One-Hundred and Fifth Regular Session
2:04 P.M. MONDAY, January 4, 2021
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Kapenga.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by former Representative Dan LeMahieu.
The Colors were presented by the VFW Day Post 7591 Color Guard Unit of Madison, WI.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Johnson led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
The National Anthem was performed by Sarah Nienhuis, the Choral Director of Wausau West High School.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (6), the Chief Clerk made the following entries under the above date. _____________
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Elections Commission
December 4, 2020
The Honorable, the Senate:
I am pleased to provide you with a copy of the official canvass of the November 3, 2020 General Election vote for State Senator along with the determination by the Chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission of the winners.
With this letter, I am delivering the Certificates of Election for the winners to you for distribution.
If the Elections Commission can provide you with further information or assistance, please contact our office.
Sincerely,
MEAGAN WOLFE
Administrator
_____________
Statement of Canvass
for
State Senator
GENERAL ELECTION, November 3, 2020
I, Commissioner Ann Jacobs, chairperson of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, certify that the attached tabular statements, as compiled from the certified returns made to the Wisconsin Elections Commission by the county clerks of the several counties of the state, contain a correct abstract of the total number of votes given for the election of candidates for State Senator at a General Election held in the several towns, villages, cities, wards and election districts in said counties on the Third day of November, 2020.
I DO, THEREFORE, DETERMINE AND CERTIFY that the following candidates, having each received the greatest number of votes in their respective senatorial districts, are duly elected State Senator:
Senate District Elected
2nd District Robert L. Cowles
4th District Lena C. Taylor
6th District LaTonya Johnson
8th District Alberta Daring
10th District Rob Stafsholt
12th District Mary Czaja-Felzkowski
14th District Joan A. Ballweg
16th District Melissa Agard Sargent
18th District Dan Feyen
20th District Duey Stroebel
22nd District Robert W. Wirch
24th District Patrick Testin
26th District Kelda Helen Roys
28th District Julian Bradley
30th District Eric Wimberger
32nd District Brad Pfaff
Done in the City of Milwaukee, this 1st day of December 2020.
ANN JACOBS
Commissioner, Chairperson
Wisconsin Elections Commission
_____________
With unanimous consent, the party leaders introduced their newly elected respective members.
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Stafsholt
“Rob Stafsholt was born in St. Croix County, Wisconsin and graduated from New Richmond Schools. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Rob currently lives in New Richmond and is small business owner of a garbage disposal company and residential and real estate investment company. Rob is also a farmer and is former co-owner of a salad and food dressing manufacturing and sales company and is a former loan originator.
Rob remains active in his community serving on the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce and as assistant coach for the New Richmond-Somerset High School Trap Team.
Rob is a Farm Bureau Member, life member of the National Rifle Association, the Sportsmen’s Alliance and former member of the Wisconsin Bears Hunters’ Association board of directors. Rob was first elected to the state assembly in 2016 and will begin serving his first term in the Wisconsin State Senate.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Felzkowski
“Mary was born in Tomahawk, Wisconsin and is married with 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Mary is a graduate of Tomahawk High School and has her B.S. in Finance and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Mary currently lives in Tomahawk, Wisconsin and is the owner of an Insurance agency. Mary is an active member of her community serving on numerous boards including: Tomahawk Main Street, Inc., Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tomahawk Child Care, and National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, lifetime member of the NRA, and the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin.
Mary was first elected to Assembly in 2012 and has held Leadership positions including: Assistant Majority Leader 2019. Mary has previously served on the Joint Committee on Finance and has been appointed to serve on JFC in the Senate. Mary will be serving her first term in the State Senate this session.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Ballweg
“Joan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating from Nathan Hale High School in West Allis and attended University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and received her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Joan is married with adult children and has 3 grandchildren.
She is the co-owner of farm equipment business and former first grade teacher.
Joan is active in the state and her community serving on the Council of State Governments, Midwest Legislative Conference, Markesan Chamber of Commerce, Waupun Chamber of Commerce, Green Lake County Farm Bureau, Waupun Memorial Hospital, Agnesian HealthCare Enterprises LLC management committee. She also volunteers at the Markesan District Schools, Markesan PTA and the Markesan AFS Chapter Joan also served on the Markesan City Council from 1987–91 and was the mayor of Markesan from 1991–97.
Joan was elected to Assembly in 2004 and held the leadership position of Majority Caucus Chair. Joan will be serving her first term in the State Senate and has been appointed to the Joint Committee on Finance.”
Senator Bewley Introduced Senator Agard
“Senator Melissa Agard was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, and is a proud graduate of East High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A lifelong Madison resident, Senator Agard is a proud mom to four sons and lives on the city’s Northside. She is a former small business owner and Dane County Board Supervisor.
Senator Agard was first elected in November 2012, and is currently serving in her fifth term in the Wisconsin State Legislature. She represents the 16th Senate District, which encompasses much of the east and south side of Dane County.
Senator Agard is a strong progressive voice in the Wisconsin State Legislature. During her tenure, Senator Agard has fought for legislation raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage, providing equitable access to menstrual hygiene products, legalizing marijuana, empowering survivors of sexual assault, protecting privacy rights, among many other important issues.
She has also worked in a bipartisan manner to get many pieces of pragmatic legislation passed during her time in the legislature.”
Senator Bewley Introduced Senator Roys
“Senator Kelda Helen Roys is a small business owner, attorney, and former nonprofit executive. She represents Wisconsin’s 26th Senate District, covering most of Madison and Shorewood Hills, including the State Capitol and University of Wisconsin.
Senator Roys is a proud alumna of NYU and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Sen. Roys served for four years as executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, working on issues like gender equality, health care access, and ending racial disparities, that she continues to champion in the Senate.
Sen. Roys served two terms in the State Assembly, winning her seat in 2008 by knocking on 20,252 doors and becoming the youngest then-serving state legislator. As Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair, Kelda was a visible figure during the Act 10 protests. In 2018, she ran an historic campaign for governor of Wisconsin.
For the last eight years, Kelda has run OpenHomes, the real estate startup she founded. She is also an active community leader who has served on many boards, and volunteered for her daughters’ school and preschool and taught Sunday school at her church.
Kelda is joined virtually today by her husband and partner of 13 years, Dan, their two young daughters, Arcadia and Avalon, her older stepdaughters Erin and Emily, and Kelda’s parents and sisters.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Bradley
“In November 2020, Julian Bradley was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent the 28th District, which includes parts of Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, and Waukesha counties.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Wisconsin, Julian graduated from Central High School in La Crosse. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse with a degree in political science and economics. Julian worked as a telecommunications manager for Century Link from 2002 to 2019 and worked as an operations manager for Northwestern Mutual from 2019 to 2020. He currently resides in Franklin, Wisconsin.
In his first term, Senator Bradley will be utilizing his private sector experience by serving as chairman of the Senate Committee on Utilities, Technology, and Telecommunications and as a member of the Joint Committee on the Review of Administrative Rules.
An avid sports fan, and former pro-wrestler, Julian has been a long-time grassroots activist in the Republican Party, having been elected as a county chairman and to the Republican Party of Wisconsin executive committee. Julian likes to give back to the community by volunteering in his free time, especially focusing on career readiness and youth literacy.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Wimberger
“Eric Wimberger was born and raised in DePere. He attended St. Cloud State University where he served as student body president, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Political Science. Eric drove semi-trucks long haul before enrolling at Marquette University Law School.
Following graduation from Marquette, Eric commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. As a Judge Advocate he was stationed in Japan and Washington D.C., honorably discharged as a Captain.
