the new state ethics commission, state officials said Tuesday, a move a government watchdog group decried as "exactly what we feared."
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has appointed Katie McCallum of Middleton, according to Reid Magney, spokesman for the soon-to-be-eliminated Government Accountability Board, which oversees state elections and ethics laws.
In addition to her current role as party secretary, McCallum is a former spokeswoman and fourth vice chair for the state Republican Party, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Fitzgerald spokeswoman Myranda Tanck said McCallum was selected because of her "Wisconsin background and extensive experience."
But Jay Heck, director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said McCallum's appointment is "exactly what we feared." Common Cause and other groups opposed the new law, contending it would inject partisanship into oversight of state elections and ethics laws.
"People can expect the decisions this person renders will be first and foremost to please Scott Fitzgerald," Heck said.
In December, Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill doing away with the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board on June 30. The board will be replaced with two commissions: one to oversee elections, the other ethics. Both commissions will be made up of partisan appointees, although the ethics panel will have two retired judges.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has appointed Katie McCallum of Middleton, according to Reid Magney, spokesman for the soon-to-be-eliminated Government Accountability Board, which oversees state elections and ethics laws.
In addition to her current role as party secretary, McCallum is a former spokeswoman and fourth vice chair for the state Republican Party, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Fitzgerald spokeswoman Myranda Tanck said McCallum was selected because of her "Wisconsin background and extensive experience."
But Jay Heck, director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said McCallum's appointment is "exactly what we feared." Common Cause and other groups opposed the new law, contending it would inject partisanship into oversight of state elections and ethics laws.
"People can expect the decisions this person renders will be first and foremost to please Scott Fitzgerald," Heck said.
In December, Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill doing away with the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board on June 30. The board will be replaced with two commissions: one to oversee elections, the other ethics. Both commissions will be made up of partisan appointees, although the ethics panel will have two retired judges.