Casino Backers Fund Wisconsin Governor

As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "A Feb. 2 fund-raising dinner for Gov. Jim Doyle at the Kenosha Country Club yielded $135,000 - much of it from backers of a proposed off-reservation casino, including local construction firms eager to capture a slice of the $808 million casino-hotel development.

"Campaign records filed with the state show that at least 28 attendees wrote checks to Doyle, including six who gave the maximum $10,000 each.

"Among the givers were executives of the Mohegan tribe or its gambling operation, who gave $6,000; owners or board members of Dairyland Greyhound Park, who gave more than $24,000; and executives of Kenosha-area construction firms, who gave the rest.

"…John Camosy, senior vice president for his family's Kenosha construction firm, said he attended the event and gave $5,000 for several reasons, including his interest in having the casino come to Kenosha.

"…Larry Rasch, president of Rasch Construction, said he gave $10,000 to Doyle because 'I'd like to see him get re-elected. I'd like to see the casino go ahead, but that's probably not my main motivation.'

"Melanie Fonder, a spokeswoman for Doyle's re-election campaign, said the donations would have no influence on Doyle's decision on the casino…"

2006-07-25