MADISON - For two months, a state lawmaker posted campaign material to a Twitter account being promoted on his state-run website, brewing a potential conflict with state ethics laws.

But on Thursday, minutes after USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin contacted the lawmaker's office, a link promoting the Twitter account was removed.

"It's coming down as we speak," said state Sen. Van Wanggaard's chief of staff, Scott Kelly. "It's not supposed to be on there."

Since September, Wanggaard has used the account to tweet links to his campaign Facebook page, information about campaign events, a sheriff's endorsement and pictures of campaign lawn signs.

This week, the Racine Republican tweeted that he was "refueling" at a restaurant after a candidate forum and called it his "unofficial campaign HQ."

The account – @VanWanggaard – has about 2,000 followers. It is not identified as a campaign account but appears on Wanggaard's campaign website. Kelly called it the senator's personal account.

Wanggaard said Thursday that he appreciated being notified of the issue. He said the Twitter account shouldn't have been on his state-run website, and he had "no clue how that got linked."

"We will continue to work to make sure that doesn't happen," he said. "I do as little twittering as I can."

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Lawmakers are forbidden by state law from using government resources or their official positions for personal advantage, and violations may result in heavy fines.

State watchdogs have long warned lawmakers against linking to campaign material on their state websites or using social media accounts for mixed purposes. The state Ethics Commission is weighing new guidance this year that would more explicitly warn against using state-affiliated accounts for campaign purposes.

"Officials should limit use of their official social media accounts to information related to an official’s position, duties and issues with a public purpose," the proposed guidance says.

Many lawmakers use separate social media accounts for their offices and campaigns to distance themselves from potential conflicts. Wanggaard has separate Facebook pages for his office and campaign. But with Twitter, the same account was promoted on his state-run and campaign websites.

Ethics Commission officials declined to comment Thursday. The agency typically refrains from publicly discussing individual cases since it could be asked to investigate if a sworn complaint is filed.

Last year, a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin report about another legislator's use of social media spurred a sworn complaint. The commission found "reasonable suspicion" that Rep. Bob Kulp violated state law and issued him a warning.

Kulp, R-Stratford, had repeatedly posted material referring to his private roofing business on Facebook and Twitter accounts that appeared on his state-run website. Kulp called the case a "misunderstanding."

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Wanggaard represents parts of Racine and Kenosha counties. He was first elected in 2010 but lost a recall election two years later. In 2014, he campaigned again for the Senate and won a four-year term.

On Nov. 6, Wanggaard aims to fend off a challenge from Democrat Lori Hawkins, a yoga studio owner and former teacher. Hawkins said Thursday that she was unaware of the Twitter link on Wanggaard's website until contacted by a reporter. She called it a violation of state ethics law and misuse of taxpayer dollars.

"He should know not to do that," she said. "It's unfair."

Keegan Kyle is an investigative reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. He can be reached at kkyle@gannett.com or 619-206-5293.