Fitzgerald Appoints Republican Party Secretary To New Ethics Commission

The first appointee to Wisconsin’s new state ethics commission was announced Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald tapped Katie McCallum, secretary of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, for a seat on the commission, which will oversee ethics, campaign finance and lobbying in the state.

McCallum formerly served as the party’s communications director.

According to a statement released by Fitzgerald’s office, McCallum was chosen because of her “Wisconsin background and extensive experience.”

But Jay Heck, director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said McCallum’s appointment is “exactly what we feared.”

Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill in December creating the ethics commission and a separate elections commissions, which will replace the Government Accountability Board, effective June 30.

The GAB is made up of nonpartisan former judges. Most appointees to the ethics and elections commissions will be partisan appointees chosen by legislative leaders and the governor.