Wisconsin Election Watch had a successful first year providing comprehensive election coverage in Wisconsin. They built over 3,000 informational pages on candidates and elected officials. Their reporting impacted several elections and held politicians accountable. Looking ahead, they aim to grow their brand and make the organization profitable through advertising sales and membership drives.

1. 2013-2014 Annual Report

2. 1360 Regent Street, Suite 155, Madison, WI 53715
A Message from our Editor-Kyle Maichle
Dear Friend of Wisconsin Election Watch,
I want to thank you for your support for an excellent first year Wisconsin Election Watch enjoyed. Because of your
support our organization has been able to provide the most comprehensive coverage of politics and elections in
Wisconsin.
We have built an excellent record of producing news that gets results for the people of Wisconsin. We have provided
aggressive coverage of some of the most contested elections over the past year including the GOP Congressional
Primary in the 6th Congressional District, the 21st District Assembly Special Election, and the Milwaukee County
referendum on reducing the salaries of county board members. Also, we have reported on stories that have
allowed the voters to hold accountable candidates and elected officials for their actions. We will highlight in this
report the stories that impacted the outcomes of elected officials and candidates in our first year.
When we reached our first anniversary on August 1st, we have had over 576,000 page views to our website. Also,
we have a strong following on social media and large amount of subscribers to our periodic e-updates. We invite you
to look at how we are doing with our web traffic and social media.
Also, we have built a new advertising sales department within Wisconsin Election Watch to help grow our brand
across the State of Wisconsin. Currently, our sales department is hard at work meeting with potential advertisers
and investors to consider Wisconsin Election Watch. We are not stopping at our goal to make Wisconsin Election
Watch a profitable operation through advertising sales and membership drives.
Lastly, we invite you to meet the contributors and staff that made our first year successful. Wisconsin Election
Watch would not had a great first year without their support and we are eternally grateful for their contributions.
We invite you to read the successes in this report and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or
suggestions. Thank you for your support in increasing the transparency and awareness of Wisconsin’s election
system.
Sincerely,
Kyle Maichle-Editor of Wisconsin Election Watch
(Our editor with Louisiana Governor Bobby
Jindal in Washington, DC)

3. Traffic and Social Media Statistics-As of July 31, 2014
1. Internet Traffic
 577,632 Page Views
 154,302 Visitors
 128,610 Unique Visitors
 3.74 Pages Viewed Per Visit
 1:36-Average Visit Duration
 9.30% Bounce Rate
 59.6% New Visitors/41.4% Returning Visitors
2. Social Media
 685 Likes on Facebook
 1.181 Million Impressions of Facebook
 1,089 Facebook Posts
 962 Followers on Twitter
 3,721 Tweets on Twitter
3. Top Markets-Web Traffic (Listed in order, Top Market First)
 Madison-18,261 Visitors
 Milwaukee-14,732 Visitors
 Chicagoland-8,020 Visitors
 Eau Claire-3,480 Visitors
 Appleton-3,404 Visitors
 Waukesha-3,020 Visitors
 La Crosse-2,302 Visitors
 Brookfield-2,107 Visitors
 Green Bay-2,075 Visitors
 Wauwatosa-1,068 Visitors
4. E-Mail Subscribers
 98,555 E-Mail Subscribers on File

4. Meet the Contributors and Staff of Wisconsin Election Watch
These individuals have played a role in the success of Wisconsin Election Watch’s first year of operation.
Kyle Maichle-Editor and Project Manager
Kyle joined Wisconsin Election Watch in May of 2013 to help get the project off the ground and
make it a reality. Before joining, he was a consultant for various organizations and had
experience working in journalism in non-profit settings. He is a graduate of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and Madison College.
Bill Sitter-Data Entry
An Oshkosh native, now living in Chicago, Bill assisted our organization in the data entry efforts for
our organization in 2013 and 2014. Sitter is a graduate of Ripon College.
Ryan Wittmann-Research
A native of the Milwaukee suburbs, Ryan assisted Wisconsin Election Watch with our per diem
and statement of economic interests projects in 2013 and 2014. Before joining us, he interned
for a couple political campaigns. Ryan will be attending graduate school at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee this fall.
Jerad McHenry-Free Lance Writer
A native of La Crosse, McHenry wrote for Wisconsin Election Watch on local government issues
during 2013 and 2014. He has held previous internships with the Media Research Center and in
the British Parliament. McHenry is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Graham Sparks-Intern
A native of Waukesha and the State of Minnesota, Sparks has been researching key court cases
along with creating information pages on local elected officials in the State of Wisconsin. He is a
currently a student of the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh and was selected to be in
Minnesota Boys State.
Nile Porter-Intern and Sales Team
A native of Milwaukee’s North Side, Porter has created informational content for Wisconsin
Election Watch at all levels of government. Since this summer he has assisted our sales team.
Porter is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.

