Tuesday, July 1, 2025
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Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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Waukesha County DA Candidate Lesli Boese Slams Mike Thurston Over Chisholm Donations

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“To say my opponent’s donations are a concern would be an understatement. Thurston donated more to John Chisholm than Darrell Brooks’ bail was set at – that speaks volumes” -prosecutor Lesli Boese.

Waukesha County DA candidate Lesli Boese is slamming DA candidate Mike Thurston for his repeated donations to Democratic Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, saying that Thurston “donated more to John Chisholm than Darrell Brooks’ bail was set at.”

In a previous interview with Wisconsin Right Now, Thurston stated that he doesn’t recall making four of the five donations to the controversial Democratic DA, although they are documented in campaign finance reports.

He defended the donation he does recall, in 2016, by saying that the candidate Chisholm was running against then, Verona Swanigan, was the “far worse” candidate in the race. However, Swanigan was the candidate heavily backed by conservatives (like Dick Uihlein and Eric O’Keefe) in that race. They were upset about Chisholm’s later-discredited John Doe prosecution of Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his associates. Chisholm even slammed her “right-wing backers” during the campaign.

“The fact that Thurston’s donations are getting so much attention is solely the result of the concern Waukesha County residents have about the possibility of a prosecutor like Chisholm becoming the next DA in Waukesha County,” Boese wrote in a June 3 news release. “John Chisholm’s policies don’t work in Milwaukee, and as a result crime is spilling over into Waukesha County. The Waukesha Christmas Parade case is just one tragic example of this.” Boese, a prosecutor, co-chaired the Waukesha Christmas parade prosecution.

Boese and Thurston, both prosecutors in the Waukesha County DA’s office, are squaring off in an August primary. Both are running as Republicans; he referred to himself as a “moderate Republican” in an email to Wisconsin Right Now. Current DA Sue Opper is retiring. Thurston has received a number of prominent law enforcement endorsements in the race.

Boese’s comments come after Aaron Sparks, the father of Jackson Sparks, the youth baseball player who was murdered by Brooks, raised concerns about Thurston’s Chisholm donations in social media posts. Thurston donated to Chisholm five times in five different years: 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2014.

Sparks shared the WRN story on Thurston’s Chisholm donations and wrote, “I’m not usually someone who will post anything political. But as a father and family so intimately affected by the Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack, it’s a subject always on my mind and close to my heart. Why was Brooks out on such a low bail in the first place? Wait… he tried to run over his girlfriend just a few weeks prior to the attack? How would someone like this get such low bail? How could this happen?”

He added, “That is how Milwaukee County handles these cases. Loose. Soft on crime. I don’t want this leniency to happen in our home here in Waukesha County. I think we all need to get out and vote this August and make sure we don’t let someone with Milwaukee County stance on crime and bail to be the DA in Waukesha County. Otherwise, this all happens again, to another one of our families. And speaking from experience… I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy,”

In a Facebook comment, Sparks wrote, “I’d be curious to Thurston’s stance on Chishom’s team’s handling of Brooks and his bail. All we know is he has contributed to Chisholm’s campaign many times. So, he is clearly a big supporter of Chisholm. You don’t contribute to a campaign so many times if you don’t support it, right?”

You can read Thurston’s explanation for his donations in full here. WRN reached out for comment from Thurston on Boese’s press release and Sparks’ comments but did not receive a response.

Waukesha county da

Thurston, who is running on a tough-on-crime platform, has a section on bail reform on his website. “Shockingly, our Wisconsin Constitution and our bail statutes currently prohibit sitting judges and court commissioners from considering the dangerousness of a defendant when deciding how much cash bail he should be released on. As far back as September of 2017, I am proud of my work with State Representative Cindy Duchow for her determined efforts to pass common-sense bail reform,” he wrote.

“Waukesha County residents have seen how soft-on-crime policies are failing Milwaukee, and they expect us to hold people accountable for their actions in order to keep our community safe,” Boese wrote in the June 3 release.

Lesli boese
Lesli boese

Asked by WRN why Swanigan, the conservative choice in the 2016 race, was the worst candidate, Thurston declined to answer. He also previously declined to answer when WRN asked for his position on Chisholm’s John Doe probe, which enraged prominent conservatives all over the state. The John Doe was sort of a precursor to the Democrats’ lawfare against President Donald Trump.

Chisholm, a Democrat, launched the second sweeping criminal John Doe probe into conservatives in 2012 after an earlier investigation into Walker’s county executive office. It targeted many prominent conservatives in his network and the state. The state Supreme Court put a stop to it in 2015 after a judge found the Walker network was being pursued for something not a crime. Thurston’s largest donation to Chisholm came just one year after that.

Mike thurston waukesha da
Mike thurston, waukesha da candidate, and milwaukee da john chisholm.

“Mike Thurston donated $2,300 dollars to Milwaukee DA John Chisholm from 2014-2020. His explanation for the donations was that Chisholm’s opponent would have been a worse alternative. However, during the time Thurston made donations to Chisholm’s campaign, only one donation was made in a year Chisholm had an opponent,” Boese wrote.

“People donate to causes they believe in. Thurston has made donations to not only Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm’s campaign over the years, but to other democratic candidates in other states as well,” Boese added.

“It’s also concerning that all but one of Thurston’s donations to John Chisholm were made while he was not only living in Waukesha County, but also was working in the Waukesha County DA’s office. It would not take anyone longer than a couple of weeks as a prosecutor or resident in Waukesha County to see how Chisholm’s soft on crime policies directly impact Waukesha County,” she added.

“The residents of Waukesha County have voiced their concern with soft-on-crime policies loud and clear. With Mike Thurston as DA, this would become reality for Waukesha,” she added.

“I am committed to holding criminals accountable, providing victims a greater voice, and collaborating with our law enforcement agencies. As your DA, I will work to ensure Waukesha County remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family,” Boese said.

 

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(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

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Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

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“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

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The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”

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