Judicial marketplace (of ideas)

Pioneer Press Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:47:53 -0600
Outside groups spent $4.8 million in Wis. judicial race

MADISON -- A watchdog group says special interest groups spent a record $4.8 million in this month's Supreme Court election. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said four groups that do not have to disclose their donors spent about $4.2 million on radio and television advertising. Other groups spent another $600,000 in election expenses reported to the state. Most of the money was spent by groups who supported challenger Michael Gableman, who narrowly defeated Justice Louis Butler in the April 1 election. The group said Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce was the biggest outside spender with a $1.76 million ad campaign. The business lobby ran ads touting Gableman's law enforcement experience and painting Butler as soft on crime.

[[keywords: Elections;]]