Dave Umhoefer

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David E. Umhoefer (born 1961) is a faculty member at Marquette University where he directs the O'Brien Fellowship for Public Service Journalism. [1] Prior, he was a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . He won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for a six-month investigation of Milwaukee County's pension system, citing "his stories on the skirting of tax laws to pad pensions of county employees, prompting change and possible prosecution of key figures." [2] [3] The investigation exposed a corrupt, illegal scheme in which more than 350 Milwaukee County employees had increased their pensions by a collective total of over $50 million. [4] For example, "One employee qualified for a 25% pension increase because she worked a half-day at a county park in 1978."

Umhoefer is from La Crosse, Wisconsin and he graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication in 1983. He previously contributed to PolitiFact, rating the accuracy of statements by candidates for public office, elected officials, and political parties. [5]

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References

  1. "Dave Umhoefer // Diederich College of Communication // Marquette University".
  2. Glauber, Bill (April 8, 2008). "Pension investigation earns Pulitzer". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Jsonline.com. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  3. "The 2008 Pulitzer Prize Winners: Local Reporting". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved 2013-11-09. With short biography and reprints of six works (Journal Sentinel articles published July 29, 2007).
  4. Umhoefer, Dave (July 29, 2007). "JOURNAL SENTINEL WATCHDOG REPORT: Pension twist costs county millions". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Jsonline.com. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  5. "PolitiFact | Announcing PolitiFact Wisconsin".