Thank You

On the road in Dane County this morning, but before I headed out I wanted to quickly say thank you.

Thank you to those who volunteered their time to help our efforts. Your envelope stuffing, sign placing, phone calling and misc. office work was the backbone of our efforts.

Thank you to those who were able to financially contribute. We were frugal with your dollars, I assure you.

Thank you to those who have sent well wishes, kind thoughts and prayers to me and my family. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

Finally, thanks to all of you who have or will vote for me today. I am humbled by the faith you're putting in me.

Win or lose, we ran a race we can be proud of. We didn't sink to the level of our opponent and her patrons. We ran a truly bipartisan race on the issues voters told us they were concerned about.

Regardless of the outcome tonight, I just wanted you to know just how much I appreciate everything all of you have done for our campaign.

Thank you.

-JB

Falk Ignores Victims' Families

Inexperienced, Desperate Falk Schooled by
Female District Attorneys in Areas of Law, Compassion

[Waukesha, Wisc…] THREE prominent female Wisconsin prosecutors say Kathleen Falk doesn’t have a clue about criminal prosecution, nor compassion for victims.

In the last week Falk and her special interest friends have been spreading lies about J.B. Van Hollen’s track record as a prosecutor, specifically regarding his handling of a 2000 Bayfield County murder case.

“JB Van Hollen's track record as a prosecutor is strong,” said Sauk County District Attorney Patricia Barrett. “For Kathleen Falk, someone who has never been in our shoes, working on putting the murderers and rapists away, to criticize him is pure politics. The ads running by her and on her behalf not only lie about the facts, they further traumatize the victims' family. I am quite disturbed that a candidate for Attorney General would stoop as low as Kathleen Falk has, to try to salvage a political campaign.”

For a week, Falk and her supporters have been running television ads which lie about J.B. Van Hollen’s prosecution of Stanley Newago in Bayfield County in 2000. They allege Van Hollen could have revoked Newago’s bail on an assault charge prior to Newago’s commission of a brutal murder. That is a lie.

“Fact is, JB put Newago away for life, without having to take the case to trial. He did two things Kathleen Falk didn't,” said Outagamie District Attorney Carrie Schneider. “One, he prosecuted a criminal, something Falk has NEVER done. Two, he went to great lengths to protect the family from suffering through a long drawn out affair. Ms. Falk should be ashamed of herself for not only misleading the public, but for revictimizing the survivors as well.”

The Van Hollen campaign had previously sent a letter to the Falk campaign and her supporters, providing them the facts of the Newago case and warning them not to produce an ad which distorted the actual record. Her supporters refused to comply. Falk has hidden behind campaign spokesmen and has not commented directly about anything related to the facts regarding criminal procedure.

“J.B. did everything right in the Newago case,” said Ozaukee County District Attorney Sandy Williams. “Ms. Falk is wrong.”

Falk is falling in the polls and has been on the defensive for a lack of experience and left wing history that has made it hard for her to gain the support of mainstream Democrats. Her team has resorted to a desperate lie to rescue her faltering campaign.

Van Hollen is now endorsed by a stunning 46 sheriffs and 55 district attorneys; of those 101 top law enforcement professionals backing Van Hollen, 18 are Democrats. Van Hollen is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Union of Police Associations/AFL-CIO, the Wisconsin Troopers' Association, the Wisconsin Sheriff and Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, the Milwaukee Police Association, the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Deputies Association, the Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization, the Racine Police Association, the New Berlin Professional Police Association and the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association.

New Television Ads

The campaign is airing two new television commercials this week.

Here's one.






Here's the other.

Sleaze Promotes Falk Via Lies

Legal experts in Wisconsin, including a major supporter of Kathy Falk, agree that a new sleazy attack ad by the Greater Wisconsin Committee is a lie.

Yesterday Falk supporters began running a television ad which lies about J.B. Van Hollen’s prosecution of Stanley Newago in Bayfield County in 2000. They allege Van Hollen could have revoked Newago’s bail on an assault charge prior to Newago’s commission of a brutal murder. That is a lie.

The evidence that the GWC ad is demonstrably false is overwhelming according to a bipartisan analysis.

Frank Tuerkheimer is one of the preeminent authorities on Wisconsin Criminal law. He is a University of Wisconsin Law Professor and of counsel to the Madison firm of LaFollette Godfrey and Kahn. He has been United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, an Associate Watergate Prosecutor and an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. As a private attorney, he has represented public interest groups for almost 30 years. He has also written in the areas of Evidence, Criminal Law and Privacy and has testified on these issues before Senate committees.

“Frank Tuerkheimer, a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin who has endorsed Falk, said there would have been no reason for Van Hollen to ask for revocation of Newago's bail unless something else had happened or he appeared to be a flight risk.” -Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 28, 2006.

District Attorneys from throughout the state agree with Tuerkheimer.

“Van Hollen's handling of that case was text book” said Washington Co. District Attorney Todd Martens. “Speaking of text books, perhaps the Falk team should take a refresher course on criminal prosecution. They either don't know what they are talking about, or their purposely trying to deceive Wisconsin voters.”

Several Democrat county prosecutors have also said the advertisement is a lie.

“I'm ashamed to say this is being done to help a fellow Democrat" said Pepin Co. District Attorney Jon Siefert. “I'm proud to be a Democrat but I want the world to know I don't tolerate that kind of garbage. I hope the ad never runs, but if it does, shame on the Falk team.”

