Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he is reconsidering his support Dane County Board Supervisor Brett Hulsey for the District 77 seat in the State Assembly after Hulsey invented and published a quote from Black in campaign literature.
According to Black, Hulsey sent out a mail piece quoting Black as saying, ""Please join me in voting for Brett Hulsey for the state assembly on Nov. 2. Brett will continue my progressive and environmental traditions, Brett will create jobs and make our schools better and safer and promote cleaner energy and lakes.""
After the Democratic primary, Black threw his support behind Hulsey, but Black said his ""trust has been violated"" because of Hulsey's actions.
""I very clearly indicated he could not use a quote he made up from me,"" Black said, ""both because I don't have people put words in my mouth, and because I have a problem with the quote itself.""
Although he said he will enthusiastically support the rest of the Democratic ticket, Black said he has not yet made up his mind on who he will vote for to replace him in the State Assembly between Hulsey and Green Party candidate Ben Manski.
Hulsey has not released a statement about the quote and did not return calls requesting a comment. Manski, Hulsey's biggest competition in the race, criticized Hulsey's decision to use the quote.
""No reasonable person could conclude, given this pattern of evidence, that Brett Hulsey did anything other than knowingly misrepresent Representative Black,"" Manski said.
This incident comes just a week after Hulsey claimed an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., but had to backtrack, saying he confused a congratulatory phone call for a statement of support.
