MPS recall group doesn't know who is funding them as they push forward with signature efforts
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A grassroots Milwaukee group is confident in their ongoing efforts to recall four MPS board members. Their window to collect signatures is starting to close.
But while they demand transparency from the board amid the district's financial mismanagement scandal, there are many questions about who may be backing them.
The group has donors, but they insist they don't know who they are, how they got connected, or even who may have answers to those questions.
The recall group is trying keep focus on the students, but their efforts require them to follow state laws that some people claim they are now breaking.
Dr. Tamika Johnson is one of the leaders of the recall effort. At a media briefing Wednesday, July 24, she said, "We have a lot riding on this. It is our duty to advocate for those who do not have an advocate."
The grassroots group projected confidence as the clock ticks down on their recall effort.
The group needs to collect thousands of signatures by their Aug. 13 deadline.
They chatted up Katherine Horvath and her sons Wednesday. Horvath told us, "We were actually just walking through the park with my dogs, and we came upon her. But I'm on board."
Horvath just moved back to Milwaukee a few weeks ago and said she knew nothing of the situation until Wednesday. She signed the petition.
The group said they have 37,000 signatures now but did not say how many in each district.
Group member Nicole Johnson said, "We haven't turned anything in or have anything confirmed, so right now we're saying 37,000 across the board."
But even if the recall effort succeeds, they still don't have candidates lined up to run against the targeted board members.
Nicole Johnson said, "We're working on the candidates as we speak." We asked, "Do you have any names?" Johnson said, "No one has been confirmed at this time."
As the group calls for transparency from the board, another major unknown is their own sources of funding.
The group advertises paid canvassing positions for $25 an hour, but they don't know who or what is financing their own cause.
Nicole Johnson said, "Because it's anonymous, we don't know who the anonymous donors are."
When another group member said, "They're anonymous donors," we asked, "And nobody up here knows who that is?" They said, "Not at this present time."
Group leaders insist they're independent despite not knowing where their funding is coming from.
Tamika Johnson said, "We're not here to push any organization's agenda."
The group's state-required campaign finance disclosures are incomplete and do not list money received other than minor food, website, and printing expenses.
Missy Zombor -one of the targeted board members- filed an ethics complaint citing seven violations, including incomplete reports.
Over the phone, Zombor told us she just wants everyone to follow the law.
Tamika Johnson said, "She had time to file those complaints and investigate what we were doing, and yet they didn't do it for our students at the Milwaukee Public Schools."
But the incomplete financials are also a problem for the Milwaukee teachers union.
Ingrid Walker-Henry, the president of MTEA, told us Wednesday, "That lets people know who is behind this effort, what are their motives, what are they trying to get to?"
Another target, board vice president Jilly Gokalgandhi, was asked about the recall effort at a Milwaukee Press Club event Wednesday.
Gokalgandhi said, "I completely understand and respect the will of the voters. My job right now as an elected official is to do the hard work every day."
Over the phone, Missy Zombor said the ethics commission told her this week they received her ethics complaint and there is enough there to proceed.
The recall group has until Aug.13th to gather the signatures they need to move forward.