A Muskego man today filed the first official petition to recall Gov. Scott Walker at the office of the Government Accountability Board, a move that allows the governor to begin collecting unlimited campaign contributions over a week earlier than most had expected.
David Brandt dropped off the paperwork with the GAB just after 2 p.m. today, reports Jessica Arp of WISC-TV. On the registration Brandt explained that he was making the move to "fulfill my friend's last request." Today is the first day a recall petition could legally be filed.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Graeme Zielinski is already calling this a "Republican ploy" to allow Gov. Walker to begin taking in unlimited donations.
Unlike in regular elections, incumbents facing recall are not bound by contribution limits. They may begin taking donations as soon as a committee--in this case, Brandt's "Close Friends to Recall Walker"--files its papers stating an intention to attempt a recall.
United Wisconsin and the Democratic Party have already announced that their recall attempt will begin on Nov. 15. Groups have 60 days from the time of their own filing in which to collect at least 540,000 signatures in order to trigger a recall election.
A box checked on the filing form indicates that Brandt doesn't intend to raise much money toward the effort. No evidence to suggest whether or not Brandt's move is part of a Republican (or Democratic) maneuver has yet to surface. According to the wisdc.org database, Brandt has no history of political donations.
original link:dane101.com
UPDATE: Bettie Brandt, David's wife, previously donated $100 to the Scott Walker campaign in 2010, according to wisdc.org. Sterling Inc. out of New Berlin, have also donated to Walker in the past. Brandt himself donated at least $50 to the Walker campaign in 2010, according to FollowtheMoney.org.