Politicians Deal With Fallout of Fired CEO’s Campaign Contributions

Marty Brooks (right) leads Mayor Cavalier Johnson (left) and an aide on a 2022 tour of the Baird Center expansion project. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

Money will be changing hands as a result of revelations that Wisconsin Center District CEO Marty Brooks used a district credit card to make political campaign contributions and other unauthorized expenses.

The district, which operates the Baird Center, Miller High Life Theatre and UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, is funded by a combination of hotel, sales and rental car taxes, as well as earned income, with the tax revenue potentially making Brooks’ political contributions subject to criminal charges, according to one attorney.

By a unanimous vote of those who participated, Brooks was terminated for cause Monday morning. It followed a two-hour closed session discussion, the fifth such discussion the 17-member board has held about Brooks in 2026.

In a statement, the board said the “major findings” in its investigation of Brooks center on misuse of WCD funds, violations of the bylaws and the employee handbook, and misrepresentation to the board.

After the vote, Ald. Robert Bauman, a district board member, said Brooks misspent at least $50,000 “and the investigation has not been completed because they’ve only gone as far back as 2023.”

Now politicians and their campaign consultants are scrambling to determine whether they received money from Brooks and, if so, whether it was via a credit card.

At least three area politicians have identified contributions made by credit card.

According to several individuals familiar with modern political fundraising, because many campaign contributions are now solicited and accepted online, including through platforms like ActBlue, it is unlikely those receiving the contributions knew or would have been able to tell that Brooks used a Wisconsin Center District card.

Such is the case for Mayor Cavalier Johnson, whose campaign team at Nation Consulting has identified that Brooks made contributions using three different cards, but isn’t able to tell whether any are WCD cards. The political consulting firm is awaiting word from the district.

Nation has also identified that another candidate it works with, David Crowley, received contributions from Brooks. A $2,000 contribution to Crowley’s gubernatorial campaign was made with a WCD card. Nation said it is still awaiting word on whether a $500 contribution to Crowley’s county executive campaign was made with a corporate card.

A potential legal issue also could complicate returning the money. Nation confirmed that if state statutes prevent the money from being returned directly, it would be donated to a charitable organization.

Council President José G. Pérez, the lone WCD board member to abstain from voting on the termination, announced that he received a contribution several years ago from Brooks via credit card. Urban Milwaukee’s Political Contributions Tracker, which is in the process of being substantially overhauled, shows a 2024 contribution for $250.

“Also, today I learned that Mr. Brooks made a contribution to my political campaign several years ago using a WCD credit card (not appropriate). I have begun the process to return that campaign donation,” said Pérez in a statement Monday.

Pérez said he abstained from voting on Brooks’ termination to avoid the appearance of a conflict. After a November fundraiser for Crowley, Pérez reported Brooks to the police for allegedly pinching his buttocks. The district attorney’s office did not charge Brooks because it did not believe it could “prove the elements of the referred crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Attorney Michael Maistelman, who frequently represents politicians on campaign finance-related issues, said the Milwaukee Police Department or another entity could subpoena the records of WCD or ActBlue, a popular fundraising platform used by Democrats, to determine the extent of the contributions.

“His office is considered quasi-governmental. He can’t be using it for political purposes,” said Maistelman. “You can’t give public money for political purposes. You can’t give money in somebody else’s name. You can’t give corporate money.”

The attorney also raised the question of why the district’s internal controls and auditing processes didn’t catch the contributions earlier.

Brooks’ termination is not immediate, given his employment contract, but instead starts a 30-day period during which Brooks can contest the termination. Brooks is formally on administrative leave, but already cleared out his office last week and told the media he was working from his second home in Florida.

Brooks, 69, was hired to lead the district in 2018. He led the $456 million Baird Center expansion. He is paid a base salary of more than $400,000 on a three-year contract that runs through early 2028. If he was terminated for convenience, he would be owed his base salary through the duration of the contract. By terminating him for cause, the board is not required to pay Brooks. But Brooks could contest the termination in court.