2. Wisconsin Election Watch (Election Watch LLC)
Since May 2013, I have been honored to be the Editor and Project Manager for Wisconsin Election
Watch which is a start-up political news website that produced non-partisan reporting and research
content.
During my tenure, I supervised a team of four individuals including interns and an advertising
salesperson. My key responsibilities included ensuring proper day-to-day operation, pitching stories to
the mainstream media, approving the work of subordinates under my supervision, creating e-mail
marketing blasts, writing press releases, and hiring interns and staff. Some of my key
accomplishments as Editor include:
1.1 million page views
Earned Media from local, state, and national mainstream media.
Produced over 4,500 pages of content.
Credentialed press by the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly Sergeant at Arms.
In the next pages of the portfolio, you will see examples of an e-mail marketing blast, along with a
press release, and articles I written and edited.
Some of the key skills I have learned at Wisconsin Election Watch were:
E-Mail Marketing
WordPress
Mobile Website Development
Advanced Copywriting
Advanced Microsoft Office
Advertising Sales
3. Writing Sample 1-Example of an enterprise story I wrote
NOTE: Writing Sample 1-Can be accessed at: http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/17213/governor-walker-tripled-outstanding-
debts-2011/
Governor Walker tripled his outstanding
debts in 2011
By Kyle Maichle, Editor of Wisconsin Election Watch,
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) tripled his outstanding personal debts in 2011, but
has seen a decline since 2012. Wisconsin Election Watch has investigated the Statements of
Economic of Interests of Wisconsin’s elected officials on file with the Wisconsin Government
Accountability Board. The analysis of Governor Walker’s economic interest statements includes all
data on file from when he ran for Governor in 2010 up to 2013.
Walker Had Nominal Debt in 2010
While running for Governor in 2010, Walker held at least $5,000 to $50,000 of investments. The only
investment he held was a mutual fund from T. Rowe Price. His debts were at least $55,000 to
$100,000 according to his 2010 economic interest statement. There were only two creditors disclosed
on the Governor’s economic interest that year but the reason for the debts owed were not disclosed.
The Legal Bills Pile Up in 2011
One year later, the Governor reported debts at least $170,000 to $350,000 and did not disclose the T
Rowe Price Mutual Fund listed on his 2010 economic interest statement. Legal bills to two law firms
that include Terschan, Schile, and Nass in Milwaukee along with Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago was the
reason his debts nearly tripled. The legal bils alone were at least $55,000 to $100,000. Four other
creditors were disclosed in 2011 including two credit cards. Additionally, the Governor disclosed
expense reimbursements of $704.68 from NBC News, $687.90 from the Goldwater Institute, and
$1,177.66 from the Young America’s Foundation for the 2011 calendar year.
Governor Scott Walker’s Assets and Debts-2010-2013
Year Assets Debts
2010 $5,000-$50,000 $55,000-$100,000
2011 $0 $175,000-$350,000
2012 $5,000-$50,000 $160,000-$250,000
2013 $20,000-$200,000 $115,000-$250,000
DISCLAIMER-The numbers are disclosed in the statement of economic interest is a range and not as
the exact amount.
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
(Continued on the next page)
4. Walker Paid Off Some Legal Bills in 2012
Walker paid off his outstanding legal fees from Terschan, Schile, and Nass in Milwaukee, but reported
debts at least $160,000 to $250,000 on his 2012 economic interest statement. Some of those debts
included credit cards that the Governor held. Governor Walker did disclose holdings in a T-Rowe Price
Mutual Fund he held in 2012, but did not disclose in 2011. The T-Rowe Price Fund was the only
investment he held during 2012.
2013-Legal Bills Paid in Full, More Investments Held
Governor Walker paid off all outstanding legal fees from Sidley Austin while increasing his investment
holdings in 2013. The Governor obtained three additional investments in the 2013 calendar year in
addition to the T-Rowe Price Mutual Fund he currently held. Those included two investments in the
Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program and a Washington Mutual R6 Fund. The Governor
disclosed investments at least $20,000 to $200,000 while his debts dropped to at least $115,000 to
$250,000. Two credit cards were reported by Governor Walker as outstanding debts for the 2013
calendar year.
Wisconsin’s Methodology on Financial Disclosure
All the numbers disclosed in the statements of economic interests are reported as a range and not the
exact dollar amount. The Statement of Economic Interest does not display the value of the home
owned by the Governor and his wife First Lady Tonette Walker located in Wauwatosa nor any
outstanding mortgages. Wisconsin Election Watch talked to three accounting firms in the Madison
Area to get a net worth valuation of the Governor, but declined our requests citing that the statement of
economic interest alone does not provide sufficient information to determine an elected officials net
worth.
5. Writing Sample 2-Example of post I edited
NOTE: Writing Sample 2-Can be accessed at: http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/17153/59th-assembly-district-candidate-bill-
savage-history-financial-problems/
59th Assembly District candidate Bill
Savage has a history of financial problems
By Ryan Wittmann, Staff Contributor for Wisconsin Election Watch,
HARTFORD – Bill Savage (R-Hartford, 59th District), who is currently seeking the Republican
nomination for the 59th Assembly District seat, has a record of not paying his bills on time and being
taken to court because of it.
In a race to replace retiring Joint Finance Committee member Dan LeMahieu, who was one of the
architects of the 2011 Wisconsin State budget that eliminated a $3.6 billion dollar deficit, Savage has
defaulted on his personal credit cards three separate times. Those include $525.22 at the West Allis
Savings Bank in 1998, $574.40 at the First Service Credit Union in 1997, and $2,165.34 for a Best Buy
credit card in 2001 according to records obtained from the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Wild Bill’s Tavern, which is owned by Savage, was sued in Middlesex County, Massachusetts District
Court in 1999 by LeaseComm for $1,987.78. Wisconsin Election Watch contacted the Waltham District
Court located in Middlesex County to obtain the records, but a court clerk said that the records were
not on file and directed us to LeaseComm. LeaseComm could not release documents pertaining to this
case without the consent of Bill Savage.
