Business titans donate millions to Wis. governor

Associated Press

MADISON, Wis.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s fan list reads like a who’s who of some of the richest people in America: financial gurus, a Las Vegas casino president, even an NBA team owner.

And they came up big for the embattled governor, taking advantage of a quirk in state law to help Walker shatter Wisconsin political fundraising records as he faces two recall elections this spring.

Walker set the record for a state office with $12.1 million raised last year. Campaign-finance records filed Monday show he already has easily surpassed that this year, raising $13.1 million between Jan. 18 and last week. He spent nearly $11 million and had almost $4.9 million in the bank.

His biggest donor was Diane M. Hendricks, founder of Beloit, Wis.-based American Builders and Contractors Supply Co. Inc. Forbes estimates she’s worth $2.8 billion. She gave the governor $500,000. She did not immediately return messages left through her company spokeswoman.

The next two biggest donors were Sheldon Adelson, chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Sands casino, and Richard DeVos, owner of the Orlando Magic basketball team and co-founder of Amway Corp., a direct-sales company now under the Alticor company umbrella. Both gave Walker $250,000. Attempts to reach them were unsuccessful.

Five people each gave Walker $100,000, including John W. Childs, chief executive officer of Boston equity firm J.W. Childs Associates.

The donors and their money underscore how Walker’s reputation has spread throughout conservative circles after he pushed through legislation last year stripping most public-union workers of nearly all their bargaining rights.

Looking for revenge, Democrats have forced Walker and five other Republicans into recalls. Party primaries are set for Tuesday, with a general election to follow June 5.