Cathy Zeuske Explained

Cate Zeuske
Order:9th
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Term Start:November 27, 1996
Term End:March 2001
Governor:Tommy Thompson
Predecessor:Mark D. Bugher
Successor:Richard G. Chandler
Order1:31st
Office1:State Treasurer of Wisconsin
Term Start1:January 7, 1991
Term End1:January 3, 1995
Governor1:Tommy Thompson
Predecessor1:Charles P. Smith
Successor1:Jack Voight
State2:Wisconsin
State Assembly2:Wisconsin
District2:4th
Term Start2:January 7, 1985
Term End2:January 7, 1991
Predecessor2:Barbara Ulichny
Successor2:John H. Ainsworth
State Assembly3:Wisconsin
District3:54th
Term Start3:January 3, 1983
Term End3:January 7, 1985
Predecessor3:Esther Doughty Luckhardt
Successor3:Carol A. Buettner
Birth Name:Cathy Susan Zeuske
Birth Date:4 December 1958
Birth Place:Clintonville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:John Gard
Children:2 daughters

Cathy Susan "Cate" Zeuske (born December 4, 1958),[1] is an American Republican politician who served as the 31st State Treasurer of Wisconsin and 9th Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. She was also elected to four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly and was Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.[2]

Early life and career

A native of Clintonville, Wisconsin, Zeuske graduated from Shawano High School and then attended McGill University. She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[1] Prior to her political career, she worked as an insurance agent.[3]

Public office

Zeuske was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1982 at the age of 23, and served until 1991, having decided to forgo re-election and instead run against incumbent State Treasurer Charles Smith (D) in 1990.

State Treasurer (1991-1995)

On November 6, 1990, Zeuske was elected Wisconsin State Treasurer. During her time in office she established the State Treasurer's Advisory Council and State Treasurer's Annual Conference for Local and County Clerks/Treasurers. She was also a member of the State Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, State Board of Canvassers, State Depository Selection Board, Insurance Security Fund, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Retirement Fund, National Association of State Treasurers, Heritage Tourism Advisory Council, Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, Governor's Commission on Dental Care, and Council on State-Local Relations.

She gave up her reelection bid in 1994 to compete in the Republican Senate primary for the opportunity to run against incumbent Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. In the September primary, she lost the nomination to State Senator Robert Welch. On November 8, 1994, Republican Jack Voight was elected as the new State Treasurer, while Senator Kohl went on to defeat State Senator Welch 58% to 41%. In 2000, Zeuske served as a member of the platform committee for the Republican National Convention. She was a member of the Wisconsin Women for Trump coalition in 2016.[4]

Cabinet Positions

Zeuske was then appointed in 1995 as Deputy for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and later as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue from 1999 to 2001. From 2001 to 2015, Zeuske was the administrative director of a non-profit organization and international leadership academy for public officials.[5]

In 2015, Zeuske was appointed by Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.[6] She resigned in May 2018.[7]

Personal life

Zeuske is married to John Gard,[8] who served as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2003 until 2007.[9] They have two children.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Treasurer (1990)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 6, 1990

United States Senate (1994)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Republican Primary, September 13, 1994

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zeuske, Cathy S. (born 1958). 2007-01-06. Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society.
  2. Web site: Women in Elective Office - Historical Summary. 2007-01-06. Eagleton Institute of Politics. Center for American Women and Politics. Rutgers University. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070204040343/http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/StbySt/WI.html. 2007-02-04.
  3. Web site: Wisconsin Women Legislators − A Historical List. 2007-01-06. January 2005. Legislative Reference Bureau. Wisconsin State Legislature. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060818025307/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/wb/05wb5.pdf. 2006-08-18.
  4. Web site: Trump unveils Wisconsin women coalition lacking big names. Bauer. Scott. 2016-08-24. AP NEWS. 2018-12-11.
  5. Web site: Zeuske, Cathy S. 1958. 2016-12-21. Wisconsin Historical Society. 2018-12-11.
  6. Web site: Scott Walker announces administrative shake-up. Journal. Matthew DeFour Wisconsin State. madison.com. en. 2018-12-11.
  7. Web site: Zeuske Resigns from Department of Administration - Hamilton Consulting. 2018-05-03. The Hamilton Consulting Group. en-US. 2018-12-11.
  8. Web site: WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL. Beacon Design Handcrafted Keepsakes Since 1976. en-US. 2018-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215204320/https://beacondesign.com/project/wisconsin-state-capitol/. 2018-12-15. dead.
  9. News: Wisconsin 08. cnn.com. 2007-01-06. CNN.