5. Amanda Smith-Intern
A native of Kenosha, Smith was part of our first intern class in the summer of 2013. She
assisted in the creation of informational content on statewide officers in Wisconsin. Smith is
currently a student at Hillsdale College located in Western Michigan.
Dustin Beth-Sales Team
Dustin Beth is the main point of contact for advertising sales for Wisconsin Election Watch. He
has had previous sales experience in the private sector. Currently, he is a student at the
University of Wisconsin at Parkside and is a member of the Westosha Central School Board
located in Western Kenosha County
The Wisconsin State Assembly Chambers-Madison

6. The Wisconsin Election Watch Record of Results
Since launching in August of 2013, we have built a record of reporting news and information pages on candidates
and elected officials that gets results. Some of the results include impacting elections and the future decisions of
elected officials.
1. Elizabeth Coppola’s Residency-Wisconsin Election Watch got its first earned media mention in October 2013
from WISN Radio after reporting about Democratic candidate Elizabeth Coppola running as a candidate in the 21st
Assembly District days after she moved from the City of Milwaukee. We looked into the story after receiving tips
from residents in South Milwaukee and Oak Creek who were suspicious about her residency in the district. After our
story, Coppola was defeated by Jessie Rodriguez in the special election held on November 19, 2013.
2. Judicial Candidate Laura Gramling Perez-Wisconsin Election Watch raised the question on whether Laura
Gramling Perez, a candidate for the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, signed the recall petition against Governor
Scott Walker. After our story ran on Perez, the candidate admitted on videotape to a Republican caucus that she
signed the recall. This resulted in conservative Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Joe Voiland withdrawing his
endorsement and earned media on WISN’s the Vicki McKenna Show.
3. Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s Financial Woes-Despite being denied media credentials to cover the 2014
Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention, it did not stop Wisconsin Election Watch from going undercover in
Wisconsin Dells to report. We obtained their financial statements in which the party ended 2013 with a $293,000
financial deficit. Because of our report, WTMJ Radio’s Charlie Sykes called them the loser of the day the following
Monday.
4. Rep. Steve Kestell and Common Core – During the near end of the 2013-2014 Wisconsin Legislative session,
the issue of Common Core Educational Standards was front and center. When Representative Kestell cancelled
votes on Common Core Reform bills, we were one of the first media outlets in the state to report on his potential
retirement and writing common core related articles after receiving calls from concerned families. Kestell announced
his retirement in April of 2014.
5. Congressional Candidate Joe Leibham Accepting Money from Labor Unions – Republican State Senator Joe
Leibham ran as a candidate for the open seat in the 6th Congressional District advertising himself as a conservative.
We received a tip one week before the primary election that he accepted campaign cash from the Republican
Mainstreet Partnership PAC which gets a significant amount of money from labor unions. Leibham’s opponents,
Glenn Grothman and Duey Stroebel, slammed him in press statements over accepting the money after our
discovery. Glenn Grothman defeated Leibham by 219 votes for the Republican nomination after a lengthy
canvassing process in August of 2014.
6. Sandy Voss raising taxes in the Village of Richfield-We received tips from Washington County about 58th
District Assembly candidate Sandy Voss voting to raise taxes as a member of the Richfield Village Board. Voss, who
ran her campaign on a tax-reform platform, voted for a 6 percent tax increase in the 2014 Village Budget. WISN’s
Mark Belling show mentioned the story on three occasions the week before the 2014 Wisconsin Statewide Primary.
Voss was defeated by Bob Gannon in the Republican Primary on August 12, 2014.
7. Governor Walker’s Net Worth-We were about the only media outlet in the State of Wisconsin to report about
Governor Walker’s personal finances in 2014 on an in-depth basis. Our analysis found that Governor Walker was
saddled with legal bills during the 2011 and 2012 calendar years which could be attributed to the first John Doe
investigation while holding little in investments. The Washington Post used our analysis in a report measuring
Governor Walker’s net worth compared to other potential 2016 Presidential candidates.

