Wisconsin Dem Candidate Linked to Wife’s Employer Amid Rental Assistance Funding
Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Crowley approved millions in rental aid to his wife’s employer while in office, raising conflict of interest concerns.
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David Crowley, the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor, oversaw the distribution of over $65 million in federal rental assistance funds through a nonprofit that employed his wife, Ericka Crowley, according to a recent report by the Daily Caller. The nonprofit, Community Advocates, partnered with Milwaukee County to administer the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) program, which provided aid to renters facing housing insecurity.
Timeline of Funding and Employment
Ericka Crowley began working at Community Advocates in 2020, the same year her husband took office as Milwaukee County executive. She was later promoted to director of the Rental Housing Resource Center, a role she still holds. The county distributed more than $65 million in ERA2 funds through its partnership with Community Advocates since June 2020.
Crowley’s campaign did not respond to questions about his role in approving the funding arrangement, whether he disclosed any potential conflict of interest, or if he was aware of changes to his wife’s compensation during that period. Community Advocates confirmed that Crowley ultimately approved the contract but stated he did not influence the decision-making process for the ERA2 funding.
Funding and Program Details
In November 2022, Milwaukee County received $15 million from the Treasury Department for the ERA2 program. The county announced that the funds would continue its rental assistance program in partnership with Community Advocates. The same release confirmed that a total of $65.4 million in ERA2 funds had been distributed through that partnership since Crowley took office in 2020.
Community Advocates did not confirm whether Ericka Crowley received a raise with her promotion but stated that her compensation aligns with other managers. The organization also noted that she was hired based on her 20 years of experience in administering programs for underserved families in Milwaukee County.
Upcoming Election
Crowley is running against Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election on November 3. The controversy over his wife’s employment and the funding arrangement has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, though no formal allegations have been made against him.
Source: Daily Caller
