Marty Brooks, the embattled president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District, was fired for cause Monday after board members alleged he misused district credit cards for more than $50,000 in improper personal and political expenses, including campaign contributions to prominent Milwaukee Democrats.
Alderman Bob Bauman, a Wisconsin Center District board member, said the investigation uncovered $50,000 to $60,000 in unauthorized charges dating back to at least 2023. These included donations to Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Common Council President José Pérez, and others, as well as personal purchases such as luxury Christian Louboutin shoes priced at about $2,250.
Brooks allegedly used the district-issued credit card, funded by taxpayer-supported hotel taxes, sales taxes and rental car fees, to make multiple $500 donations to Johnson’s campaign over the past few years, totaling around $2,000. Johnson’s campaign spokesman Thad Nation confirmed the donations and said they would be returned to the district.
Pérez, who serves on the WCD board and abstained from the vote to fire Brooks, issued a statement saying he is returning a contribution Brooks made several years ago using a district credit card.
Reports also link donations to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is one of 7 Democrats running for Governor, though specifics on returns from that campaign were not immediately detailed in available statements.
Under Wisconsin campaign finance law, contributions from public entities or the use of public resources are generally prohibited. Using a government credit card to conceal the true source of funds raises questions about “contributions in the name of another” and potential false reporting, which could trigger investigations by the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and possible criminal penalties for intentional violations.
The board voted to terminate Brooks after a closed-session meeting, citing fraud, dishonesty, negligence, and violations of bylaws and policies in his contract. For-cause termination means Brooks receives 30 days’ notice but no severance.
Brooks previously faced scrutiny over an unrelated 2025 incident in which Pérez accused him of inappropriate touching at a Crowley campaign event; no charges were filed in that case.
The Wisconsin Center District oversees major Milwaukee venues including the Baird Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, and Miller High Life Theatre. Brooks, who earned a base salary exceeding $400,000, had been at odds with some board members over a controversial hotel study and other operational decisions.
No criminal charges have been filed against Brooks at this time. The matter could be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office or state authorities for further review of potential theft by fraud, financial transaction card crimes, ethics violations, and campaign finance violations under Chapter 11 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Using Wisconsin Center District credit cards to make contributions that appeared as personal donations from Brooks could violate Wisconsin Statutes, which prohibit any person from making a contribution other than from their own funds or property, or giving funds to another for the purpose of making a contribution in a name other than the true source. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission could investigate complaints, determine probable cause, and refer the case to prosecutors. The campaigns’ decisions to return the funds (such as Johnson’s $2,000 and Pérez’s contribution) do not erase the original alleged misuse of public resources but may be viewed as mitigating factors in any enforcement action.
This case adds to the scrutiny of Milwaukee’s Democrat establishment, where public funds and influence often blur lines with campaign activities.
