Before being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2012, John served as Communications Director for former Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. Previously, John worked in radio broadcasting for over 20 years, most of it spent at WTMJ in Milwaukee. John, who lives in Watertown with his wife Heidi, have three children. They own a family operated dog treat company. In addition, John is a licensed realtor and owns a communications consulting firm.
John is very active in his community serving as a member of Watertown Elks Lodge #666, Watertown Moose Lodge #830. He is also been given a commission as a Kentucky Colonel.
John was first elected to the Senate during a special election in 2021 and was just reelected for his first full term to represent the 13th Senate District.”
Senator Agard Introduced Senator Spreitzer
“Senator Mark Spreitzer is succeeding Senator Janis Ringhand as the Senator for the 15th State Senate District, which includes parts of Dane, Green, and Rock counties.
Senator Spreitzer was first elected as the State Representative for the 45th Assembly District in 2014, and served four terms in the Assembly, including 3 terms as the Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair.
Prior to serving in the State Assembly, Senator Spreitzer served on the Beloit City Council from April 2011 until April 2015, and served as Council President from April 2014 until April 2015. He also worked in the Alumni Office for his alma mater, Beloit College.
Senator Spreitzer is an active member of the community and participates in nonprofit and community organizations, including serving as the Board President of the Welty Environmental Center and on the Finance and Facilities Board of the United Church of Beloit. He previously served on the board of Community Action Inc. of Rock and Walworth Counties.
Senator Spreitzer lives in Beloit with his husband, Philip, their cat, Otis, and a small flock of backyard chickens that are named after Supreme Court justices. They enjoy camping and hiking, cooking and baking, and spending time with their families - including their young nieces and nephews.
I’m proud to have served with Mark in the Assembly and have seen first hand his intelligence, dedication, and attention to detail that will be such an asset to our caucus and this body - welcome, Mark.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Marklein
“Howard Marklein was raised on a dairy farm in rural Spring Green. He is the oldest of five children and attended St. Luke's and St. John's Grade Schools before graduating from River Valley High School in Spring Green in 1972.
Howard graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA in accounting. In 1987, Howard received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award from UW-Whitewater and recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022.
Howard has retired from active practice as a CPA and certified fraud examiner, but he brings these skills to work in the legislature every day. He serves on the Finance Committee of St. John’s Catholic Church in Spring Green and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Howard is married to Peggy, is the father of Nicole and Bill, and three stepchildren. Howard has six grandchildren with one on the way this month!
Howard was first elected to the State Assembly in 2010 and joined the State Senate in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
Howard serves as Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Tourism and as a member of the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Joint Legislative Council. He has also serves on the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority Board of Directors.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Cabral-Guevara
“Rachael Cabral-Guevara is a mother of 4 (Alex 25, Emilio 21, Marion 19 and Lars 12) who lives on Stroebe Island in Fox Crossing. Rachael was born in Appleton and raised in the Air Force which gave her the opportunity to live across our country. She returned to attend college after high school and hasn’t left Wisconsin since.
Rachael is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a licensed Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber since 2008. Rachael has years of experience working in primary care throughout Wisconsin. She has practiced as a Family Nurse Practitioner within a community health center, student health center, urgent care clinic, and her own practice. Additionally, she taught at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh nursing program for 13 years.
Rachael was elected to the Assembly in 2020 and served as the Vice Chair on the Mental Health Committee. Rachael will be entering her first term in the State Senate.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Wanggaard
“Senator Van Wanggaard was first elected to serve the 21st Senate District, in 2010, and is beginning his fourth term in the State Senate. Van is only person ever elected to four full terms in the 21st Senate District.
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 LeMahieu Introduced Senator James
“Jesse L. James was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After serving in the U.S. Army for six years, Jesse attended Chippewa Valley Technical College, where he studied police science. Jesse served as the Police and Fire Chief of Altoona, Wisconsin, before being elected to the Wisconsin Assembly. During his tenure, Jesse was the Chair of the Assembly Substance Abuse and Prevention Committee and dedicated himself to pursuing his legislative passions in the areas of the opioid epidemic, mental health, and protecting Wisconsin’s children.
