The state's Government Accountability Board is raising questions after a Green Bay Republican's campaign event. State Senate candidate Chad Fradette gave gas station customers 34 cents for every gallon they bought earlier this month, to show them the impact of the state's minimum mark-up law . The law requires gas retailers to charge nine-percent above wholesale.
The board unanimously decided this week Fradette's actions were illegal. The ruling is an about face from an earlier e-mail from the Board's ethics director Jonathan Becker who told Fradette the event would comply with campaign finance laws. Fradette says he wishes he would've received the full board's differing opinion, before staging the event July 2.
"Our intent certainly wasn't anything sinister it was just to inform people of what they're paying at the pump," says the former Green Bay Alderman.
But Becker claims he told Fradette's campaign staff to check with the Brown County District Attorney, to see if the payments would violate the law. Fradette himself said he never knew of Becker's action.
The Board is asking District Attorney John Zakowski to look into the matter. The DA has not commented.
