Peg Lautenschlager
A former state Attorney General will serve as the first chair of the newly former Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Democrat Peg Lautenschlager was elected to the position Monday, after lots were drawn to determine which party would initially lead the panel. Republican-appointee Katie McCallum was chosen as vice-chair. Both will serve in those positions for two years.
The commission was set up under a law passed by Republicans last year that split the Government Accountability Board into separate ethics and elections panels. Both have an even split of members appointed by Republicans and Democrats.
Lautenschlager was elected attorney general in 2002 and served through 2006, when she was defeated in the primary by a Democrat. She was fined by the state’s former Ethics Board in 2004, after she pleaded guilty to driving drunk while behind the wheel of her state-owned vehicle.
Lautenschlager has been a private attorney since leaving office.
The Ethics Commission on Monday also offered its vacant administrator’s position to Brian Bell, who previously worked as an analyst for the GAB. Bell was one of 23 applicants for the position and was offered an annual salary of $92,500.