Epic leader, American Girl creator donate to Burke

MADISON, Wis. — The founder and CEO of health care software giant Epic Systems and the creator of the American Girl doll company are among the donors to Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke.

Epic CEO Judy Faulkner and American Girl creator and philanthropist Pleasant Rowland each gave Burke’s campaign $10,000. The donations were listed on Burke’s latest campaign finance report filed late Monday that covers a roughly three-month period ending last week.

Both are longtime Democratic backers.

Burke is locked in a tight contest with Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Among Walker’s donations were $10,000 from former H.J. Heinz president and CEO William Johnson and $10,000 from Eric Hovde, a hedge fund manager and investor who ran for Senate as a Republican in 2012.