Posted on 11/10/2013 3:45:10 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
MADISON – On Wednesday, The Senate Elections and Urban Affairs Committee approved the nominations of four members to the Government Accountability Board. This came after a public hearing on Tuesday in review of the nominations.
During the hearing, the committee reviewed the nominations of two existing board members: Judges Gerald C. Nichol and Timothy Vocke along with two new members: Judges Harold Froehlich and Elsa Lamelas.
Judge Timothy Vocke, who currently serves as the Board’s Chairperson, was approved on an unanimous 5-0 vote on Wednesday. Vocke, resides in Rhinelander and is a retired Vilas County Circuit Court Judge. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney for Racine County doing consumer protection and criminal cases. In 1976, he was appointed as District Attorney for Vilas County, but later ran unsuccessfully for a full term as a Democrat. Vocke then served as a nonpartisan circuit court judge from 1979 to 1983. He then moved to private practice. Outside of his private practice, he has served as a Reserve Judge, Medical Malpractice Mediator, and Referee for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Vocke was first appointed to the GAB in 2011 by Governor Scott Walker. He left the board in December of 2011 to run for Circuit Court in Oneida County. He was reappointed to his vacant seat in March of 2012. His term expires in 2017, and his appointment has yet to be confirmed by the State Senate.
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In his public testimony to the Committee on Tuesday, Vocke stressed the importance of “service to other people” as his motivation to serve on the GAB.
Judge Gerald C. Nichol, who currently serves as the Board’s Vice-Chairperson, was approved by an unanimous 5-0 vote on Wednesday. Nichol, who currently resides in Madison, was a former Dane County Circuit Court Judge. He served two years in the Army before receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan along with his law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nichol worked mostly in private practice 1963 to 1988. He was elected as a Republican to the position of Dane County District Attorney in 1970 and served until 1972. During his years in private practice, he also served as Special Counsel to both the Office of Lawyer Regulation and the State Ethics Board (a precursor to the GAB). Nichol served as Municipal Judge for the Town of Madison from 1974 to 1987 before being elected to the Dane County Circuit Court in 1988. He served on the court until 2004. Nichol was an original appointee to the board nominated by Governor Jim Doyle and confirmed by the Senate in 2008 for a term expiring in 2012. Gov. Walker re-nominated Nichol in 2012 for a term expiring in 2018.
In his public testimony on Tuesday, Nichol discussed his two years as the Dane County District Attorney. He discussed the corruption going on in local and state government at the time including fixed contracts. Nichol described his time as DA as the “two toughest years” of his career. He described his experiences as preparation to make tough decisions and deal with controversy
Also, two new nominees were approved by the Senate Elections Committee on Wednesday
Harold Froehlich’s nomination was approved by committee by a 3-2 vote. An Appleton resident, he served as an Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge from 1981 to 2011. If confirmed by the Senate, his GAB term will expire in May of 2016. Froehlich was a former Congressman from 1973 to 1975 as a Republican representing Wisconsin’s 8th District which is currently represented by Republican Reid Ribble (R-Kaukauna).
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According to the Biographical Directory of the US Congress, Froehlich grew up in Appleton. He received both his Bachelor’s and his law degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to attending college, Froehlich served in the Navy from 1955 to 1959. After being admitted to the Wisconsin State Bar in 1962, he worked as a Real Estate Agent and Certified Public Accountant in Appleton. Froehlich served in the State Assembly from 1963 to 1973. During his time in the Legislature, he served as the Republican Caucus Chair along with serving two years as Speaker and two years as Minority Leader. He left the Assembly in 1973 upon his election to Congress. Froehlich was appointed to the Outagamie Circuit Court in 1981 by Gov. Lee S. Dreyfus. He was elected to a full six year term in 1982, and he continued to be re-elected until his retirement in 2011.
In his public testimony on Tuesday, Froehlich mentioned his two year stint in Congress was during the Watergate Scandal where he served on the House Judiciary Committee. Froelich voted in favor of impeaching former President Richard Nixon. Froehlich said that his experience with Watergate demonstrates his ability to make tough decisions and look at the facts. He stressed his approach to jurisprudence as one of looking at “both sides” and the “facts.”
In explaining why he wants to serve on the GAB, Froehlich said “I believe our laws should be strictly enforced.” He also said he wishes to “dampen down” controversy on the Board.
Elsa Lamelas was approved by the Senate Elections Committee by an unanimous 5-0 vote. A Shorewood resident, she served as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge from 1993 to until retiring in 2012. If confirmed by the Senate, her GAB term will expire in May of 2019. Lamelas would be the first woman to serve on the GAB.
In her appearance at the hearing, Lamelas described her qualifications. She was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 1993 by Governor Tommy Thompson. During her time in Wisconsin’s largest Circuit Court, Lamelas served on the first domestic violence court in addition to doing rotations in homicides, drugs, family law and probate. In discussing her experience on the court, Lamelas said I’m “not a stranger to controversy or a very busy docket.”
Lamelas began her career with the United States Department of Justice working in the Civil Rights Division. She cited her past work prosecuting cases involving excessive use of force by police along with cross burning.
In her public testimony on Tuesday, Lamelas said “the work of this board is so incredibly important to the people of our state; the integrity of the process is key to a democracy, and I believe in that very firmly.”
Lamelas stressed that within limits of ethics, she plans to reach out to the legislators to better communicate what the GAB is doing and understand what “animates” them.
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) was formed in 2007 and began meeting in 2008. The GAB oversees campaign finance, election administration, lobbying and ethics in the state. The GAB was designated in 2007 as a replacement for the State Election and State Ethics Boards, both formed in 1974.
The GAB has a full time staff divided into three divisions: administration, elections and ethics. On top of the full time staff, the governor appoints six former judges to the board who serve staggered six year terms. Board members are confirmed by the State Senate, and all board members and staff are required to maintain non-partisanship.
New appointments to the GAB approved by Senate Committee
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Me, too! Enough with the Leftist Crazies from Madistan holding our entire STATE hostage!
Let’s secure these voting machines... Said a week after the elections..
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