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Wisconsin
Elections 2004 – An Overview
Andy
Franken and Amy Boyer
The Hamilton Consulting Group
Updated
September 2004
©
2004 The Hamilton Consulting Group
Introduction
State Assembly Race
Wisconsin Congressional Race
State Senate Races
Wisconsin state
senators are elected to four-year terms. The Senate elections are
staggered, meaning that only approximately one-half are up in each
election cycle. This fall, the even-numbered seats (of 33) are up,
of which there are 16. The breakdown of the Senate seats by
partisan makeup is as follows:
Open Seat Toss Up
·
32nd
Senate District – This seat, which is currently held by incumbent
Democrat Mark Meyer, is considered a “swing” district. Republican
Dan Kapanke was narrowly defeated by Meyer four years ago. Kapanke
faces Democrat Brad Pfaff in the general election.
Republican Protect
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10th
Senate District – Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls).
Safe Republican
·
2nd
Senate District – Incumbent Rob Cowles of Green Bay (3rd
Party opposition only).
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8th
Senate District – Incumbent Alberta Darling of River Hills.
·
14th
Senate District – Luther Olsen defeated two others in the
Republican primary. No Democratic candidate in the general
election.
·
18th
Senate District – Incumbent Carol Roessler of Oshkosh (unopposed).
·
20th
Senate District – Incumbent Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer of
West Bend was defeated by Rep. Glenn Grothman in the primary.
·
28th
Senate Seat – Incumbent Mary Lazich.
Democrat Protect
·
12th
Senate District – Incumbent Roger Breske (D-Eland).
·
22nd
Senate District – Incumbent Robert Wirch (D-Kenosha).
·
30th
Senate District – Incumbent Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).
Safe Democrat
·
4th
Senate District – Rep. Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) defeated two
others in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidate in the
general election.
·
6th
Senate District – Incumbent Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee
(unopposed).
·
16th
Senate District – Open seat.
·
24th
Senate District – Incumbent Julie Lassa of Stevens Point.
·
26th
Senate District – Incumbent Fred Risser of Madison (3rd
Party opposition only).
Open
Seat Toss-Up
Senate District 32
This seat was
vacated by Democratic Senator Mark Meyer of
La Crosse
who has held it since 2000. Candidates running include Republican
Dan Kapanke and Democrat Brad Pfaff.
Republican
candidate
Dan Kapanke was raised on the
family homestead near
Coon Valley. A
former member of the National Guard and the Marine Reserves,
Kapanke is a graduate of Onalaska Luther High School. He served on
the Town of Campbell Board for 13 years. Kapanke is a member of
the Board of Directors of the La Crosse Area Development
Corporation and the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
He also serves on the La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC). In
2003, Dan and his wife Ruth brought a baseball team associated
with the Northwoods League to La Crosse. He and his wife have four
children and ten grandchildren. Dan, a former substitute teacher
in La Crosse Public Schools, has worked as a regional sales
manager for Kaltenberg Seed Farms for the last fifteen years.
Democrat
Brad Pfaff of Onalaska, a
former legislative aide and senior policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Ron
Kind, received his B.S. from the UW-Green Bay and his
master’s in Public Administration from
George
Mason University. He is married with two children and is involved
in the family dairy farm business.
Republican Protect/Democrat Targeted Seat
Senate District 10
Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf
(R-River Falls) is a dairy farmer, legislator and a former loan
officer. She served in the Assembly from 1988-96 and was elected
to the Senate in 2000. Sen. Harsdorf’s current committee
assignments include: Joint Committee on Finance; Committee on
Higher Education and Tourism (Chair); Joint Legislative Council
Mississippi River Parkway Commission; Joint survey committee on
Tax Exemptions; Special Committee on the Public Health System's
Response to Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies; and, World
Dairy Center Authority. Sen. Harsdorf is married and has one
child. She graduated from River Falls H.S. and received a B.S.
degree in Animal Science at the University of Minnesota in 1978.
New Richmond
Democrat
Gary Bakke is past-president
of the State Bar of Wisconsin and is a semi-retired attorney
concentrating on mediation, counseling small businesses and
business litigation for Bakke-Norman, S.C. Bakke received his J.D.
at the U.W. Law School and has practiced in New Richmond and the
surrounding area for more than 37 years. Bakke is married with
four children and three grandchildren.
Safe
Republican
Senate District 2
Sen. Rob Cowles
of Green Bay
faces 3rd party opposition only, by Libertarian Party
candidate Roy Leyendecker. Sen. Cowles was born in Green Bay in 1950. He received his B.S. degree from UW-Green Bay in
1975 and did graduate work at UW-Green Bay. He is the former
director of an alternative energy division for a communications
construction company. Cowles was first elected to the Assembly in
1982 and was elected to the Senate in an April 1987 special
election. Current committee assignments include:
Audit,
Building Commission, Energy and Utilities (Chair), Higher
Education and Tourism, Information Technology Management Board,
and the State Supported Programs Study and Advisory Committee.