7. 8. 6th Congressional District Canvassing- After the Sheboygan Press guessed about the number of outstanding
absentee ballots in the deadlocked race for the Republican nomination in the 6th Congressional District, we went to
work calling clerks to find out the real number of outstanding absentees. Because of our analysis, WBAY-TV, WTMJ
Radio, and the Sheboygan Press used our analysis in our reporting.
9. Brandon Rosner’s Contribution to Peter Barca- Brandon Rosner was a candidate running for the 97th Assembly
District in an open Republican primary after Majority Leader Bill Kramer resigned over charges of sexual assault.
We received a tip about Rosner, who ran as a Republican, giving money to the Assembly Democratic Leader. After
investigating, we found out that Rosner also was a host for a fundraiser for Peter Barca. Dan Bice of the Milwaukee
Journal-Sentinel picked up our report two weeks before the primary election. Rosner was defeated in a six-way
Republican Primary on August 12, 2014.
10. Bill Savage’s Rap Sheet- During the open Republican Primary in the 59th Assembly District in 2014, Wisconsin
Election Watch reported about Republican candidate Bill Savage defaulting on his personal credit cards three times
as he was seeking to replace a member who served on the state’s budget writing committee. In addition, we ran an
info page to inform voters of numerous police calls with a bar he owns in West Allis from 2007 to 2012. After our
report, Savage was defeated in the four-way GOP primary finishing in last place.
11. Rep. Christine Sinicki Collecting Mileage on a Suspended License-Wisconsin Election Watch reported about
Milwaukee Area State Representative Christine Sinicki who collected over $3,200 in mileage on a suspended driver’s
license from September 2011 to August 2012 after she failed to pay a speeding ticket in Fond du Lac County. Four
months after our report, Sinicki is currently targeted by the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee for the 2014
General Election.
12. AFL-CIO’s $300 Million Dollar Spending Spree in Wisconsin-In March of 2014, we were the first media outlet
in Wisconsin to report on the national AFL-CIO’s plan to spend $300 million to influence six Governor’s races
including Wisconsin. We reported on the story after receiving a fundraising e-mail from the Walker Campaign urging
its supporters to donate extra in spite of the AFL-CIO money. Our report was featured nationally and locally
including on RedState and WTAQ Radio in Green Bay.
13. Rep. Scott Krug Breaking His Pledge Not to Take Per Diems-Our per diem transparency project was one of
our key research initiatives in 2013 and 2014. Dan Bice of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported about
Representative Krug breaking a 2010 campaign promise not to take a per diem using our analysis. We furthered our
scrutiny on the lawmaker after comparing his office calendar and per diem sheets to find out he accepted per diems
on days when he had nothing on his calendar or had only in-district events listed. Democratic Party insiders still list
Scott Krug as the most vulnerable Republican Assembly candidate in 2014.
These examples are how Wisconsin Election Watch has impacted the Badger State’s political environment in the last
year. We are continuing our commitment to provide in-depth reporting that increases transparency at all levels of
Wisconsin government and elections.

8. Our Stories Have Been Featured by the Following Legacy Media:

9. Informational Content at a Glance
As of August 21, 2014, here is amount of informational content pages we have on Wisconsin Election Watch
Executive
Governor- 1 Incumbent, 2 Candidates Running in the 2014 Election
Lt. Governor-1 Incumbent, 2 Candidates Running in 2014 Election.
Attorney General-1 Incumbent, 3 Candidates Running in 2014 Election
Secretary of State-1 Incumbent, 1 Candidate Running in 2014 Election
Treasurer- 1 Incumbent, 4 Candidates Running in 2014 Election
Total Number of Executive Informational Pages-16
Judicial
Total Number of Circuit Court Judge Pages-259
Total Number of Candidate Pages-6
Total Number of Appeals Court Pages-16
Total Number of Supreme Court Pages-7
Total Number of Federal Judges-13
Total Number of Judicial Informational Pages -301
Legislative
Total Number of Incumbent Assemblypersons-99
Total Number of Incumbent Senators-33
Total Number of Senate Candidates-24
Total Number of Assembly Candidates-121
Total Number of US Congress-10
Total Number of Legislative Pages-287
County
Total Number of County Supervisors-1,625
County Execs/Administrators-72
County Boards-72
County Sheriff’s-72
District Attorneys-72
Total Number of County Pages-1,913
Municipal
Total Number of Mayors/City Managers-188
Total Number of Common Councils-179
Total Number of School Boards-80
Total Number of School Board Members-55
Total Number of Municipal-418

10. Referendums
Total Number of Statewide, City, County Referendums-61
Total Referendums-61
Miscellaneous Informational Pages-14
Total Informational Content-3,000 Pages
The Nation’s Capitol in Washington, DC.

11. 2013-2014 Financial Expenditures-Wisconsin Election Watch
As of August 21, 2014
Staffing
1. Editor’s Salary-$31,200
Technology
Website Construction-$600-Annualized Basis
Website Hosting-$179.40-Annualized Basis
Social Media Platform-$109.50-Annualized Basis
Electronic FAX-$89-Annualized Basis
Internet Service-$660
E-Mail Platform-$12,000
Administrative
Registered Agent Service-$99-Annualized Basis