MADISON, Wis. -- Records show a lawyer for Gov. Jim Doyle lobbied three Democratic members of the state Election Board before they voted to sanction his gubernatorial campaign opponent, Mark Green.

On Thursday, Green said that the report is an example of why change is needed in Madison. He said in a statement today that Doyle has manipulated state agencies in a desperate attempt to stay in power. He accuses Doyle of casting a cloud of corruption over state government.

Documents obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel show attorney Michael Maistelman repeatedly urged the board members to order the Republican Green to divest nearly $468,000 in campaign donations.

An e-mail from Maistelman to the Democratic members the day before they voted said that even if the matter would end up in court, it would be a public relations victory for Democrats.

The three Democratic appointees were part of a five-vote majority that ordered the Republican congressman to give up the donations from political action committees not registered in Wisconsin.

Doyle spokesman Anson Kaye said that the campaign hired Maistelman because they believed that Green broke the law by spending the campaign dollars raise from federal political action committee donations.

Green goes to court on Thursday in Dane County to fight that order.

Maistelman didn't immediately return messages left on Thursday at his law office by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Lawmaker Seeks Investigation

A Republican senator is asking the district attorneys in Waukesha and Dane counties to investigate whether a crime was committed in regards to the alleged lobbying.

State Sen. Mike Ellis said he's also asking the state Ethics Board to investigate whether there are any ethical violations.

Ellis said that he's going to the Waukesha County district attorney because that's where the board met when it took the vote.

Elections Board Members Say They Weren't Influenced

Two state Elections Board members lobbied by an attorney from Gov. Jim Doyle's campaign said they weren't influenced to sanction Doyle's Republican opponent, Mark Green.

Board member Carl Holborn said he acted independently and didn't find Maistelman's arguments persuasive. And Kerry Dwyer said she didn't even know Maistelman was working for the Doyle campaign. Dwyer said she finds it insulting to imply that she can't think for herself.

The three Democratic appointees and two others on the Elections Board ordered Green to divest of campaign donations from unregistered political action committees.