Treasurer David Cullen sent out 43,000, taxpayer-funded mailers ahead of primary

With just four months until the Democratic primary, Milwaukee County Treasurer David Cullen this month sent out more than 40,000 taxpayer-funded mailers featuring multiple pictures of him with his grandchildren.

The four-page, full-color flyer cost $24,116 to produce and mail to 43,887 homes in Milwaukee County, according to the Treasurer's Office. Cullen, who is running for reelection, said the mailer went to constituents in every community in the county.

Cullen said he received verbal confirmation on April 12 that his pamphlet had gone out. That would have been just days before state law would bar political candidates from using taxpayer resources to create and mail such flyers.

State law imposes a government-funded "mailing prohibition" starting on the first day a candidate can circulate nomination papers. In this case, the blackout period started April 15.

Ted Chisholm, who is opposing Cullen in the Democratic primary in August, criticized Cullen's use of county treasury funds.

"This episode really underscores why the Treasurer's Office needs new leadership, and a new vision that's going to invest efficiently in improving the customer facing services that the office actually provides," Chisholm said.

Cullen, however, said there was nothing unusual about his mailer.

"It is a common practice for elected officials to send out a newsletter to constituents highlighting issues they have addressed during their term," Cullen said via email. "I informed people about my efforts to collect delinquent property taxes, invest and earn substantial income on Milwaukee County's money and disburse unclaimed funds to their rightful owners."

But that's not all that is in the mailer.

On the first page, it features a picture of Cullen holding his grandson in front of the Milwaukee County vault. Inside, there is an article about the Steve Cullen Healthy Club Run/Walk, an event sponsored by his family, and a picture of the Democratic treasurer, his son and grandson.

The final page of the pamphlet has a small section called, "On a personal note," with a blurb about the birth of his granddaughter late last year. Accompanying the story is a picture of Cullen, his wife, their grandson and their new granddaughter.

According to Cullen's office, postage cost $12,683.85 for the flier, $2,755.44 for mail house services and $8,676.72 to design and print the document.

As an attorney, Cullen, a former state lawmaker, said he was aware of state law and county policy on this issue. He said all of his flyers had been mailed by April 15. He added that he has received positive feedback on the mailers. One constituent told his office that the flyer was "very enlightening," Cullen said.

Cullen, who has been the treasurer since 2014, said he did not have his campaign in mind when he sent the mailer. He said he would have sent the same document whether or not he was running for re-election.

He said he began thinking about contacting Milwaukee County residents with a flyer after voters approved increases in the city and county sales tax. Beginning Jan. 1, Milwaukee County boosted its sales tax from 0.4% to 0.9%, and the City of Milwaukee enacted a new 2% sales tax.

"Many constituents expressed concern to me about the increased tax burden," Cullen said. "Among other updates, I wanted to share with them that through prudent investment decisions the Treasurer's Office earned $22 million for Milwaukee County taxpayers to offset this burden."

Chisholm said he would make certain the public's needs are being met, not sending out flyers on the taxpayers' dime.

"If elected, I would not invest in a mailer along the lines we discussed," said Chisholm, the son of District Attorney John Chisholm. "I'd invest our time and resources in optimizing the customer service provided to the folks who rely on the Treasurer's Office for actual services — navigating tax collection and unclaimed funds, for example."

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Treasurer Cullen sent out 43,000, taxpayer-funded mailers ahead of primary