Where did the money go Gov. Walker?

Mary Stitt, wife of a former Wis. Rep. Senator turned lobbyist who is now tied to a corporate law firm, worked on candidate Scott Walker's gubernatorial campaign staff as "lead fundraiser."

But it seems she raised a bit of money from his campaign as well — getting paid some $215,000 in "consulting fees" between March 2009 and Nov. 2010 — the last payment of $30,250 made on Nov. 8, six days after the election.

What's up with that?

Gov. Walker is now in the midst of a heavy-handed effort to roll back collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin's unionized public employees, including teachers — which has prompted a thousands-strong, now days-long protest outside and inside the statehouse in Madison, Wis.

Mary Stitt’s husband, Donald, kicked in $2,000 to the Walker campaign as well, listing his occupation on campaign finance reports as an “attorney” with the Milwaukee-based law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC. Both Mary and Donald Stitt are listed as residing at the same Port Washington, Wis., address on those same reports.

A “labor and employment law” attorney with the Whyte Hirschboeck penned an article in 2007 called “Remaining Union Free in Today’s Changing Environment.”

Among the advice advanced in that article is the following:

“In light of this changing environment, employers that perceive a risk from organized labor are well advised to prepare. Once there is top management commitment to dedicate the time and resources to remain union-free, a “union-free strategic plan” should be implemented.”

It seems Gov. Walker has now taken on that “top management” role and is now in the process of seeking to implement a “union-free strategic plan” for the state of Wisconsin.

Consulting Fees Paid by Walker Campaign to Mary Stitt

Date / Payment [$]
• 3/23/09 ... 2,500.00
• 4/2/09 ... 2,500.00
• 5/7/09 ... 8,000.00
• 7/6/09 ... 16,000.00
• 7/23/09 ... 500
• 8/10/09 ... 8,000.00
• 9/7/09 ... 9,006.00
• 10/19/09 ... 8,000.00
• 11/4/09 ... 8,000.00
• 11/30/09 ... 8,000.00
• 1/17/10 ... 8,000.00
• 2/7/10 ... 10,500.00
• 3/22/10 ... 10,500.00
• 4/14/10 ... 10,500.00
• 5/17/10 ... 10,500.00
• 6/15/10 ... 10,500.00
• 7/19/10 ... 10,500.00
• 8/9/10 ... 10,500.00
• 9/24/10 ... 10,500.00
• 10/27/10 ... 10,500.00
• 10/30/10 ... 1,300.00
• 11/5/10 ... 10,500.00
• 11/8/10 ... 30,250.00

Source: Campaign Finance Reports, State of Wisconsin