Chris Abele donated nearly $200,000 exclusively to Democratic candidates and parties — plus more to other liberal political groups — since 2000, according to state and federal records. But that has changed, and now he is giving to Republican candidates, too. Credit: Mike De Sisti

For years, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele was a deep-pocketed liberal who used his moneybags to underwrite the campaigns of prominent Wisconsin Democrats.

Abele donated nearly $200,000 exclusively to Democratic candidates and parties — plus more to other liberal political groups — since 2000, according to state and federal records.

But that has changed.

The longtime lefty has discovered the Republican Party.

Late last year, he gave the maximum donation of $500 each to Republican Reps. Dale Kooyenga of Brookfield and Joe Sanfelippo of West Allis. Sanfelippo is running against liberal Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan.

Last month, Abele coughed up another $500 to Sanfelippo, new filings show. That puts Abele in company with Bradley Foundation CEO Michael Grebe, the ex-Republican National Committee general counsel and Gov. Scott Walker campaign chairman who gave Sanfelippo the same sum five days after Abele.

The donations come after Republican lawmakers helped Abele in a variety of ways. They pushed through a referendum to slash the pay of County Board members, backed a bill stripping the board of its oversight of mental health care and adopted legislation allowing construction of the proposed Couture high-rise development along Milwaukee's Lake Michigan shoreline. Sanfelippo, a former county supervisor, had his hand in all three deals.

Wisconsin Democrats have taken note of the new alliance. Abele, who was first elected in 2011, has adopted a governing style that mixes liberal social stands with conservative fiscal policies.

"Abele is giving to Republicans, for the first time, because they helped him settle scores with his political enemies," said one legislative observer who asked not to be named because he works with a number of pols. "It's a means to an ends for him. It also creates political diversity in his collection of elected officials, which just keeps growing."

Former state Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke put it a little more harshly to The Capital Times: "Chris Abele might be the biggest phony in the history of Democratic politics."

Of course, top Democrats weren't so critical when they began cashing his checks after he first arrived in Milwaukee and began spreading some of his wealth. His father, John, was a co-founder of Boston Scientific who was said to be worth $1.5 billion as recently as 2008.

On Saturday, Abele was quick to note that he continues to give liberally to Democratic candidates, including at least four Democratic state lawmakers last cycle, as well as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke, Democratic attorney general candidate Jon Richards and Chris Moews, a Democrat running for Milwaukee County sheriff.

The 47-year-old Milwaukee millionaire said he makes campaign contributions to those who he believes can be effective, not because he agrees with them on every issue. He noted his campaign co-chairmen are conservative businessman Sheldon Lubar and Democratic lawyer Marc Marotta.

"While I know I'm not always going to get it right, over the past three years in office I've enjoyed working on plenty of issues with politicians from both sides and I'll always at least try," Abele said via email.

"In terms of supporting candidates of different parties, I'm more interested in accomplishing good, pragmatic policy that empowers people than simply the 'victory' or 'defeat' of a political party. I'm proud to support the candidates I've supported."

Abele also appears to be expanding his circle of influence.

He is strongly backing Milwaukee lawyer Dan Adams in his contest against Milwaukee County Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic in the Democratic primary for an open Assembly seat, having donated the maximum $500 to Adams at the outset of the campaign.

Also, Tia Torhorst — Abele's former county legislative director and his campaign's onetime political director — is running for an open Assembly seat in the Democratic primary against Milwaukee County Supervisor David Bowen in the district representing Shorewood.

That's at least three Milwaukee County supervisors against whom Abele is backing opponents in legislative races.

"It's not clear what he plans to do with the pile of influence he's trying to buy," said the legislative observer, "but it could make him a kingmaker."

Or so Abele hopes.

Progressive politics

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke is trying to reach out to the left wing of her party by appearing on a panel at Netroots Nation during its Detroit convention last week.

Netroots Nation is an annual three-day gathering of thousands of liberal and progressive bloggers and activists from around the country.

Joe Fadness, executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, criticized Burke's appearance at the out-of-state conference. Burke is running against GOP Gov. Scott Walker.

"Her campaign is going to great lengths to hide her from major Wisconsin press, even sending her out of state because she isn't ready for prime time," Fadness said.

In response, Burke spokesman Joe Zepecki said Burke was warmly embraced at the conference.

"She had a great time at the Wisconsin caucus," Zepecki said. "People are clearly energized behind Mary."

Burke was one of three Democratic women appearing on the Netroots panel called "Women on the Run" on Friday afternoon. The moderator for the panel was Christine Pelosi, daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Burke's appearance came just hours after U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a liberal Massachusetts Democrat, delivered a fiery speech attacking the power of corporations amid urgent calls that she reconsider a run for president in 2016.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.