Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Kooyenga
“Dale was born in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He is a Certified Public Account (CPA) who received his B.A. from Lakeland College and his M.B.A from Marquette University. In 2005, Dale enlisted in the United States Army alongside his two brothers and was later called up to service in Iraq. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. Dale remains a member of the United States Army Reserve where he serves as a Major. Dale served in the State Assembly from 2011-2019. In 2018, Dale ran for the State Senate and was elected to represent the 5th Senate District. Dale lives in Brookfield with his wife Jennifer and their four children.”
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Larson
“Senator Chris Larson represents the 7th Senate District which includes communities on the eastern edge of Milwaukee County. This is an area that embodies Wisconsin’s greatest values and traditions, including: higher education with UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering; commerce and economic development with our state’s premier airport, the Port of Milwaukee, and Downtown Milwaukee; artistic expression with the Milwaukee Art Museum; natural resources with the county park system near Lake Michigan; and cultural diversity with ethnic festivals at the Summerfest Grounds.
Senator Larson won his 3rd term to the State Senate this past November. In his first eight years of service, Senator Larson focused on strengthening and increasing access to quality public education across Wisconsin.
Previously, Senator Larson served as a County Supervisor with the Milwaukee County Board. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in Finance. Senator Larson has experience as a business manager for a local running store and is a dedicated marathon runner. He has run 37 marathons in 23 states on his way to the goal of running a marathon in each state. He has lived in Milwaukee County all of his life and resides with his wife and two children in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator LeMahieu
“Senator Devin LeMahieu was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2014. He will Chair the Senate Committee on Utilities and Housing and will be serving his first term as a Member of the Joint Committee on Finance.
Born and raised in the Village of Oostburg, Devin graduated Sheboygan County Christian High School in 1991. He earned degrees in Business Administration and Political Science from Dordt College in 1995.
Since 2002, Devin has been the owner and operator of the Lakeshore Weekly, a shopper and print shop serving southeast Sheboygan County.
In 2005, Devin was elected to his first term on the Sheboygan County Board. He served as a County Board Supervisor for nine years.
In his free time, Devin trains for endurance sports. He is a six-time Ironman, conquering the courses in Madison, Panama City and Houston.
Devin resides in Oostburg where he continues to serve his community as a member of the Oostburg Chamber of Commerce and member of Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Nass
“Senator Steve Nass was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2014 and will be serving his second term. Prior to joining the Senate, he had a long career in the Assembly where he served from 1991 to 2014. A Whitewater native and veteran of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, Senator Nass served in the Middle East in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Senator Nass has won a reputation for his work on higher education issues and legislative oversight and will continue those efforts in the new term.
He will serve as Chair of the Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Co-chair of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.
Senator Nass would like to welcome his daughter Ashleigh and her husband Steve Nordin, as well as Sheila Reiff, Clerk of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and he is also joined by several other constituents in attendance today.”
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Ringhand
“Senator Janis Ringhand is a lifelong resident of Rock County and represents the 15th Senate District which includes parts of Rock, Green, Dane, Walworth and Jefferson Counties. Senator Ringhand is entering her second term in the Wisconsin State Senate and previously served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Prior to that, she was the Mayor of Evansville and an Alderwoman.
Senator Ringhand is a successful entrepreneur and owns a business where she makes and sells her own homemade beer mustard. In addition, she helped run the family business, Ringhand Meat and Beverage in Evansville, for over 17 years prior to focusing on a career in public service. Having earned her degree in Finance from Madison Area Technical College, returning to school after raising her two children, she also has several years of experience in small business accounting.
Senator Ringhand is the Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and will be serving on the Wisconsin State Building Commission; the Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Trade; the Committee on Agriculture, Revenue, and Financial Institutions; and the Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform in the upcoming legislative session. She looks forward to being the voice of the residents of the 15th Senate District in the State Senate and focusing on workforce training, education and economic development issues to help create a Wisconsin that works for everyone.
Joining Senator Ringhand today are her daughter, Shawn Dunphy, her grandchildren Haley and Jayden Dunphy, Makenna and Logan Ringhand, her great granddaughter Finley Dunphy and family friend Lindsey Oberdorf.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Marklein
“Senator Howard Marklein was raised on a dairy farm in rural Spring Green and is the oldest of five children. He graduated from River Valley High School in Spring Green in 1972 and from UW-Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA in accounting. After graduation from college, Howard worked for First Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee (now US Bank) and in 1978, he was recruited by Virchow Krause (now Baker Tilly) and began his public accounting career in the Dodgeville office.
