Senate District Elected
2nd District Robert L. Cowles
4th District Lena C. Taylor
6th District Nikiya Harris
8th District Alberta Darling
10th District Sheila Harsdorf
12th District Tom Tiffany
14th District Luther S. Olsen
16th District Mark Miller
18th District Rick Gudex
20th District Glenn Grothman
22nd District Robert W. Wirch
24th District Julie Lassa
26th District Fred A. Risser
28th District Mary Lazich
30th District Dave Hansen
32nd District Jennifer Shilling
Done in the City of Madison, this 29th day of November, 2012.
DAVID G. DEININGER
Chairperson
Government Accountability Board
_____________
In the Chair
Pursuant to Senate Rule 2 (1), Senate President Pro Tempore Carpenter in the chair. _____________
With unanimous consent, the party leaders introduced their respective members as they came before the bar to be sworn in.
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Cowles
“Senator Cowles represents the people of the 2nd Senate District, and lives in the Village of Allouez just south of the City of Green Bay.
Senator Cowles will be the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and the Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Audit.
When Senator Cowles previously held the position of Co-Chairman of the Joint Audit Committee, he was a key player in numerous state audits, such as the audit of Medicaid, the fleet audit, and the IT audit. Along with Senator Cowles’ invested interest in his committees, he has a long standing history of being a strict fiscal conservative. He has always been willing to take a stand against government spending.
With that said, I would like to welcome Senator Cowles back to the Wisconsin Senate for the 2013-2014 Legislative Session.”
Senator Larson Introduced Senator Taylor
“Senator Lena Taylor is beginning her third term in the State Senate representing the 4th Senate District. Senator Taylor serves the north side of Milwaukee, including the historic Riverwest, Harambee, and Rufus King neighborhoods, as well as the communities of Shorewood, Glendale, and Wauwatosa.
Senator Taylor served her district and the Senate in her first two terms on the Joint Committee on Finance and on the Committee on Judiciary. The Senator has fought hard to secure funding for Milwaukee and the priorities of education accountability, transit systems, health care access and affordability, and improved capital opportunity for minority and local business. Senator Taylor has been an outspoken advocate for the civil liberties of all people, including working to maintain the right to vote unimpeded and reforming the corrections system.
Senator Taylor previously served in the State Assembly and continues her private law practice outside the Senate. She lives in the Rufus King neighborhood on the block on which she grew up, with her son, Isaiah.”
Senator Larson Introduced Senator Harris
“The newly elected Senator Nikiya Harris represents our neighbors in the 6th Senate District, which is comprised of the City of Milwaukee. This thriving metropolis plays a vital role in the success of our state and our economy. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Senator Harris is deeply connected to her community.
Prior to being elected to the Legislature, Senator Harris helped support our quality universities as a pre-college coordinator for UWM’s College of Health Services. She also strived to continue Wisconsin’s tradition of environmental stewardship by working at Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center as a special events coordinator and membership manager. In May 2010, Senator Harris was elected to the Milwaukee County Board as a supervisor, where she served until her election to the State Senate.
Senator Harris also understands the challenges of raising a family in Milwaukee County, as she took guardianship over her three younger siblings while still very young after the passing of her mother. This personal experience has helped her to truly understand what her community values so she can better represent them. It has also shaped Senator Harris’ priorities on the County Board and now as a senator. Senator Harris has been a strong voice for her neighbors by advocating for quality education statewide, increasing access to public transit, and protecting some of our most sacred rights, such as the right to vote.
Joining Senator Nikiya Harris today is her grandmother Josephine Montgomery, her sister Kenya Johnson, her aunt and uncle George and Karen Harris, her aunt Nicole Buckley, and her cousins Brittany Cullen, LaTisha Terry, and Tamara Walker.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Darling
"Senator Alberta Darling was elected to the State Senate in 1992 after previously serving in the State Assembly. The 8th Senate District includes portions of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee Counties.
Alberta has served on the Joint Committee on Finance since 1999 and will be co-chairing it this session for the third time. She is the first woman to co-chair the state’s budget writing committee.
Last session, she was instrumental in fixing a $3.6 billion budget deficit without raising taxes. Alberta authored legislation to save taxpayers millions by ending raids on segregated funds and paying our bills on time. She has continued her efforts to reform government and protect taxpayers by fighting welfare fraud.
Senator Darling authored Jessica’s Law, which protects Wisconsin’s children from sexual predators, the Sex Offender Registry and Internet Predator law. She also authored Wisconsin’s law to protect children from abusive clergy. These landmark laws, along with her work on behalf of victims’ rights, have earned her a reputation as a reformer.