Jesse and his wife Vicki currently reside in Altoona, where they enjoy their four children, two granddaughters, and own a small business together. Jesse still works as a part-time police officer in the Village of Cadott, and is currently the only active law enforcement officer in the Wisconsin Legislature.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Quinn
“Romaine Quinn was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and is a graduate of Rice Lake High School. He attended UW-Eau Claire and UW-Green Bay, where he graduated with an interdisciplinary B.A. in Political Science and Public Leadership. Romaine is a real estate agent and currently lives in Cameron, WI with his wife Racquel and their two sons -- his most recent being born just weeks ago. He is a member of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Realtors Association, and a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church parish council in Rice Lake.
Romaine is also a former member of the Rice Lake City Council, the former Mayor of Rice Lake, and previously served in the state assembly from 2014 to 2020, where he held the role of caucus vice-chair. At 24 years old, he was the youngest serving state representative in Wisconsin in 2014. Romaine will be serving his first term in the state senate this session.”
Senator Agard Introduced Senator Hesselbein
“Joining the State Senate this session is Senator Dianne Hesselbein, succeeding outgoing Senator Jon Erpenbach. Senator Hesselbein was born and raised in Dane County where she attended LaFollette High School. She graduated from UW-Oshkosh and later completed a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies at Edgewood College.
Senator Hesselbein possesses a rich background of public service and truly lives her values. Before being elected to the State Legislature, Senator Hesselbein was elected to the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District Board of Education in 2005; elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors in 2008 and served 3 terms.
Senator Hesselbein and her husband Bob, a retired airline pilot and retired member of the Wisconsin National Guard live in Middleton and have three children, Will, Annika and Katie.
I’ve had the great pleasure of knowing Dianne since high school when we met during a summer theater program. She and I served on the Dane County Board together and were later elected to the State Assembly in 2012, motivated by our dedication to our great state and lifting up the voices of Wisconsinites. She has been a fabulous partner in the legislature for years and a fierce advocate for veterans and public education. I know she will diligently represent her constituents as State Senator of the beautiful 27th Senate District.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Tomczyk
“Cory was born in Rudolph, WI and lived there until 5th grade when his family moved to Wisconsin Rapids, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1980.
He is married to his wife Becky and they have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Cory has lived in Mosinee, WI since 1988. He and his wife started a recycling business, IROW, in 1989. IROW serves businesses throughout northcentral Wisconsin by providing industrial recycling services, confidential shredding services, and record storage services.
Cory has served his community as a youth sports coach for many years and is a former member of the Mosinee School Board. He has been active in the Republican Party of Marathon County; he was also an original board member of Get Involved Wisconsin Inc.”
Senator Agard Introduced Senator Smith
“I am honored to read Senator Smith’s biography today, specially prepared by his wife and family.
Jeff Smith has served as senator in the 31st district since 2019. He is here today with his wife Sue, and their daughters, Emily and Sarah. Jeff is known for the phrase ‘I can fix that.’ Whether it is a broken dinner plate or a broken voter access policy, he puts his head down and does his best to correct the situation.
Jeff was born and raised in Eau Claire, one of six brothers and one sister. He and his dad operated Bob Smith Window Cleaning and eventually Jeff took over the business. Recently, one of his former employees reminded Jeff how, even though he owned the business, Jeff never asked his employees to do something he wouldn’t do. Which included cleaning windows on multi-story buildings.