Howard accepted a promotion and transfer to the Whitewater and Fort Atkinson offices of Virchow Krause in 1980. He was promoted to partner in the firm in 1984. In recent years, his practice focused on the forensic accounting area and white collar crime investigations. He is also credentialed as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
Howard was first elected to the State Assembly in 2010. He was then elected to the State Senate in 2014. Howard is proud to represent the 17th Senate District and his home community of Spring Green where he lives less than a mile from the dairy farm where he grew up.
Howard is married to Peggy, a registered nurse and is the father of Nicole and William, as well as three stepchildren and four grandchildren.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Roth
“Senator Roth was born in Appleton, February 5, 1978 and is a graduate of St. Mary Central High School (Menasha, 1996). He later attended UW-Oshkosh where he graduated with a B.S. in history in 2001.
He was elected to Assembly in 2006-08; elected to Senate in 2014, 2018; became Senate President in 2017 and was unanimously re-elected as Senate President for the 2019-2020 legislative session.
Roger is a self-employed home builder, 1st Lt. Wis. Air National Guard, and an Iraq War veteran serving four tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a member of: Valley Homebuilders Assn.; American Legion; AMVETS; VFW.
Roger currently resides in Appleton with his wife Rebecca and four young children: Roger Jr, Oliver, Theodore, and Winston.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Wanggaard
“Senator Van Wanggaard was first elected to serve the 21st Senate District, in 2010, and is beginning his third term in the state senate. Van is first three-term senator from the 21st district in 28 years.
Growing up in Racine, Van Wanggaard is a lifelong public servant. For nearly 30 years, he served as a police officer and traffic investigator for the Racine Police Department. In addition, he owned and operated several small businesses during this time. His law enforcement career was cut short and he was forced to retire when he was seriously injured in a car accident by a federal fugitive fleeing custody. Still dedicated to community service, Van successfully ran for four terms on the Racine County Board of Supervisors, where he served prior to his election to the state Senate in 2010.
Van is married to his high school sweetheart, Mary Jo. Together they have 2 grown children and 3 granddaughters.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Bernier
“Senator Kathy Bernier is a lifelong resident of the Chippewa Valley. She obtained a bachelors degree from UW-Eau Claire, later in life, as a working mother of three. Kathy has served on the board of directors for the National Foundation for Women Legislators and the board of Wisconsin Women in Government among many other public service organizations. She served as Chippewa County Clerk and a trustee for the Village of Lake Hallie. Kathy was first elected to the State Assembly in 2010. She has been a devoted public servant her entire life. She is a proud mother of three children and six grandchildren.”
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Bewley
“Senator Janet Bewley represents the 25th Senate District, the largest of the 33 Senate Districts. The 25th district borders both Michigan and Minnesota, includes all of Wisconsin's Lake Superior shoreline, four tribal nations, state and national parks, large cities and small towns; farms, forests, and factories - sea caves and snowmobile trails.
Senator Bewley is starting her second term in the State Senate. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served two terms in the State Assembly after serving on the Ashland City Council.
Senator Bewley was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the second of four children. Her father was a truck driver, and her mom ran the house. She was the first member of her family to graduate from college. After a few years working in the ocean freight business, Janet went on to graduate school and earned a Master's in Academic Administration from the University of Maine in 1977. And then she moved to Ashland and found her home.
During her varied professional career Janet served as the Dean of Students at Northland College, Executive Director of the Mary H. Rice Foundation and Senior Community Development Officer/ State Tribal Liaison at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. Janet was one of the original cast members at Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua and continues to perform as part of the Rittenhouse Chamber Singers.
Joining Senator Bewley today are her husband, David Saetre and a number of friends from Northern Wisconsin.”
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Erpenbach
“Senator Jon Erpenbach, representing the 27th Senate District, is entering his sixth term in the Senate. The 27th District touches five counties; Columbia, Dane, Green Iowa and Sauk with a rich tapestry of diverse communities and geographical destinations, including Devils Lake State Park - the most visited in the state.
Senator Erpenbach will continue his work on the Joint Committee on Finance this session and has also served his caucus as Senate Minority Leader in the 2003 session. Priorities of his Legislative work include advancing policies to improve access to affordable quality health care for all, consumer rights and protections, and high quality education and higher education.