"That television commercial by the Falk supporters is off base," said Iron Co. District Attorney Martin Lipske. "It's disgusting and not true. JB Van Hollen achieved the ultimate disposition on the Newago case and that is a sign that he is the only true prosecutor in this race. Fighting crime and bringing justice to victims is not a partisan battle. I'm a Democrat, but I support JB Van Hollen because he is the only candidate running who has experience bringing justice to victims of violent crime."

Adams County District Attorney Mark Thibodeau yesterday became the third Democrat District Attorney to chastise the Falk team for a sleazy new ad.

“An ad such as the one now running shows the Falk team's lack of understanding of the way the criminal justice system works,” said Thibodeau, a Democrat.

The Van Hollen campaign had previously sent a letter to the Falk campaign and her supporters, providing them the facts of the Newago case and warning them not to produce an ad which distorted the actual record. Her supporters refused to comply.

Kathleen Falk is hiding and has refused all requests to comment directly on the ad.

Falk is trailing in the polls and has been on the defensive for a lack of experience and left wing history that has made it hard for her to gain the support of mainstream Democrats. Her team has resorted to a desperate lie to rescue her faltering campaign.

Van Hollen is now endorsed by a stunning 46 sheriffs and 55 district attorneys; of those 101 top law enforcement professionals backing Van Hollen, 18 are Democrats. Van Hollen is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Union of Police Associations/AFL-CIO, the Wisconsin Troopers' Association, the Wisconsin Sheriff and Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, the Milwaukee Police Association, the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Deputies Association, the Milwaukee Police Supervisors Organization, the Racine Police Association, the New Berlin Professional Police Association and the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association.

First AG Ad of General Election

The first ad of the General Election is being run by J.B. Van Hollen. It begins running today in Southeast Wisconsin.

You can help us pay to keep this ad up there and run it elsewhere by clicking here to access our secure contributor site.

Wisconsin Professional Police Association Supports JB

J.B. VAN HOLLEN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

Even though the WPPA PAC recognized Kathleen Falk’s strong record on labor-related issues, as well as her ability to effectively manage a large governmental entity, the PAC viewed J.B. Van Hollen’s prosecutorial experience, as well as his experience in criminal justice management, as more applicable to the position of state attorney general.

“WPPA is endorsing JB Van Hollen for attorney general because he best represents what law enforcement needs from the Department of Justice – a focus on crime fighting and prevention,” said Bill Chesen, WPPA Board Member and Racine Police officer. “Gang and gun violence, drug use and cyber crime deserve top priority for the state’s ‘top cop’ and Van Hollen has demonstrated his commitment to working with local law enforcement to better serve our communities.”

Law Enforcement?

On Monday, November 7, 2005 three Assistant Attorneys General Wisconsin Department of Justice sent the following letter to the ten Democratic legislators who urged Kathleen Falk to run against incumbent Peg Lautenschlager for the office of State Attorney General. Here is the text of that letter.

Three Assistant Attorneys General say Falk

lacks experience at law-enforcement

November 7, 2005

We are Wisconsin Assistant Attorneys General, serving in the Criminal Appeals Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. We are career appellate prosecutors with almost 60 years of combined service. One of us served as a police officer in both civilian and military service and as the Attorney General's designee on the Law Enforcement Standards Board, and two of us have served as local municipal court judges. We have worked for Attorneys General of both major political parties, and we occupy different spots on the political spectrum.

We are writing to express our concern about your November 2, 2005 letter to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, urging her to run as a Democratic candidate for the office of Wisconsin Attorney General. Specifically, we note your reference to Ms. Falk's "strong" background in law enforcement, as evidenced by her service as Public Intervenor.

Without depreciating the importance of her work in that position, we think it necessary to point out that this was not a law enforcement position, as that term is commonly understood (and how the public will understand it in a political campaign). Ms. Falk was principally a civil litigator at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. She was not a sworn law enforcement officer, nor was she a criminal prosecutor at either the trial or appellate level. To suggest, as you do, that her work as the Public Intervenor constitutes "over-decade-long law enforcement service" creates a misleading impression of the nature of her work and the nature of law enforcement work. The Wisconsin Attorney General is the state's chief law enforcement officer -- or, as the Governor often said while he served in that post, the state's "Top Cop." The necessary experience can't be bestowed by label, or by a paragraph in a legislator's letter.

All three of us served with Ms. Falk at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. We value and admire her intellect and her legal skills. She is serving the people of Dane County admirably as their County Executive. We do not doubt that she is well-suited for statewide office, but not the office of Attorney General at this time. That position is currently held by Peg Lautenschlager, a highly qualified, highly skilled attorney with the necessary breadth of civil and criminal law experience for that position.

William Gansner
Gregory M. Weber
Christopher G. Wren

Falk's Administrative Abilities Questioned

Van Hollen rips Falk over zoning chief's photos

By Bill Novak

Republican state attorney general candidate J.B. Van Hollen is blasting his Democratic opponent, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, for allowing the county's zoning administrator to stay on the payroll until Oct. 31 after nude pictures were discovered on a county-owned camera in August.

Falk has declined to comment, but her chief of staff, Topf Wells, fired back at Van Hollen, calling his comments "outrageous, ill-informed and vicious speculation."

Peter Conrad, Dane County's zoning administrator since May 2003, has been under internal investigation since Aug. 28 after a zoning inspector found the nude images on a digital camera that had been in Conrad's possession the previous weekend.

Planning and development department director Todd Violante sent an e-mail to County Board supervisors last week, saying Conrad resigned effective Oct. 31, but will work on "a list of outstanding projects that do not require his presence in the office" until the end of the month.

Read the whole story from Madison's Capital Times here.