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John Franke
John Franke is a former Board Member of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB), a governmental agency of Wisconsin administering elections and ethics laws in Wisconsin. Franke left office when the GAB was dissolved and replaced by the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the Wisconsin Ethics Commission on June 30, 2016.[1][2]
Professional career
Beginning in 1977, John Franke worked as the Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Wisconsin before moving to the U.S. Department of Justice's Milwaukee Field Office in 1982. Franke left that role in 1987 when he was elected Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge. Franke was subsequently re-elected in 1993, 1999 and 2005.[3]
Government Accountability Board
- See also: Government Accountability Board
Franke was appointed to the GAB by Gov. Scott Walker (R) in 2014. Along with Franke, the Candidate Committee suggested Hon. Michael Brennan, the Hon. Victor Manian and the Hon. Michael Nowakowsk for the position.[4]
John Doe investigations
Two John Doe investigations, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015, were launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm (D) into the activities of staff and associates of Gov. Scott Walker (R).[5] In October 2015, state Rep. Dean Knudson (R) introduced a reform plan that "would split the GAB into two separate commissions, one regulating ethics laws and the other covering elections. It would be similar to the system the GAB replaced in 2007." According to an article by Wisconsin Public Radio, "[ma]ny conservatives have cited the GAB’s involvement in the John Doe as the primary reason the agency should be eliminated. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said it was a factor."[6]
External link
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Government Accountability Board," accessed May 18, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Reid Magney, Wisconsin Elections Commission, Reid.Magney@wisconsin.gov," on May 18, 2020
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Judge John Franke," accessed July 20, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Governor Receives Nominees to Government Accountability Board," April 8, 2014
- ↑ United States District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, "Case No. 14-C-139," accessed December 1, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "GAB Chair Blasts Conservatives On Wisconsin Supreme Court," October 7, 2015
