Contact: Alec Zimmerman
(608) 257-4765
(608) 257-4765
Expert Calls Out Gronik for His Shady Response
[Madison, WI]—A recent report from Fox 6 News uncovered more shady political activity from Democrat recruit for governor, Andy Gronik. After review, Gronik’s name wasn’t found on a list of those that signed the recall petition. Gronik’s excuse for not signing and failing the key litmus test for the Democrats: “I was never asked.”
His shady answer drew quick comment from UW-Milwaukee professor Moredecai Lee, who said that, in 2011, “You couldn’t go out in public and not have somebody ask you to sign the recall petition.” Gronik’s answer comes on the tails of him dodging questions on ties to a political operative formerly under RICO investigation.
Andy Gronik needs to stop dodging tough questions and own up to his record.
Read excerpts of the story below, or watch the full coverage online here.
Democrat looking to challenge Gov. Walker didn’t sign recall petition, says he was never asked to
Fox 6 News
Theo Keith
June 12, 2017
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik, a Democrat who’s seriously considering a challenge to Gov. Scott Walker next year, didn’t sign a recall petition against Walker in 2012.
Democrats and liberal groups widely circulated petitions during a 60-day period from November 2011 through January 2012. Activists stood on street corners, outside stores, football games, and at other public venues to collect signatures in the effort to remove Walker from office over Act 10, the law that ended many collective bargaining rights for most public-sector workers. Gronik’s explanation for why he didn’t sign?
“I was never asked to sign the recall petition,” Gronik told FOX6 News in an email. He declined an interview.
Gronik’s decision stands out among the several Democrats who have said they’re interested in running for governor. Many others did sign, according to the tea party website iverifytherecall.com, which contains a database of recall signatures.
Mordecai Lee, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, questioned Gronik’s explanation.
“If they really were committed to being against Act 10 and figured that, as a Democrat, this was a symbol of how they opposed Scott Walker, you think somebody could’ve found how to do it,” Lee said. “You couldn’t go out in public and not have somebody ask you to sign the recall petition.” Democrats eventually got 1 million signatures to force a recall election, in which Walker prevailed over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
All Democratic nominees for governor or U.S. Senate since 2012 signed a recall petition: Barrett, 2014 gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and 2016 U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold.
State Rep. Dana Wachs, whose name doesn’t appear on the tea party groups’ database, said he could “testify with my hand in the air” that he signed. In a telephone interview, he said his wife was circulating petitions and he had given speeches advocating for the recall.
Wisconsin Republicans played up the difference between Gronik and the other potential candidates over the recall issue.
“Wisconsin Democrats are still struggling with how to take on Wisconsin’s comeback — and this divide in their party is yet another example,” said Alec Zimmerman, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Watch the full story online here.
