Scott L. Fitzgerald
Scott L. Fitzgerald | |
---|---|
Wisconsin State Senator Scott Fitzgerald (March 2011) | |
Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader | |
Assumed office January 7, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Mark F. Miller |
In office January 3, 2011 – March 17, 2012 | |
Succeeded by | Mark F. Miller |
Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader | |
In office July 17, 2012 – January 7, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Mark F. Miller |
Succeeded by | Chris Larson |
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 13th district | |
Assumed office 1994 | |
Preceded by | Barbara Lorman |
Personal details | |
Born |
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | November 16, 1963
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lisa Fitzgerald; 3 children |
Residence | Juneau, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh |
Profession | Former newspaper publisher |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Website | http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen13/news |
Scott L. Fitzgerald (born November 16, 1963) is an American politician and one-time newspaper publisher. He is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 13th District since 1994.[1]
Early life, education and career
Fitzgerald was born in Chicago, but moved with his family to Hustisford, Wisconsin, at age 11. He graduated from Hustisford High School in 1981, and earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 1985. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1981 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Armor Branch in 1985. He completed the Army Command and General Staff College and served in a number of assignments during his 27 years of service, including Battalion Commander. In 2009, he retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He worked for nearly a decade as a newspaper publisher. He purchased the Dodge County Independent News in Juneau, Wisconsin, in 1990, and sold it in 1996 to the Watertown Daily Times where he remained as associate publisher for several years.
Wisconsin Senate
In 1994, Fitzgerald was elected to the Wisconsin Senate, and he has been re-elected since 1998. He was elected by his Senate Republican colleagues as Senate Majority Leader for the 2011–2012 legislative session. In prior sessions, Fitzgerald has served as Minority Leader, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, and Chairman of the Senate Corrections Committee. He served on a wide array of boards and study committees ranging from the Rural Economic Development Board, the Governor’s Council on Tourism, and the Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations to the Committee on Telecommunications and 911 Service.
2011 Wisconsin protests
In 2011 there were public employee protests conducted in opposition to Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill. In January 2011, Fitzgerald said he wanted to meet with the unions before changing the laws, adding, "We're not going to walk through hell and go through that if the Governor doesn't offer that up."[2]
On February 8, 2011, Fitzgerald's father was appointed to head the state patrol by the Walker Administration.[3] Three days later, Governor Walker introduced his budget repair bill that limited collective bargaining from most municipal workers, which Fitzgerald, and all but one Republican in the State Senate, supported.[4]
Family
Scott Fitzgerald's father, Stephen "Steve" Fitzgerald, was Sheriff of Dodge County, Wisconsin, for fourteen years and served as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Wisconsin. He was later appointed head of Wisconsin State Patrol by Governor Walker.[5]
Scott's younger brother, Jeff, was an Assembly Representative from the 39th Assembly District, and was Assembly Speaker during the 2011–2012 legislative session.
Personal life
Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Lisa, have three sons.
References
- ↑ Scott Fitzgerald, Wisconsin Historical Society
- ↑ Bauer, Scott. "Senate leader says Walker's refinancing debt could balance budget". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- ↑ "Steve Fitzgerald to Head Wisconsin State Patrol". WISN-TV. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ↑ "Highlights of Governor Walker's budget repair bill". Wisconsin State Journal. February 11, 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ↑ "Ingaleft". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
External links
- Senator Scott L. Fitzgerald profile at Wisconsin State Legislature website
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- 13th Senate District, Senator Fitzgerald in the Wisconsin Blue Book (2005–2006)
- 13 Senate District, Senator Fitzgerald - redistricted map based on 2011 Wisconsin Act 43 (2011)
Wisconsin State Senate | ||
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Preceded by unknown |
Wisconsin State Senator – 13th District 1994–present |
Incumbent |