Joining Senator Erpenbach today is his wife Christine Bellport-Erpenbach. Also here today supporting their dad are Joey Erpenbach and his friend Katie Sauer, and Amy Erpenbach.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Petrowksi
“State Senator Jerry Petrowski was born in Wausau and has lived in the area ever since. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 6 years in the 213th S&S Battalion. Jerry has over 30 years of experience as a small business owner, a machinist, and farmer of ginseng, dairy, and beef. Jerry has been married to his wife Ellen for over 40 years, and together they have 4 children and 3 grandchildren.
He was elected to the State Assembly in 1998 and later elected to the State Senate in 2012. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veteran Affairs and Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue & Financial Institutions.
Senator Shilling Introduced Senator Smith
“Senator Jeff Smith is beginning his first term in the State Senate after serving as one of Eau Claire’s most prolific and respected activists. Senator Smith has worked tirelessly in his community on public education opportunities, health care access and affordability, redistricting reform, protections for water and helping people run for elected office.
I met Senator Smith when we served together in the State Assembly during the 2007 and 2009 legislative sessions. Senator Smith was a leader in the State Assembly on consumer protections, elections, and rural issues.
Before we served together in the State Assembly, Senator Smith served on the Brunswick Town Board as Chair for 6 years. He was active with the Governor’s Task Force for Educational Excellence, the Wisconsin Parent Teacher Association Board, the Department of Public Instruction’s Parent Leadership Corps and the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools.
Senator Smith served the Eau Claire region as a small business owner. He operated a window cleaning business for 30 years. Senator Smith’s community involvement runs deep, and his passion for Western Wisconsin will be a welcomed addition to our Senate body.
Today, Senator Jeff Smith and his wife Sue live on their farm in the Town of Brunswick caring for horses, chickens, dogs, cats, a llama and their land. Emily, their oldest daughter, lives in Tennessee working with horses and their owners. Their youngest daughter Sarah works in politics and most recently helped Sarah Godlewski become our new State Treasurer.”
Senator Fitzgerald Introduced Senator Kapenga
“Senator Chris Kapenga was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in a special election in July 2015 after serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly for two and a half terms.
Born in Michigan in 1972, Chris graduated from Calvin College in 1994 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting. A CPA by trade, he later moved to Wisconsin to put his accounting skills to work for Arthur Andersen and GE Healthcare.
A citizen legislator at heart, Chris represents the constituents of the 33rd Senate District while also running a software company based in Downtown Milwaukee.
Chris and his wife Cari have two daughters and live in the Town of Delafield in Waukesha County.”
Senator Feyen Introduced Senator Fitzgerald
“Senator Scott Fitzgerald was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1994 and is currently serving as the Senate Majority Leader: he has been selected by his peers to lead the Republican caucus eight times.
Born in Chicago in 1963, Scott later moved to Wisconsin and graduated from Hustisford High School in 1981. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1985.
In 1990, Scott purchased and ran the Dodge County Independent News in Juneau, WI until its sale in 1996 to the Watertown Daily Times where he then worked as an associate publisher.
Scott is a veteran of the US Army Reserve: he joined in 1981 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Armor Branch in 1985. In 2009, he retired from service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Scott and his wife Lisa have three adult sons and live outside of Juneau in Dodge County.”
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Oath of Office
Upon the calling of the newly elected Senators on Monday, January 7, 20179 the following appeared before the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Patience Drake Roggensack, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
André Jacque Tim Carpenter
Dale Kooyenga Chris Larson
Devin LeMahieu Steve Nass
Scott Fitzgerald Janis Ringhand
Howard Marklein Roger Roth
Van H. Wanggaard Kathy Bernier
Janet Bewley Jon B. Erpenbach
Jerry Petrowski Jeff Smith
Chris Kapenga
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Oath of Office
On Friday, December 14, 2018, Dale Kooyenga took and subscribed the oath of office in Brookfield, which was administered by the Honorable Mark Gundrum, Court of Appeals – District 2 Judge.
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Call of Roll
The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 15, the official attendance for session was: Senators Bernier, Bewley, Carpenter, Cowles, Craig, Darling, Erpenbach, Feyen, Fitzgerald, Hansen, Jacque, Johnson, Kapenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Miller, Nass, Olsen, Petrowski, Ringhand, Risser, Roth, Schachtner, Shilling, Smith, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Tiffany, Wanggaard and Wirch - 32.
