The first announced appointee to the new state ethics commission is the secretary of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, state officials said Tuesday. Critics said the appointment of Katie McCallum confirms their fear that the commission and its new counterpart, which will oversee elections, will be beholden to legislative leaders and partisan interests. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, appointed McCallum, of Middleton, said Reid Magney, a spokesman for the Government Accountability Board.
Under a new law signed by Gov. Scott Walker in December, the board will be replaced June 30 by two new commissions — one overseeing ethics, campaign finance and lobbying; the other, elections. Both will be made up of partisan appointees who serve five-year terms; the current board is led by nonpartisan former judges.
In addition to her role as party secretary, McCallum is a former spokeswoman and fourth vice chairwoman for the state Republican Party.
McCallum didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Full Article: State GOP secretary is first appointee to new ethics commission | Politics and Elections | host.madison.com.