What To Know About Ron Johnson’s Business-In-Law
MADISON, Wis. — During tonight’s Wisconsin U.S. Senate debate, Mandela Barnes called out Ron Johnson for misrepresenting his business record – saying that Johnson’s biggest achievement in business was saying “I do” by marrying into his business.
Here’s what you need to know about Johnson’s business-in-law:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Senate candidate makes his own history
It’s one thing to flip-flop on the issues. But who’s ever heard of a candidate rewriting his own company history? That’s exactly what U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson did.
Pacur’s own website… put its founding in 1977. It is not unusual for companies to adopt the corporate histories of their predecessors or firms they acquire, especially if it makes them look like they have deeper roots in a community. Wisconsin Industrial Shipping was owned by Johnson’s brother-in-law, Pat Curler.
The name Pacur comes from Pat Curler — Johnson’s brother-in-law.
Announcing a statewide tour in his campaign for reelection, a Johnson news release said Johnson “started” the Pacur plastics manufacturing company he owns. The claim contradicts Pacur’s own company history and Johnson’s prior statements, which make it clear he helped start Pacur with his brother-in-law, who was more involved in the founding. Johnson didn’t do it alone.
TalkingPointsMemo: TPM Takes A Closer Look At Ron Johnson’s Business Success
Johnson joined PACUR in 1979, to help a different brother-in-law, Pat Curler, run what had — until then — been a Curler family business. In fact, the name PACUR is the hybrid of the names Pat and Curler.
Johnson’s critics have argued that these details believe the image Johnson is trying to create for himself of an up-by-the-bootstraps entrepreneur.
The Guardian: Republican’s wealth boosted by stake in company whose growth linked to China
During his first run for public office before his 2010 election, Johnson portrayed himself as a successful businessman who knew how to create jobs.
A close examination of Johnson’s financial disclosures and other public filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, legal filings and other public records reveal that Johnson’s wealth was boosted by his company’s ties to another company that was owned and managed by his family, which in turn grew its business in China, acquired businesses in China, and reported having a loan worth tens of millions of dollars from the Bank of China.
Pacur was co-founded by Johnson and his brother-in-law in the 1970s. It was in effect closely tied to a larger company called Bemis, which was founded and run by Johnson’s father-in-law, Howard Curler.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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