Politics & Government

Mayoral Candidate Donegan Apologizes for Error in Campaign Literature Disclosure

Alderman issues mea culpa, saying the lack of notice was an unintentional oversight that has been corrected.

Ald. Peter Donegan, one of three candidates for mayor of Wauwatosa, publicly acknowledged Saturday that his campaign had mailed and distributed literature that lacked the proper notice of who was paying for it.

Donegan apologized for the error and said it was an unintentional oversight.

All printed and electronic campaign materials are required to carry a notice identifying a person, such as a campaign treasurer, or an organization, such a campaign committee, that is financing the campaign.

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In this case, materials should include the statement "Approved and paid for by Pete Donegan for Mayor." A first round of mailings did not.

Donegan said in a statement that he was alerted to the problem almost immediately after his first mailing went out, and that he had rectified the problem and reprinted his campaign materials.

Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Donegan issued this statement Saturday to Wauwatosa Patch:

"I would like to inform (citizens) that I sent out mayoral campaign literature that failed to include the required statement identifying my Campaign Committee as the payer of the material.

"I know better, as does the Committee that reviewed the material, and the statement was included in the original version of the material. There were multiple edits, and all of my communication with the graphic artist was via e-mail. At the end of the day, I sent the wrong file. I was then in a hurry to get the mailing out, and a group of friends stuffed the mailing "hot off the press" without proofing.

"I was alerted of the error as soon as the mailer began arriving.Β  I immediately corrected the material.

"I apologize for the error and wish to assure everyone that it was a clerical one and not an indication of ignorance or disdain for the law."

Donegan's opponents, John Pokrandt and Kathy Ehley, were asked whether they had any comment.

"I accept the alderman's explanation for the missing disclosure statement and am sure he's aware of the importance of strictly following campaign law," Pokrandt said in his own statement. "I'm glad the problem has been rectified and expect it will not happen in the future."

Ehley, also in a prepared statement, said, "We have been very careful to include the required statement, 'Paid for by the Friends of Kathy Ehley for Mayor, Jamie Kristof, Treasurer,' on all our printed material.

"I am glad to see that Mr. Donegan has acknowledged his mistake and that, when alerted of the error, took steps to correct the situation."


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