Peg Lautenschlager Explained

Peg Lautenschlager
Order:1st
Office:Chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission
Term Start:July 11, 2016
Term End:April 8, 2017
Predecessor:Commission established
Successor:David R. Halbrooks
Office1:42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin
Governor1:Jim Doyle
Term Start1:January 6, 2003
Term End1:January 3, 2007
Predecessor1:Jim Doyle
Successor1:J. B. Van Hollen
Office2:United States Attorney for the
Appointer2:Bill Clinton
Term Start2:October 18, 1993
Term End2:April 27, 2001
Predecessor2:Kevin C. Potter
Successor2:J. B. Van Hollen
State Assembly3:Wisconsin
District3:52nd
Term Start3:January 1, 1989
Term End3:January 1, 1993
Preceded3:Earl F. McEssy
Succeeded3:John P. Dobyns
Office4:District Attorney of Winnebago County
Appointer4:Tony Earl
Term Start4:July 1985
Term End4:December 1988
Predecessor4:Dee Dyer
Successor4:Joseph Paulus
Birth Name:Peggy Ann Lautenschlager
Birth Date:22 November 1955
Birth Place:Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Cause:Osteosarcoma and breast cancer
Residence:Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Spouse:Bill Rippl
Children:5 (including Josh Kaul)
Party:Democratic
Education:Lake Forest College (BA)
University of Wisconsin (JD)

Peggy Ann Lautenschlager (November 22, 1955 – March 31, 2018)[1] was an American attorney and Democratic politician who was the first chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission from 2016 to 2017, the 42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin from 2003 to 2007, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin from 1993 to 2001, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 52nd district from 1989 to 1993, and the Winnebago County District Attorney from 1985 to 1989. Lautenschlager was the first woman to serve as Attorney General of Wisconsin.[2] [3] [4]

Lautenschlager's son, Josh Kaul, is the current Wisconsin Attorney General. He was elected in the 2018 general election and re-elected in 2022.

Early life and education

Lautenschlager was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Milton Adam "Fritz" Lautenschlager (1926–2012), a sports coach, and Patsy Ruth "Pat" (née Oleson).[5] She graduated from Goodrich High School (now Fond du Lac High School) in 1973 as valedictorian of her class. Lautenschlager was a Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate of Lake Forest College, in 1977, majoring in history and mathematics. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in June 1980.[6]

Legal and political career

After graduation from law school, Lautenschlager was an attorney in private practice in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, specializing in family and domestic abuse law. She served as a member of the adjunct faculties of the University of Wisconsin Law School, the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and Ripon College, and served as interim circuit court commissioner of Winnebago County.[7]

Lautenschlager was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Wisconsin State Senate in November 1984, because she didn't pursue charges against Manitowoc Sheriffs office, losing the race to incumbent Scott McCallum. Shortly after her defeat, she was appointed by Gov. Tony Earl to serve as district attorney for Winnebago County, becoming the first woman to hold the office. She served as district attorney from July 1985 to December 1988. Lautenschlager simultaneously served on the Wisconsin State Elections Board, the Governor's Council on Domestic Abuse, the Democratic National Committee, and the Oshkosh Rape Crisis Center.[8]

Lautenschlager was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1988, unseating a 32-year Republican incumbent. She served from 1989 to 1993 representing the Fond du Lac area. She chaired the Assembly Select Committee on Drug Enforcement, Education, and Treatment and Subcommittee on Corrections Systems Concerns. She also served on the Committees on Criminal Justice, Elections and Constitutional Law, Environmental Resources, Utilities and Mining, Natural Resources, Judiciary, and Education. She served as Vice-chair of Legislative Counsel Committees on Drug Enforcement and Review of Sexual Assault Laws. She decided not to seek re-election in 1992, and instead campaigned for the congressional seat held by incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Petri. She narrowly lost in what was an unexpectedly close race.[9]

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Lautenschlager the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, a position for which she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and held until April 2001. In that capacity, she was the chief federal law enforcement officer for the state's westernmost 44 counties. In 1996, Lautenschlager was appointed by Janet Reno to serve on the 15-member Attorney General's Advisory Committee. She was the first Wisconsinite ever selected to serve on the committee.[10] [11]

Attorney General of Wisconsin

She was elected in 2002 as a Democrat to the office of Attorney General, succeeding Jim Doyle who successfully ran for governor. Her campaign raised more money than any previous Democratic campaign for that office. She defeated Vince Biskupic, the Republican candidate, 52% to 48%, despite being outspent by about $200,000. During this period she was a practicing lawyer and a part-time politics professor at Ripon College, in addition to serving as Chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.[12]

Drunk-driving conviction and other controversy

In February 2004, Lautenschlager pleaded guilty to drunk driving in Dodge County, about an hour away from Madison.[13] The police report stated that she refused a blood test. Lautenschlager said that she had fallen asleep at the wheel, and had consumed only two glasses of wine earlier that evening.[14] Lautenschlager reimbursed some of the costs and paid a fine of $784. Her driver's license was also revoked for a year.[15]

