The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
52
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/lateststories/...63945135400.xml
Milwaukee mayor hit with 5 civil counts
By CARRIE ANTLFINGER
The Associated Press
3/29/2004, 6:33 p.m. ET
MILWAUKEE (AP) --Prosecutors on Monday alleged campaign finance violations by the acting mayor, eight days before voters will decide between him and another candidate for mayor.
Pratt admitted that he made careless mistakes, but denounced the investigation as politically motivated and said he hopes voters judge him on issues like jobs, crime and education.
<br
"Mistakes were made and I accept responsibility," Pratt said.
Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt was accused of four civil counts of filing a false campaign finance report and one civil count of fai
ling
to deposit personal campaign contributions in a campaign account.
He faces a forfeiture of $2,500, which Pratt said he will pay.
District Attorney Michael McCann said Pratt's campaign finance reports did not match up with bank statements for his campaign account. The figures were allegedly off by $116,000 at the end of 2003.
The prosecutor decided against seeking a more serious charge aga inst Pratt, saying he did not believe there was a criminal motive. But, he described the problem as foolish and stupid.
"These are all disturbing, how else can you describe it," McCann said. "It is clear he is not very careful in how he handles his money."
Pratt became acting mayor in January when Mayor John Norquist left office four months early in the
wake of a sexual harassment scandal and an admission that he had an extramarital affair.
Pratt has been an alderman since 1987 and, as president of the city council, was elevated to acting m
ayor
upon Norqui
st's departure.
Pratt will square off with former Rep. Tom Barrett, a fellow Democrat, in t
he April 6 nonpartisan election.
Barrett contended the voters should be concerned about Pratt's finances because the mayor controls the budget and his employees take directives from him.
"If you're $100,000 off on a $300,000 campaign account, it's fair to ask how much would you be off on a billion-dollar city budget," Barrett said.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/lateststories/...63945135400.xml
Milwaukee mayor hit with 5 civil counts
By CARRIE ANTLFINGER
The Associated Press
3/29/2004, 6:33 p.m. ET
MILWAUKEE (AP) --Prosecutors on Monday alleged campaign finance violations by the acting mayor, eight days before voters will decide between him and another candidate for mayor.
Pratt admitted that he made careless mistakes, but denounced the investigation as politically motivated and said he hopes voters judge him on issues like jobs, crime and education.
<br
"Mistakes were made and I accept responsibility," Pratt said.
Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt was accused of four civil counts of filing a false campaign finance report and one civil count of fai
ling
to deposit personal campaign contributions in a campaign account.
He faces a forfeiture of $2,500, which Pratt said he will pay.
District Attorney Michael McCann said Pratt's campaign finance reports did not match up with bank statements for his campaign account. The figures were allegedly off by $116,000 at the end of 2003.
The prosecutor decided against seeking a more serious charge aga inst Pratt, saying he did not believe there was a criminal motive. But, he described the problem as foolish and stupid.
"These are all disturbing, how else can you describe it," McCann said. "It is clear he is not very careful in how he handles his money."
Pratt became acting mayor in January when Mayor John Norquist left office four months early in the
wake of a sexual harassment scandal and an admission that he had an extramarital affair.
Pratt has been an alderman since 1987 and, as president of the city council, was elevated to acting m
ayor
upon Norqui
st's departure.
Pratt will square off with former Rep. Tom Barrett, a fellow Democrat, in t
he April 6 nonpartisan election.
Barrett contended the voters should be concerned about Pratt's finances because the mayor controls the budget and his employees take directives from him.
"If you're $100,000 off on a $300,000 campaign account, it's fair to ask how much would you be off on a billion-dollar city budget," Barrett said.