A former teacher, Senator Darling entered public service with a commitment to protecting, educating and improving the lives of children. She helped create Wisconsin’s landmark school choice and charter school laws. Last session, she authored the Sidelined for Safety Act which will help protect student athletes from concussions.
Senator Darling has been married to Dr. William Darling for more than 45 years. They are the parents of two children, Liza and Will, and proud grandparents of two grandsons Charlie and Liam and one granddaughter Andie.
Joining Senator Darling today are some of her constituents.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Harsdorf
“Sheila was re-elected last fall by the voters of the 10th Senate District, which includes parts of Burnett, Dunn, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix Counties.
Sheila has been a tireless advocate for western Wisconsin and has long fought for issues affecting our small communities and rural areas in the State Legislature. As a former dairy farmer, Sheila knows firsthand the challenges facing agricultural producers and the importance of agriculture to our state’s economy. In representing a district that borders Minnesota, Sheila understands the critical need for Wisconsin to remain competitive with other states as we seek to attract jobs and grow our economy.
Sheila is today joined by her son, Ryan, her sisters and their spouses, Roxy and Wade Carlson and Sue and Steve Josephson, and her brother, Jim Harsdorf. Also joining Sheila are many friends that made the drive from western Wisconsin.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Tiffany
“Senator-Elect Tom Tiffany was elected in November to represent the 12th Senate District. Tom just completed his first term in the State Assembly serving as State Representative of the 35th Assembly District. In the Assembly, Tom was known for his hard work on issues related to natural resources, tourism, and economic development.
Tom and his wife Chris own and operate Wisconsin River Cruises, which they started in 1991, and Tom is the dam man, better known as the damtender, on the Willow Flowage. In addition, Tom serves as Town Supervisor for the Town of Little Rice, a position held since 2009.
Today, Senator-Elect Tiffany is joined by his wife Chris and their three daughters Karlyn, Lexie, and Katherine. In addition, Tom is also joined by family members including his mother Virgal Tiffany, his sister and brother-in-law Lou and Jim Welter, his brother Richard, and his brother Charles with his son Tanner.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Olsen
“Senator Luther Olsen representing the 14th Senate District is from Ripon, Wisconsin, a graduate of Berlin High School and the University of Wisconsin Madison. Today marks the start of his third term in the Senate, after having served in the State Assembly since 1995. Prior to being elected to the Legislature, Senator Olsen served his hometown for 20 years as a member of the Berlin Area School Board – 9 of those as school board president.
Senator Olsen will be returning as the Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Chairman of the Education Committee where his leadership on K-12 education is recognized not just in the Capitol but nationwide. In 2012 he was selected to serve as the Education Committee Co-Chair for the National Conference of State Legislatures. Several family members, including his wife Joan Wade, join Senator Olsen today.”
Senator Larson Introduced Senator Miller
“Senator Mark Miller, representing the 16th Senate District, is entering his third term in the State Senate. His district spans a large portion of Dane County. Prior to being elected to the Senate, he served six years in the State Assembly and four years on the Dane County Board. This past session, Senator Miller served as Senate Democratic Leader and as Senate Majority Leader for the second half of 2012.
Senator Miller is a former small business owner and served our country for 30 years as a fighter pilot in the Air National Guard, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1995.
Senator Miller is a leading advocate for smart environmental policy and conservation. He will continue to work for a more energy efficient Wisconsin this session as the ranking member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
Joining Senator Mark Miller today is his wife Jo Oyama Miller, his brother and sister-in-law Jeff and Karen, his brother Randy Miller, his daughter Chandra Miller Fienen, and his sister-in-law Debi Leeper.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Gudex
“Rick Gudex was elected on November 6 to serve the people of the 18th Senate District. Rick grew up in Eden, Wisconsin where he learned the value of hard work by doing chores on the family farm and working at construction sites. After graduating high school, Rick began a successful career in the manufacturing industry at Gehl Company in West Bend. He is now employed as a production manager of the Aluminum Division at Brenner Tank in Fond du Lac.
Rick began his distinguished career in public service in 1998, when he became the mayor of Mayville at the age of 29. In addition, Rick has served on the Eden Village Board, and in 2009, Rick was elected to the Fond du Lac City Council where he served as its president for the past three years.
The Gudex family is proud to call Fond du Lac “home.”