Also in 2004, a state Ethics Board investigated Lautenschlager's use of her state car, ruling that her personal use of it exceeded state-allowed limits but finding "no corrupt motive or intention to obtain a dishonest advantage".[16]

Re-election campaign

In 2006, Lautenschlager faced a Democratic primary challenge from Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, a 2002 candidate for Governor and former Assistant Attorney General. Lautenschlager lost the Democratic nomination to Falk. Falk later lost the general election to former Western District of Wisconsin U.S. Attorney J. B. Van Hollen.[17] Lautenschlager became the first incumbent Wisconsin Attorney General to lose a primary in 58 years.[18]

Death

First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, Lautenschlager died on March 31, 2018, at her home in Fond du Lac, aged 62.[19] [20] [21] [22]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (1984)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 11, 1984[23] | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 6, 1984[23]

Wisconsin Assembly (1988, 1990)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 1988[24] | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 6, 1990[25]

U.S. House of Representatives (1992)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 1992[26]

Wisconsin Attorney General (2002, 2006)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 5, 2002[27] | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 12, 2006[28]

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Governor Jim Doyle issues statement on former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager death. WMTV. March 31, 2018 . March 31, 2018.
  2. Mark Sommerhauser. "Ethics Commission chairwoman Peg Lautenschlager resigns". Wisconsin State Journal, April 8, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2017.
  3. "Peg Lautenschlater, Brian Bell chosen to lead new ethics commission". Wisconsin State Journal.
  4. Web site: Former attorney general Lautenschlager appointed to Wisconsin ethics panel. March 11, 2016.
  5. Web site: Milton Lautenschlager Obituary. Legacy.
  6. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, 2003, p. 6.
  7. https://www.dpc.senate.gov/hearings/hearing11/kohl_feingold.pdf Joint Statement of Senator Herb Kohl and Senator Russell D. Feingold Regarding the Appearance of Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager Before the Democratic Policy Committee on Federal Enforcement of the Clean Air Act New Source Review Requirements
  8. Web site: Congressional Record. www.congress.gov.
  9. Web site: Wisconsin REALTORS® Association. www.wra.org.
  10. Web site: Watch Full Episodes Online of Here and Now on PBS – Peg Lautenschlager Named Chair Of New Ethics Commission. .
  11. Web site:
    1. 558 AG Reno to visit Wisconsin DOJ's "Handgun Hotline"
    . www.justice.gov.
  12. Web site: Ethics Commissioners. ethics.wi.gov.
  13. News: Attorney General Lautenschlager arrested for drunk driving. April 14, 2015. The Badger Herald. February 25, 2004.
  14. News: Lautenschlager: Telling family was hardest. April 1, 2018. Wiscnews.com. en.
  15. News: Wisconsin AG guilty of drunken driving. April 1, 2018. UPI.
  16. News: Lautenschlager, ethics board reach settlement. April 1, 2018. The Badger Herald.
  17. Jeff Mayers. "A Political Melodrama: The Race for the Wisconsin Attorney General". Wisconsin Interest (Winter 2006).
  18. News: Forster. Stacy. Incumbent is 1st attorney general to lose primary in 58 years. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 13, 2006.
  19. Rick Barrett and Annysa Johnson. "Former state Rep. and Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager has died". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, March 31, 2018.
  20. News: Opoien. Jessie. Peg Lautenschlager, first woman to serve as Wisconsin attorney general, dies at 62. March 31, 2018. The Capital Times. March 31, 2018.
  21. http://www.kfiz.com/local-news/former-wisconsin-ag-and-fdl-native-peg-lautenschlager-dies/ Former Wisconsin AG and FDL Native Peg Lautenschlager Dies
  22. "Peggy Lautenschlager 1955–2018". Fond du Lac Reporter, April 2, 2018. legacy.com.
  23. The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1985 - 1986 . 1985 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . Theobald . H. Rupert . Robbins . Patricia V. . Elections in Wisconsin . 903, 921 . May 19, 2023 .
  24. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1989 - 1990 . 1989 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . Theobald . H. Rupert . Barish . Lawrence S. . Elections in Wisconsin . 926 . May 19, 2023 .
  25. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1991 - 1992 . 1991 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . Theobald . H. Rupert . Barish . Lawrence S. . Elections in Wisconsin . 916 . May 19, 2023 .
  26. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1993 - 1994 . 1993 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . Theobald . H. Rupert . Barish . Lawrence S. . Elections in Wisconsin . 917 . May 19, 2023 .
  27. Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . December 2, 2002 . 2 . May 19, 2023 . .
  28. Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/12/2006 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . October 17, 2006 . 3 . May 19, 2023 . .