State Senator Darling’s Campaign Finance History Scrutinized By Voucher Opponents

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Critics of statewide school voucher expansion are again calling attention to campaign donations given to Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills.

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reported this spring that wealthy voucher backers or interest groups have donated about $10 million over ten years to pro-voucher lawmakers and Governor Scott Walker. Sen. Darling received the most donations among legislators, hauling in more than $55,000. Darling co-chairs the Joint Finance Committee, which last week recommended the start of expanding vouchers to the whole state.

Larry Smalley is administrator of the Glendale-River Hills School District, which Darling represents. Smalley told a news conference Thursday that Darling seems driven by campaign cash.

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“It screams of special-interest money. She has more special-interest money coming to her from the voucher advocates than anybody in the state outside of the governor.”

Menomonee Falls school board president Faith VanderHorst says she expressed her concerns about vouchers to Darling at a meeting in Madison this spring.

“And her comment back to me was, ‘I understand your concerns with regards to the Falls; however, I represent the whole state.’ My comment back to her was, ‘Alberta, your sign was in my yard. I voted for you.’ And she didn’t have a response.”

Darling’s office did not return a phone call for comment for this story.

School voucher lobbyist Jim Bender pointed to the numerous suburban school leaders who attended the news conference.

“You had more than a million-dollars-worth of salaries and benefits standing on that stage between superintendents and [State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony] Evers. You didn’t hear a single good idea or new idea about how they were going to improve education.”

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign report on voucher donations found 13 individuals or couples who have given at least $100,000 apiece to the governor, legislature and conservative Supreme Court candidates.