In what Wisconsin representatives call an unprecedented event in the state Legislature, Democrats recently discovered state Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin, intercepted e-mails sent to Democrats from the Legislative Hotline staff.
\It really makes me feel violated, makes me feel dirty, the fact that somebody would have the right to get the e-mail prospectively,"" said state Rep. Tom Hebl, D-Sun Prairie. ""It just shows the extent that people will go to try to get a benefit [in] future state-wide elections.""
The Legislative Hotline is a means for constituents to call and have a secretary type an e-mail to their representatives urging them to take certain positions on legislative agenda. According to state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, Gundrum used the e-mails to make a list of constituents who shared his position on the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Black said Gundrum may run for attorney general and was using the e-mails to gain political support.
Gundrum could gather the e-mails, addresses and phone numbers of supporters of the amendment, Hebl said, adding Gundrum went around the state asking people to call into the hotline.
However, state Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, said it is perfectly legal to make an open records request. He added Gundrum's name was on every e-mail that came to people's offices indicating he also received a copy.
He clearly was not hiding anything, Underheim said.
Gundrum was unavailable for comment, and according to Hebl neither he nor any other Republican legislator has issued a statement on the issue.
Hebl said he thought the leaders of the Republican Party should have made efforts to ensure something like this will not happen in the future, adding the party's silence has been ""deafening"" so far.
Black said if investigators prove Gundrum was using the e-mails for personal political purposes, he could be subject to criminal penalties.
Democratic legislators have already obtained copies of the e-mails Gundrum intercepted, and Hebl said Democrats plan to make a list of these senders to ensure their names do not show up on future campaign finance reports.
He added he hopes Wisconsin residents will realize Gundrum's acts if he decides to run for attorney general.
""Wisconsin people will find he's totally out of touch with what Wisconsin people are thinking,"" he said.
