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Though Barbara Gronemus has spoken out in an ad for Democrat Chris Danou against what she calls negative campaigning by Republican Dave Hegenbarth, she said that is not an endorsement.
Gronemus sent a news release Tuesday asserting that she has not endorsed any of the four candidates. The Democrat, retiring after 26 years, vowed early on not to endorse a successor.
Her statement came after a radio ad she recorded for Danou decrying negative campaigning. “My voting decision will be made on just where the two candidates stand on important issues to me — especially agriculture — though one candidate has decided to run a negative campaign,” Gronemus said in the ad, which was also distributed last week in recorded phone calls.
Immediately after, Danou says “I’m Chris Danou and I’m proudly running a positive campaign and ask for your vote on Nov. 4.”
Hegenbarth acknowledged Gronemus is unhappy with his campaign but accused Danou of “dirty politics” for misusing her voice.
Gronemus said she recorded the statement without knowing Danou would append his message. Danou said Gronemus was aware she was recording an ad for him.
The negativity complaint stems from a direct mail piece from Hegenbarth’s campaign that features a letter from Danou printed in the Jan. 6, 2005, La Crosse Tribune. In the letter, Danou wrote, “if the human species is going to make it to the next millennium we will need to dispense with religious faith and its irrational dogmas.”
Danou, an Onalaska police officer, said the letter was a response to those who said the Dec. 25, 2004, tsunami that killed an estimated 8,000 people was an act of God intended to punish Muslims.
Hegenbarth also has accused Danou of launching a “negative, deceptive attack” through a “shadowy third-party group.”
The Greater Wisconsin Committee, a progressive political action committee, has run radio ads that accuse Hegenbarth, who owns four grocery stores, of heading “one of Madison’s most powerful lobbying groups.”
The two-term president of the Wisconsin Grocers Association said he has never been a lobbyist and that he joined the trade group to “fight back” against the state’s high taxes.
Danou said he has no control over that group’s actions.
No one has accused the other two candidates, Libertarian Ted Burleson and independent Paul Beseler, of negative campaigning.
Beseler, though, complained Hegenbarth has trashed Danou for supporting the Healthy Wisconsin insurance plan, which Danou hasn’t endorsed.
Beseler is the only one in the race who supports the plan. “I’m not even worthy of being bashed,” he said.