Senate District 8
Sen. Alberta Darling of River
Hills was born in 1944 in Hammond, Ind. Sen. Darling has
served this Senate District since 1992. Prior to that, she served
briefly in the State Assembly following a May 1990 special
election. She holds a B.S. from UW-Madison and did graduate work
at UW-Milwaukee. Sen. Darling is married with two children and is
a former teacher and marketing director. Sen. Darling currently
serves as co-chair of the powerful Joint Committee on Finance and
serves on the Committee on Audit, Joint Committee on Employment
Relations, Special Committee on Improving Wisconsin's Fiscal
Management, Joint Legislative Council, Milwaukee Child Welfare
Partnership Council, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Authority Board of Directors, Wisconsin Artistic Endowment
Foundation and the Wisconsin Center District Board.
Milwaukee
Democrat Jennifer Morales currently serves as a Milwaukee County
School Board Member and is well respected as a Milwaukee Latino
Community Leader.
Senate District 14
This seat was
vacated by Republican Senator Robert Welch of Redgranite. This
seat will remain in control of Republicans as there is no
Democratic candidate.
Rep. Luther Olsen of Berlin
currently represents the 41st Assembly District. Rep.
Olsen is a former feed, seed and fertilizer dealer and has served
in the State Assembly since 1994. Committee assignments include
the
Committee on Education (Chair), Education Commission of the
States, Education Reform, Health, Housing, Rural Affairs and
Workforce Development. Olsen defeated two others in the Republican
primary.
Senate District 18
Sen. Carol Roessler
(R-Oshkosh) was born in 1948
in Madison. Sen. Roessler has served in the State Senate since an
April 1987 special election. Prior to that she served two terms in
the State Assembly. Sen. Roessler is a former
director of the Winnebago county nutrition program for older
adults, and an instructor of preretirement education at Fox Valley
Technical Institute. Committee assignments include:
Council on
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Committee on Audit (Chair), Building
Commission, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, Council on
Domestic Abuse, Economic Development, Job Creation and Housing,
Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care (Chair),
Special Committee on Review of the Open Records Law, and State
Supported Programs Study and Advisory Committee.
Senate District 20
Rep. Glenn Grothman, of West
Bend defeated incumbent Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer
in the primary. Grothman has served the 58th Assembly
District since 1993. Grothman received his B.B.A. and J.D. from
the UW-Madison and is a former practicing attorney. He has been
the Majority Caucus Vice Chairperson since 1999. Committee
assignments include: Committee for review of Administrative Rules
(Chair),
Budget
Review, Campaigns and Elections, Select Committee on Job Creation,
Judiciary,
Labor, Special Committee on
Recodification of Chapter 767, Actions Affecting the Family
(Co-Chair), and Committee on Rules.
Senate District 28
Sen. Mary Lazich of New Berlin
was born in 1952 in Loyal and has served in the State
Legislature since 1992 – serving first in the Assembly and then
the Senate in 1998. Sen. Lazich holds a B.A. from UW-Milwaukee and
is a former county board supervisor and city council member. Sen.
Lazich currently serves on the following Committees: Committee for
Review of Administrative Rules, Energy and Utilities, Joint
Committee on Finance, Heritage Tourism Council, Law Revision
Committee (Co-Chair).
Democrat
Protect/GOP Targeted Seats
Senate District 12
Incumbent Roger Breske was
born in Elderon in 1938, is married and has four
children. He graduated from Wittenberg High School and is the
former owner of a bar and restaurant. He also served in the Army
Reserve. Breske was elected to the Senate in a special election in
November 1990 and has been reelected since 1992. Sen. Breske’s
current committee assignments include: Council on Forestry
Heritage Tourism Council; Committee on Higher Education and
Tourism; Council on Highway Safety; Committee on Homeland
Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform;
Council on Tourism; Transportation Projects Commission; Committee
on Transportation and Information Infrastructure.
Republican
Tom Tiffany is the owner of
Wilderness Cruises on the Willow Flowage in Northern Wisconsin.
Tiffany grew up on a dairy farm near Elmwood and graduated from
UW-River Falls with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Tiffany
serves on the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Board of Directors.
Tiffany is married with three children.
Senate District 22
Incumbent Bob Wirch was born
in 1943 in Kenosha, and is married with two children. Wirch graduated from Mary D. Bradford
High School and received a B.A. at
UW-Parkside in 1970. He is former factory worker and liaison to
JTPA programs. He served in the Army Reserves from 1965-71 and is a
member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans. He served as a
Kenosha County supervisor from 1986-94 (served on Health and Human
Services Com., Welfare Bd., and Developmental Disabilities Bd.)
and was elected to the Assembly in 1992, and 1994, and
elected to the Senate since 1996.
Reince Priebus grew up
in Kenosha and graduated from Kenosha Tremper High School. He then
graduated from UW-Whitewater with degrees in Political Science and
English and received his J.D. from the
University of
Miami.
Priebus, who is married, currently works as a local government and
municipal law attorney and is a former legislative aide. Priebus
has been endorsed by the City of Kenosha Police Union.
Senate District 30
Incumbent Dave Hanson was born
in Green Bay in 1947, is married and has three children.
