Our last in the “Get to Know a Freshman” series, we bring you information on five incoming legislators. With one of the largest freshman classes ever in the Wisconsin Legislature, it may be harder to get to know the newly elected senators and representatives.
This week, Political Tidbits highlights the following new legislators: State Representatives Dave Considine, Dave Heaton, James Edming, John Macco, and Scott Allen. For the 2015-2016 Wisconsin Legislature, the State Senate has seven new senators (five Republican, two Democrat), and the State Assembly has 25 new representatives (18 Republican, seven Democrat).
State Representative Dave Considine (D)
State Representative Dave Considine (D) is the new state representative for the 81st Assembly District, a district located in south central Wisconsin, covering parts of Columbia, Sauk, Dane, and Iowa counties. The district was previously represented by Fred Clark (D), who did not run for election this past year. Considine beat his Republican opponent by a 14-point margin in November.
Rep. Considine was a special education educator at a middle school in Baraboo for 29 years before retiring to run for state office. Considine has also previously been a dairy goat farmer and been a member of the Baraboo Education Association, American Dairy Goat Association, Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association, and was an instructor at the Crisis Prevention Institute.
2015-2016 Committee Assignments: Agriculture; Education; Environment and Forestry; Mental Health Reform; Mining and Rural Development
State Representative Dave Heaton (R)
State Representative Dave Heaton (R) is representing the 85th Assembly District after beating incumbent Mandy Wright (D) by less than 100 votes in November. The 85th district is located in north central Wisconsin, encompassing the city of Wausau and a portion of Marathon County.
Rep. Heaton spent six years in the Air National Guard, Heaton went on to earn his law degree where then worked as an assistant state’s attorney and prosecutor in Illinois. Currently, he works as a reinsurance consultant in Wisconsin.
2015-2016 Committee Assignments: Consumer Protection (Vice chair); Children and Families; Judiciary; Veterans and Military Affairs
State Representative James Edming (R)
State Representative James Edming (R) was elected in November by a wide margin to represent the 87th Assembly District. The 87th was previously represented by Mary Williams (R), who retired this past year. The 87th District is located in northern Wisconsin, covering parts of Sawyer, Taylor, Marathon, and Rusk counties.
Rep. Edming, know more commonly as “Jimmy Boy,” owns multiple business in Wisconsin. He is the owner of Edming Oil Company. In addition, Edming also started Jimmy Boy Pizza and Ovenworks Pizza Companies and purchased Edming Manufacturing Company Inc. from his family in 1976. Edming also has served on the Rusk County Hospital Board, Rusk County Board.
2015-2016 Committee Assignments: Small Business Development (Vice chair); Environment and Forestry; Health; Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage; Veterans and Military Affairs
State Representative John Macco (R)
State Representative John Macco (R) was elected to represent the 88th Assembly District, which covers the east side of Green Bay and parts of Brown County. Macco replaced John Klenke (R), who retired from the 88th seat this past year. He beat his opponent Dan Robinson (D) by 12 points in November.
After graduating from high school, Rep. Macco started Macco’s Floor Cover Centers, Inc. with his father. Macco worked for small businesses and in marketing for several years, and currently runs Macco Financial Group, Inc. He is a member of the Olde Main Street District and has been active with Downtown Green Bay, Inc.
2015-2016 Committee Assignments: Audit (Vice chair); Ways and Means (Vice chair); Joint Legislative Audit (Vice chair); Colleges and Universities; Jobs and the Economy; Transportation
State Representative Scott Allen (R)
State Representative Scott Allen (R) is the new representative for the 97th Assembly District, which stood open after Bill Kramer did not run for re-election. Allen won a six-way primary in August, leading the runner-up by five points. The district covers a large portion of the city of Waukesha, and stretches south to Mukwonago.
Rep. Allen has had a diverse career since he graduated from high school, including six years in the United States Army Reserve and some time as a risk analyst at the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. He returned to Wisconsin to begin a career in real estate and sales management. Currently, Allen is a licensed Realtor in the Waukesha area. He has served on the Waukesha City Council.
2015-2016 Committee Assignments: Housing and Real Estate (Vice chair); Environment and Forestry; Jobs and the Economy; Small Business Development; Veterans and Military Affairs