The year he and Sue were married, they built their own home, much of which was learned by following instructions page by page in a home building book. When things went wrong that ‘I can fix that’ determination resulted in the hobby farm which they still enjoy. As a public school teacher, Sue encouraged Jeff to be involved with the schools their daughters attended. He went from volunteering in classrooms to P.T.A. president. When Jeff saw the need for more widespread parental involvement, he created the parent advisory council for the Eau Claire Area School District. The council, renamed family advisory council, is still in operation. When Jeff saw issues that needed fixing in the township in which he lives he ran and was elected to Brunswick Town Chair. This led to the realization that in order to make real change, he needed to work at the state level and so he was elected to the state assembly in 2006.
In 2018 when Jeff saw many things still needed fixing at the state level, he ran and was elected to the State Senate. Jeff fixed the issue of accountability and availability by elected officials by creating his signature ‘Stop and Talk’ sessions, parked on the roadside with his old red pickup and talking with anyone who wanted to stop. While Sue has lots of things she would like Jeff to fix around home, he is determined to continue to prioritize health care access and affordability, fair redistricting maps and environmental issues such as clean water.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Kapenga
“Senator Chris Kapenga has worked for a Fortune 500 company and as a CPA in one of the largest public accounting firms in the world. He owns several businesses and has served in public office for the past 12 years.
Growing up on a family farm, Chris was the first member of his family to graduate college. His wide-ranging professional experience has empowered his understanding of how organizations function effectively, how to achieve reform, and how to gain efficiencies through planning and execution of process change.
Chris was elected to serve as a member of the state Assembly in 2010 and has been serving in the state Senate since 2015. In 2020, he was elected by his peers to Senate President and currently serves as Co-Chair on the Joint Legislative Counsel, Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Joint Committee on Employment Relations, and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Senate Organization.
Chris and his wife, Cari, reside in Delafield, WI. They enjoy spending time with their two grown daughters, serving in their church community, and traveling.”
Senator Feyen Introduced Senator LeMahieu
“Devin LeMahieu is a native of Sheboygan County, having attended Sheboygan County Christian High School before graduating with a BA in Business Administration and Political Science from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Devin currently resides in Oostburg and is the publisher and owner of the Lakeshore Weekly, a family-owned small business that serves the Sheboygan County area. He has previously served on the Sheboygan County Board and continues to serve his community as a member of the Oostburg and Sheboygan County’s Chambers of Commerce and Bethel OPC.
In his free time, Devin is an avid golfer and Ironman competitor. Devin has successfully completed nine Ironman triathlons.
Devin was elected to serve a member of the State Senate in 2014. In 2020, Devin was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Senate Majority Leader and currently serves on the Committee of Senate Organization, the Joint Committee of Employment Relations, the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization and the Joint Legislative Council.”
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Oath of Office
Upon the calling of the newly elected Senators on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 the following appeared before the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Annette Kingsland Ziegler, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court:
André Jacque Tim Carpenter
Rob Hutton Chris Larson
Devin LeMahieu Steve Nass
John Jagler Mark Spreitzer
Howard Marklein Rachael Cabral-Guevara
Van H. Wanggaard Jesse James
Romaine Robert Quinn Dianne H. Hesselbein
Cory Tomczyk Jeff Smith
Chris Kapenga
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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 Agard, Ballweg, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Cowles, Felzkowski, Feyen, Hesselbein, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, James, L. Johnson, Kapenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Pfaff, Quinn, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Taylor, Testin, Tomczyk, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 32.
Absent with leave - None - 0.
Vacancies - 8th Senate District - 1.
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Consideration of resolutions and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2023-2024 senate is organized.
By Senators LeMahieu, Kapenga, Feyen, Agard and Smith.
hist161102The question was: Adoption of Senate Resolution 1? The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 29; noes, 3; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Cowles, Felzkowski, Feyen, Hutton, Jacque, Jagler, James, L. Johnson, Kapenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Pfaff, Quinn, Smith, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Taylor, Testin, Tomczyk, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 29.
Noes - Senators Hesselbein, Larson and Roys - 3.
Absent or not voting - None - 0.
Adopted.
