Government Accountability Board members have been closely involved in overseeing investigations into Gov. Scott Walker’s recall campaign, Board Chairman Judge Gerald C. Nichol wrote in a letter to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, Thursday.
The letter came in response to comments Vos made during an interview with NBC15 last week, where he was quoted as saying, “We know that [GAB staff] were involved in the John Doe investigation with district attorneys in Milwaukee. We know that they hired investigators to go and do that work without the authority of that GAB board of judges."
The GAB is a nonpartisan agency that oversees the state’s election, campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws and was notably involved with John Doe investigations into whether Walker’s campaign illegally coordinated with conservative groups during recall campaigns in 2011 and 2012.
The letter referenced the same NBC15 report, which paraphrased Vos as saying that staff members, including GAB Director Kevin Kennedy, “have taken charge, instead of running ideas past the deciding board of 6 judges.”
Nichol, who was appointed to the board of judges by Gov. Jim Doyle in 2008 and Walker in 2012, refuted Vos’ claim and said that his criticisms are “just not true.”
“Although the Board appreciates the staff and its dedication, the Board has always been informed, and has acted with proper oversight,” Nichol said in the letter.
While Nichol noted that there is room for improvement in the GAB’s performance, as outlined in a recent legislative audit of the board, discussion of changes should be based on “the agency’s true record of accomplishments, not on unsubstantiated allegations.”
In his testimony to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Kennedy said he was grateful that the audit highlighted areas for the GAB to work on going forward.
“Among the most important tasks in our democracy are ensuring fair and honest elections, ensuring that everyone plays by the same rules and providing the public with detailed information to assist in making informed decisions,” Kennedy said in his testimony.
When asked for his response to Vos’ letter, Kennedy said “that the letter speaks for itself.”
Vos could not be reached for comment for this article.
