Progressive Dane has filed a complaint against the Madison Area
Apartment Association, claiming violations of state campaign finance laws.
The organization filed the complaint with District Attorney Diane Nicks
on Wednesday.
The complaint says the association, acting through Citizens for
Reasonable Government, violated campaign laws by:
- Accepting donations from corporations.
- Accepting too much money from an investment management group.
- Filing an incomplete campaign finance report by failing to state the
purpose for which funds were spent.
The complaint comes a week after defeated 16th District City Council
candidate Helen Marks Dicks filed similar complaints with the City Clerk's
Office and the DA.
"These violations of state election law, especially those
involving corporate influence in local elections, must be treated
seriously," wrote David Austin and Sheila Crowley of Progressive
Dane.
Wisconsin law prohibits corporations from giving money to political
committees for the purpose of electing or defeating a candidate. The
complaint did not list amounts of money allegedly collected from
corporations.
Progressive Dane said Horizon Investment Management gave the committee
$5,000, or $500 above the amount allowed to support the 18 favored
candidates listed.
The campaign pitted candidates who felt tenants deserve more protection
against those who sided with landlords wanting more latitude to reject
"bad apple" tenants.
Nicks previously ordered the association to pay $600 as a penalty for
two campaign reporting violations.
