Reynolds bails on tonight's debate; Sullivan doesn't

Aug. 23, 2006 - State Sen. Tom Reynolds backed out of a debate scheduled for Wednesday, but Democratic challenger Jim Sullivan will participate in the event, Sullivan's campaign manager said.

Reynolds bailed because organizers would not ban non-media video cameras.

"Is Reynolds trying to hide from his extremism and his public record?" Sullivan campaign manager Lewis Rosser asked during an interview.

Reynolds, a West Allis Republican, backed out of the long-scheduled forum on Tuesday, after learning that non-media news cameras might be allowed, according to wispolitics.com.

"I was trying to kind of clean up these debates and not have these groups filming their attack ads there," he said.

Organizers refused to give in to Reynolds' demand for a last-minute change in the debate rules.

"They're public officials -- video cameras would be appropriate," Rosser said.

Sullivan, a Wauwatosa alderman, lawyer, and Navy Reserves officer, welcomes video cameras, Rosser said.

Reynolds this week said he directed that discredited allegations about Sullivan be sent to JJ Blonien, a Reynolds campaign consultant and Senate staffer (see story below). Backing out of the debate means that Reynolds won't have to answer questions about the incident.

Sullivan and Reynolds are vying for the 5th District Senate seat. That district includes Story Hill.

The forum will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the Unitarian Universalist Church West, 13001 W. North Ave, Brookfield.

Reynolds previously ran afoul of rules allowing video camera use at the Wauwatosa Public Library.

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Reynolds dances on discredited Sullivan allegations

Aug. 21, 2006 -- State Sen. Tom Reynolds (R-West Allis) refused Monday to repudiate allegations that his Democratic challenger, Jim Sullivan, voted twice in 1996 even though the district attorney's office rejected the same claims six years ago.

Reynolds acknowledged that he personally directed Michael Goggins, who first made the allegations, to send relevant voting records to JJ Blonien, a Reynolds campaign consultant, who helped ensure their further spread.

"What Mike Goggins has is interesting information," Reynolds said in an interview.

Blonien has acknowledged sending the records to Stan Zurawski, a well-known Wauwatosa anti-porn and anti-stormwater retention pond protester who has run unsuccessully for mayor multiple times.

Progressive blogger Bill Christofferson has uncovered evidence that Blonien actually wrote the letter Zurawski sent to the Wauwatosa News-Times this month that dredged up the old charges

Sullivan's campaign manager Lewis Rosser said in an interview that it is clear that the Reynolds' campaign was behind the attack. Sullivan still has not ruled out taking legal action against those involved in spreading the discredited allegations.

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Reynolds' camp finds, takes the low road
Discredited allegations, foul language featured

Aug. 18, 2006 -- The campaign for the 5th District state senate seat hit a low point this week when Republicans associated with incumbent Tom Reynolds (R-West Allis) spread discredited allegations that Democratic challenger Jim Sullivan voted twice in 1996 presidential election.

The district includes Story Hill.

"F*** you," conservative Republican publisher Bob Donhal responded when progressive blogger Bill Christofferson cautioned that continuing to push the allegations could bring "legal peril."

"Oh Boy, you frighten me so much I am peeing in my pants," Donhal wrote in an e-mail to Christofferson.

Donhal, publisher of the Conservative Digest, is closely allied with Reynolds. Reynolds could not be reached for comment Friday.

Donhal said later his cursing was simply repeating what Sullivan's attorney said to him six years ago.

"Crude people Sullivan and his attorney," Donhal wrote.

The double-voting allegation, originally made in 2000 by Wauwatosa resident Michael Goggins, was dismissed at that time by the district attorney's office.

Goggins alleged that Sullivan voted in Wauwatosa and Whitefish Bay. Sullivan lives in Wauwatosa; his father, James O. Sullivan Sr., lives in Whitefish Bay.

The district attorney's office said in dismissing Goggins allegation:

The Whitefish Bay voter history list fails to carefully distinguish James Sullivan, Sr. from James Sullivan, Jr. More specifically, the entry for "Sullivan, James (Jr.)" lists a date of birth of "10/27/36." James Sullivan, Jr., in fact, is just 32 years old. He was not born in 1936. This confusion as to voter identity renders Whitefish Bay voter history records as to James Sullivan, Jr. and James Sullivan Sr. unreliable and valueless.

Sullivan's lawyer, Michael Hart, also cautioned Donhal in 2000 that the double-voting allegation was false.

The purpose of this letter is to place you on formal notice that any further communication whether written or oral including but not limited to, the dissemination and/or distribution of campaign literature claiming that Mr. Sullivan engaged in illegal or improper conduct with respect to his voting history, place of residency and/or compliance with State election laws will be deemed actionable as knowing misstatements of fact, and we will take any and all legal action on behalf of Mr. Sullivan to enforce his rights.