Green donor to vote on Green donations

The State Elections Board has a new member,Gregory Paradise, to help decide a crucial case about Mark Green's contributions, and he should be an expert on the issue, being a $500 donor to Green himself.

The Journal Sentinel, which continues to play the role of Green advocate and apologist, reports the donation, but then tries to explain it away:

Paradise donated $500 to Green's campaign in May, according to Wisconsin Democracy Campaign records - a donation that a Doyle campaign official said proved he was handpicked by Green to serve on the panel. But two Democratic board members often have given to their party's legislators and candidates, records show.

Actually, records don't show that any other Elections Board members have donated to either Green or Doyle, unless it was in the pre-primary report filed this month, which is not in the data base yet.

If this is a Green-Doyle dispute, as it is portrayed by the newspaper, contributions to one of them might be relevant. Giving to any Republican or Democrat is not comparable to giving to one of those two, and would hardly be a disqualifier, since the board members are named by the political parties and partisan elected officials.

How independent and open-minded will Paradise be? Back to the JS story:

[Assembly Speaker John] Gard said he did not tell Paradise how to vote on any issue. "He'll figure it out," Gard said.

UPDATE: Seth Zlotocha says that if all you know if what you read in the JS, you probably have no idea what the latest case against Green is all about.

UPDATE 2: The AP reports on Paradise's appointment and his contribution to Green, but adds:

Paradise, an attorney with Mohs, MacDonald, Widder & Paradise in Madison, said he is not affiliated with any political party.

That must mean Paradise hasn't paid his party dues. If there's any doubt of his Republican connections, check these contributions to candidates for US Senate and House, Republicans all, from Open Secrets:

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
ATTORNEY
8/12/2004
$1,000
Michels, Tim J

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
ATTORNEY
10/13/2004
$500
Michels, Tim J

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
MOHS WILDER PARADISE
9/30/2003
$500
Welch, Bob

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
SELF/ATTORNEY
9/17/2004
$250
Magnum, David

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
ATTORNEY
10/7/1998
$750
Musser, Josephine

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
SELF/ATTORNEY
12/8/1999
$500
Sharpless, John Burk

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53703
MOHS MCDONALD PARADISE & WIDDER/ATT
10/12/2000
$250
Sharpless, John Burk

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI
ATTORNEY
6/19/1996
$500
Zien, David A

PARADISE, GREGORY
MADISON,WI 53711
MOHS MCDONALD & WIDDER
10/21/1996
$500
Klug, Scott L

PARADISE, GREGORY J
MADISON,WI 53711
MOHS, MCDONALD & WIDDER
1/18/1994
$500
Klug, Scott

PARADISE, GREGORY J
MADISON,WI 53703
MOHS, MCDONALD & WIDDER
1/8/1992
$500
Klug, Scott L

PARADISE, GREGORY J
MADISON,WI 53703
MOHS, MCDONALD & WIDDER
10/26/1992
$500
Klug, Scott L

PARADISE, GREGORY J
MADISON,WI 53703
ATTORNEY
7/16/1990
$250
Klug, Scott L