Rick is joined today by his wife Kim; their children Jayce and Alexana; Rick’s mother and father Diane and Don; Rick’s brother and sister-in-law Joel and Nancy; Rick’s sister and brother-in-law Breyn and Joe; family friends; Brenner Tank co-workers; and City of Fond du Lac administrators.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Grothman
“Senator Glenn Grothman represents the 20th Senate District which includes parts of Washington, Ozaukee, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Calumet counties. Senator Grothman was elected to the State Assembly in a special election in 1993 and eleven years later he began serving in the Senate. He attended UW-Madison for his undergraduate degree and received his law degree from the UW-Madison Law School.
Before Senator Grothman was elected to the Assembly, he was a lawyer in West Bend for ten years. Senator Grothman is known for being a fiscal and policy watchdog, and is well known for working across the aisle on commonsense solutions for the citizens of Wisconsin. He also was the author of, at the time, the most pro-life waiting period bill in the country.
Senator Grothman is particularly proud of the reforms he helped spearhead in the 2011-2012 session, especially on tax law and regulatory reform. Senator Grothman is honored to be the Chair of the Judiciary and Labor Committee as well as a member of the Joint Finance Committee.
Joining him today are his parents, Harold and Joan Grothman.”
Senator Larson Introduced Senator Wirch
“Senator Bob Wirch was re-elected this November to his fifth term in the Wisconsin State Senate. He proudly serves the 22nd Senate District, which includes the City of Kenosha, the City of Racine, the Village of Mount Pleasant and the Village of Elmwood Park. Throughout his tenure in public service, Senator Wirch has been steadfast in his commitment to speaking with constituents and responding to their concerns.
A third-generation Kenosha native, Senator Wirch followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps working at the American Brass Company for over two decades. While working at American Brass, he attended night classes at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, earning a Bachelor’s degree. He also served in the Army Reserve from 1965 until 1971. Senator Wirch was elected to the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors in 1986 where he served for eight years and worked to help establish the Shalom Center. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1992 and served until his election to the State Senate in 1996.
Senator Wirch has been a strong advocate for Wisconsin’s environment and is a long serving member on the Senate Natural Resources Committee. This Legislative session, Senator Wirch has been appointed to the Joint Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Government Operations, and the Committee on Public Works and Telecommunications.
Senator Wirch is supported by his loving family. He is the oldest of six children born to Walter and Dorothy Wirch. Senator Wirch and his wife Mary have two grown children, David and Julia.
Today Senator Wirch is joined by his wife Mary and his children David and Julia, his brother Gary and his daughter Anne, his sister Pat, his brother Rick and his children Katie and Michael, and his sister Lori and her daughters Holly and Lindsey.”
Senator Larson Introduced Senator Lassa
“This past November, Senator Julie Lassa was re-elected to her third term as a state senator in Wisconsin. She will be representing communities in the counties of Portage, Waushara, Wood, Adams, Monroe, and Jackson. Having grown up on her parents’ farm in northern Portage County, Senator Lassa is familiar with the priorities and values of those she serves.
Before her election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2003, Senator Lassa served her community as an Executive Director for the Plover Area Business Association, a Supervisor on the Town of Dewey Board, and a Representative in the State Assembly.
Senator Lassa has made a reputation for herself of being able to work across party lines to find common sense solutions. She is passionate about making our state a better place for all Wisconsinites to live. While in the Legislature, she has focused on enhancing private-sector job creation, promoting small business growth, making government more accountable to taxpayers, and protecting our children.
Joining Senator Julie Lassa today is her husband John and her youngest daughter Lily.”
Senator Larson Introduced Senator Risser
“Senator Fred Risser was re-elected to represent the 26th Senate District—home of the State Capitol and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The district includes much of the City of Madison and the Village of Shorewood Hills. A native Madisonian, Senator Risser is the fourth generation of his family to represent this area in the Wisconsin Legislature. He was elected to the Assembly in 1956 and to the Senate in 1962. Senator Risser’s lifelong dedication to public service gives him the distinct honor of being the longest serving state legislator in the United States. He is also regarded as an expert on the rules and procedures of the Wisconsin Senate.
During his tenure in the Wisconsin Legislature, Senator Risser has left a mark on countless areas of policy. His most notable achievement has been enactment of the SmokeFree Wisconsin Act, which has cleared the air in businesses and public spaces throughout the state. Senator Risser is a tireless advocate for maintaining the University of Wisconsin as a world-class teaching and research institution by providing appropriate resources and facilities to draw top students and faculty. He is passionate about preserving Wisconsin’s natural resources through stewardship, the protection of state parks, and expansion of Wisconsin’s vast network of recreational trails.
