Ira Robins, one of two Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor in the May 8 primary, said in a Newsmakers interview on April 18 that he is running because campaign cash has "corrupted our elected officials." As a result, Robins, a controversial former Milwaukee private investigator, said he will accept no campaign contributions and is calling on any union or other group that endorses him to spend no money on his behalf. He said a public campaign that monitors and pressures public officials can combat the influence of large campaign donations. Robins said the public employees most hurt by the loss of collective bargaining last year are Wisconsin's teachers.