In 2002, a conservative based group with ties to the Republican party and aided by conservative talk radio show hosts on radio station WTMJ, launched a recall campaign against the Democratic County Executive which they claimed he masterminded for personal benefit despite the fact that he publicly signed a waiver of all backdrop benefits. Their claims were supported by a then little known State Representative, Scott Walker, who blamed the County Executive for the mess. After sufficient petitions were certified to force a recall, the County Executive chose to step down rather than face an election. In that same year, seven county board members who voted for the pension deal were recalled from office.