In September of 1995, Savage was evicted from his apartment in Milwaukee for failing to pay $805 and
any additional costs related to the apartment. He has also been sued on two separate occasions for
failing to pay dentist bills both to Falls Dental Associates SC in the Washington County Circuit
Court. One of the cases involving Falls Dental Associates remains open.
Wisconsin Election Watch reached out to Bill Savage, and all the other candidates in the 59th
Assembly
District, including Ralph Prescott (R-Brothertown), Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) and Tim Ramthun (R-
Kewaskum). Savage did not respond to our phone call, Prescott had no comment, and Ramthun did
not respond to our request. Jesse Kremer did talk to Wisconsin Election Watch.
“I have learned integrity and honesty from my Christian family upbringing and my military service,”
Kremer told Wisconsin Election Watch. “These values have influenced my life as a full time employee
and as a small business owner. I always strive to provide the best service for customers and have
never had a dissatisfied client.”
Kremer owns two rental properties and told a story about a tenant and keeping him in their
property. “He was behind a few years on his rent but we wanted to work with him to keep him living
there. Everyone falls on hard times and I can empathize with that.”
Kremer did not want to comment directly about his opponent, but instead offered this, “If you take a
look at us (the candidates) we are similar on the issues, but we have very different personalities and
backgrounds. The voters of the 59th
district will do their research and determine who will best look out
for their interests going forward.”
6. Writing Sample 3-Press Release
NOTE: Writing Sample 3-Can be accessed at: http://thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/0205wew.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2014
Contact: Kyle Maichle, 608.620.3392
kyle.maichle@wisconsinelectionwatch.com
Wisconsin Election Watch Launches Per Diem Database
MADISON – Wisconsin Election Watch has launched a database tracking the per diem payments
received by elected officials in the State Assembly and Senate. The database will be open and available
to Wisconsin citizens, giving them the ability to view how much per diem their legislators are reporting.
Editor Kyle Maichle, along with staff contributors Nile Porter and Ryan Wittmann, began compiling the
information back in November. The per diem figures are based on records obtained from the Wisconsin
Assembly and Senate Chief Clerk’s offices for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013.
“Wisconsinites will now be able to know how much their elected officials receive in per diem payments,”
said Kyle Maichle, Editor of Wisconsin Election Watch. “Readers now have another way to hold their
representatives accountable for the taxpayer dollars they spend, in this case on items like travel
expenses.”
The Wisconsin Election Watch database can be found at the following links:
http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/14172/wisconsin-assembly-per-diem-figures-released/ and
http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/14176/wisconsin-senate-per-diem-figures-released-2011-2013/. We
would like to thank the Assembly and Senate Chief Clerk’s offices for their cooperation in providing us
with per diem data.
###
7. Kohl’s Corporate
In 2012, I was brought on as a temporary employee of Kohl’s Corporate as I worked on
improving their social media strategy. This picture shows a strategy paper in which I
recommended how Kohl’s should construct apps on Facebook. This was in response to a
large-scale scamming incident that happened with Walmart.
Skills I have learned with Kohl’s include:
B2C-Business to Consumer Marketing.
Creation of themed campaigns (i.e. Hashtags).
Cross-Pollination of Social Networks.
Mac OS
Social Media Integration
Advanced Microsoft Office
Set-up and Deployment of Social Media Accounts.
8. Franklin Center
In 2011, I became a contract researcher and videographer for the Franklin Center for
Government and Public Integrity. My work was geared towards assisting its Wisconsin affiliate
known as Wisconsin Reporter. The picture above shows an original reporting article created
by Wisconsin Reporter’s Kevin Binversie based off of my research. I conducted research for
their team of journalists, created online video content, along with being a correspondent during
protests and other events.
Skills that I have learned are:
Investigative Reporting and Research
Video Production
Video Editing
File Transfer Protocol
Use of state and federal open records laws to obtain documents for stories
iMovie (Mac)
LexisNexis
9. Lucy Burns Institute
For two years, I was the full-time Technical Researcher and Writer for the Lucy Burns Institute
based in Madison. Lucy Burns Institute is a non-profit organization.
The picture above describes a sample of a news article I have wrote for Ballot News which is
an accompanying news site to Ballotpedia. I wrote articles relating to state governments
across the nation on a variety of issues. In most cases, these are stories that were not
reported by traditional media. Also, I created long-form research articles for Ballotpedia on
varying topics such as school bond and tax laws along with campaign finance regulations.
Skills that I have learned are:
Copywriting
Integration with Social Networks to promote articles.
Interviewing Individuals and Organizations
Google Analytics
News Gathering
WordPress
10. Sam Adams Alliance
My first job out of college was working for the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance. When I
was at the Sam Adams Alliance, I was the full-time resident writer for their wiki-portal called
Judgepedia. This example above is a long-form research article on Jefferson County Circuit
Court Judge Randy Koschnick. The content I wrote was centered towards individual federal
judges and issues surrounding the federal judiciary. During my tenure at Sam Adams, I also
received training in how to use social media before it was popular and went to conferences
across the nation to market the organization’s programs.
Some the skills I learned were:
Short and long form writing
Wiki formatting
Microsoft Office
Google Drive and Analytics
Search Engine Optimization
Social Media Strategy