Hanson graduated from Green Bay West High School and received a B.S. from
UW-Green
Bay in 1971. Hanson is a former teacher; former truck driver for
Green Bay Dept. of Public Works; former Teamster's Union steward;
former member Brown Co. Human Services Bd.(chp.); N.E.W. Zoo
Advisory Bd.; Brown Co. Education and Recreation Com. (chp.);
Brown Co. Bd. Supervisor 1996-2000; He was elected to the Senate
in 2000 and the Assistant Minority Leader in 2003.
Republican
challenger Gary Drzewiecki was born in Pulaski in 1954,
is married and has four children. Drzwiecki graduated from Pulaski
High School and attended UW-Stout. He is a former lab technician. His
local activity includes past participation in: Tri-County Fire
Dept. (pres. of bd.); Project Advance (dir.); Brown Co.
Development Corp. (dir.); Pulaski Chamber of Commerce (dir.);
Brown Co. Representation Task Force (dir.); Year 2000 –
Pulaski
School District (dir.). Village of Pulaski President 1987-91;
Brown Co. Planning Commission (dir.) 1991-96; Brown Co. Recycling
Com. 1989-91. Drzewiecki was elected to the Senate in 1992 and
reelected in 1996. He was defeated for re-election in 2000 by
Democrat Dave Hanson.
Safe
Democratic
Senate District 4
This Senate seat
is being vacated by Sen. Gwen Moore who is seeking election to the
4th Congressional District. This Milwaukee-based seat
is solidly Democratic.
Rep. Lena C. Taylor
(D-Milwaukee) was elected to the Assembly in a 2003 special
election. Rep. Taylor, an attorney, currently serves on the
Financial Institutions, Economic Development, Criminal Justice,
Tourism and Urban & Local Affairs Committees. Rep. Taylor defeated
two others in the September primary; however, she must move into
the 4th Senate District as she is currently a resident of the 6th
Senate District. Rep. Taylor is a 1984 graduate of Rufus King High
School. She earned her B.A. in English from the UW – Milwaukee in
1990, and her law degree from Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale in 1993.
Senate
District 6
Rep. Spencer Coggs of
Milwaukee is unopposed. Coggs was born in Milwaukee in 1949,
and is married with two children. Coggs holds a B.S. from
UW-Milwaukee and is a former City of Milwaukee health officer,
postal worker, and industrial printer. Coggs was elected to the
Assembly from 1982 to 2002. Coggs won a special election to the
Senate in November of 2003 defeating former State Senator Gary R.
George in the recall primary election.
Senate District 16
This seat was
vacated by Sen. Chuck Chvala (D-Madison). Chvala has served this
district since 1984.
Rep. Mark Miller (D-Madison)
has served in the State Assembly since 1998 and is a former
military pilot and real estate manager. Miller received a B.S.
from UW-Madison and is married with three children. Current
committee assignments include:
Aging and Long-Term Care, Budget
Review, Children and Families, Environmental Education Board,
Health, Natural Resources, Special Committee on Recodification of
Chapter 55, Placement and Services for Persons with Disabilities,
Special Committee on The Public Health System's Response to
Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies, and Veterans and Military
Affairs.
Republican
Eric Peterson is the owner and
operator of the Foxboro Golf Club in Oregon. Peterson attended
UW-Whitewater before transferring to
McHenry
College, where he graduated with a degree in Ornamental
Horticulture in 1979. Aside from running his golf course, Peterson
taught at
Blackhawk
Technical College for four years, and served as a W.I.A.A.
official for wrestling & football for 12 years. Peterson and his
wife live in the Town of
Rutland
and have three children.
Senate District 24
Sen. Julie Lassa of Plover was
born in 1970
in Stevens Point and was elected to the State Senate in an April
2003 special election. Prior to that, Sen. Lassa served in the
State Assembly for two and one half terms.
Lassa was the executive director of the Plover
Area Business Association, the governmental affairs coordinator
for the Golden Sands Home Builders and the Stevens Point Board of
Realtors, and chief of staff for Rep. Don Hasenohrl of the 70th
Assembly District. Lassa also served as a supervisor on the Town
of Dewey Board. Lassa’s committee assignments include:
Joint
Committee for Review of Administrative Rules and the Committee on
Agriculture, Financial Institutions and Insurance.
Republican
Greg Swank will challenge Sen. Lassa. Swank is currently a PC
LAC specialist with Electronic Data Systems and serves on the
county board. Swank holds a degree from the UW-Madison and lives
in Rudolph with his wife of 22 years.
Senate District 26
Sen. Fred Risser of Madison has 3rd Party opposition from
Green Party candidate Tony Schultz of Madison. Senator Risser was
born in Madison in 1927, is married and has three children. Risser
received his B.A. and L.L.B. from the University of Oregon. He is
a practicing attorney and a World War II veteran, having served in
the Navy. Senator Risser was first elected to the Assembly in 1956
and later elected to the Senate in a 1962 special election where
he has served since.
Introduction
State Assembly Race
Wisconsin Congressional Race
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