Dan Kapanke
Encyclopedia
Daniel E. Kapanke is a former Republican
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 32nd District from 2004 until losing his seat to Jennifer Shilling
in the 2011 recall elections
.
on August 21, 1947. He graduated from Luther High School in Onalaska
in 1965. He later graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he earned a B.S.
in 1975 and a M.E.P.D.
in Education in 1987. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
and in the Wisconsin National Guard
. He also served on the Town of Campbell
Board. He is the founding owner of the La Crosse Loggers
Northwoods League Baseball Team and was a district sales manager at Kaltenberg Seed Farms for 30 years.
, and again in 2008 against La Crosse County Supervisor Tara Johnson.
Kapanke served as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education, and was also a member of the committees on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection, on Financial Institutions and Rural Issues, and on Workforce Development, Small Business, and Tourism. He was also co-chair of the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems.
Kapanke has been criticized for ethics violations, including using $32,000 from a lobbyist-funded charity to pay off personal debt, and violating the state's open records law, causing taxpayers to pay $38,000 in legal bills. According to Kapanke, the violations were unintentional.
During the 2011 Wisconsin protests, Kapanke reported that he had received death threats from his vote, and claimed that the windshield of his car had been vandalized, causing him to cancel public appearances. However, a police report had previously concluded that the damage was instead caused by a stray rock. Nevertheless, Kapanke persisted in publicly blaming it on protesters; according to PolitiFact, "Kapanke allowed the myth of the smashed windshield to run wild and uncorrected for almost three weeks after he knew it was not true."
. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Kapanke" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 15,588 valid signatures of electors residing within the 32nd District must be collected by May 2, 2011 to generate a recall election.
A March 9, 2011 poll by Survey USA indicated that 57% voters in Kapanke's district would vote for recall.
Kapanke indicated his strong support for Governor Scott Walker
, explaining it by asking, "How can you go wrong following a leader that obviously gets his mission on this earth?", referring to their strong religious beliefs. At a separate occasion, he indicated that he did not believe that Walker's plans went far enough, and stated that public safety unions (police, firemen, and state patrol unions) should be included in the collective bargaining ban (under Walker's plan, they are exempt.)
On April 1, 2011, Wisconsin Democrats announced that they had enough signatures to recall Kapanke and filed petitions that day, with 22,561 signatures, 45% more than the 15,588 verifiable signatures required by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB).
On April 9, 2011, State Rep. Jennifer Shilling
(D - La Crosse) announced her candidacy against Kapanke in a possible recall election.
At a LaCrosse County Republican Party meeting held in late May 2011, party officials discussed the possibility of running an additional Democratic Party candidate against Rep. Shilling, with the intent being to force a primary election against a token opponent, delaying the date of the recall election. According to election clerks, this would cost the state $101,000. At the same meeting, Kapanke expressed concern over his re-election bid due to the large number of public workers in his district, saying that he hoped they would sleep through the election.
Pro-recall organizers filed a rebuttal in response, arguing that Kapanke's argument "proceeds from a false factual premise", noting that Scheller was simply a representative of the recall committee, as "a committee can neither be an elector or hold a pen."
in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district
.
In October 2009, Kapanke was added to the National Republican Congressional Committee
's Young Guns Program as an "On the Radar" candidate. This designation was only given to ten Republican Congressional candidates in the Midwest. During the same month, Congressional Quarterly readjusted the 3rd Congressional District political status from a "Safe Democratic" to a "Likely Democratic" district.
In September 2010, Kapanke defeated Bruce Evers in the 3rd congressional district Republican Primary election. Kapanke won with approximately 78% of the vote. Kapanke then narrowly lost the general election to incumbent Congressman Ron Kind
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 32nd District from 2004 until losing his seat to Jennifer Shilling
Jennifer Shilling
Jennifer Shilling is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate first elected to represent the 32nd district in 2011 . She has also worked as a legislative aide and served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.-Background:Shilling was born Jennifer Ehlenfeldt on July 4, 1969 in Oshkosh...
in the 2011 recall elections
Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011
Recall elections for nine Wisconsin state senators were held during the summer of 2011; one was held on July 19 and six on August 9, with two more held on August 16. Voters attempted to put 16 state senators up for recall, eight Democrats and eight Republicans, because of the budget bill proposed...
.
Early life, education and career
Kapanke was born in La Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
on August 21, 1947. He graduated from Luther High School in Onalaska
Onalaska, Wisconsin
Onalaska is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 18,097. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area....
in 1965. He later graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he earned a B.S.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1975 and a M.E.P.D.
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
in Education in 1987. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
and in the Wisconsin National Guard
Wisconsin National Guard
The Wisconsin Army National Guard has dual state and federal roles, and is jointly funded and maintained by both governments. Its federal mission is to provide trained units to the United States Army in time of war or national emergency...
. He also served on the Town of Campbell
Campbell, Wisconsin
Campbell is a town in the middle of the Mississippi River in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,441 at the 2006 census....
Board. He is the founding owner of the La Crosse Loggers
La Crosse Loggers
The La Crosse Loggers are a La Crosse, Wisconsin based baseball team playing in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play at Copeland Park....
Northwoods League Baseball Team and was a district sales manager at Kaltenberg Seed Farms for 30 years.
Wisconsin Senate
Kapanke won election to the Wisconsin State Senate twice, first in 2004 against LaCrosse County Board Supervisor Brad PfaffBrad Pfaff
Brad Pfaff is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wisconsin Farm Service Agency executive director, serving in the Obama administration. He is a member of the Democratic Party and served on the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors from 2007 to 2009, representing the 29th district of La Crosse,...
, and again in 2008 against La Crosse County Supervisor Tara Johnson.
Kapanke served as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education, and was also a member of the committees on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection, on Financial Institutions and Rural Issues, and on Workforce Development, Small Business, and Tourism. He was also co-chair of the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems.
Kapanke has been criticized for ethics violations, including using $32,000 from a lobbyist-funded charity to pay off personal debt, and violating the state's open records law, causing taxpayers to pay $38,000 in legal bills. According to Kapanke, the violations were unintentional.
During the 2011 Wisconsin protests, Kapanke reported that he had received death threats from his vote, and claimed that the windshield of his car had been vandalized, causing him to cancel public appearances. However, a police report had previously concluded that the damage was instead caused by a stray rock. Nevertheless, Kapanke persisted in publicly blaming it on protesters; according to PolitiFact, "Kapanke allowed the myth of the smashed windshield to run wild and uncorrected for almost three weeks after he knew it was not true."
2011 recall
Kapanke was subject to an active recall effort to remove him from his seat in the Wisconsin Senate, as part of the 2011 Wisconsin protests2011 Wisconsin protests
The 2011 Wisconsin protests were a series of demonstrations in the state of Wisconsin in the United States beginning in February involving at its zenith as many as 100,000 protestors opposing the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill. Subsequently, anti-tax activists and other conservatives, including tea...
. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Kapanke" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. 15,588 valid signatures of electors residing within the 32nd District must be collected by May 2, 2011 to generate a recall election.
A March 9, 2011 poll by Survey USA indicated that 57% voters in Kapanke's district would vote for recall.
Kapanke indicated his strong support for Governor Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
, explaining it by asking, "How can you go wrong following a leader that obviously gets his mission on this earth?", referring to their strong religious beliefs. At a separate occasion, he indicated that he did not believe that Walker's plans went far enough, and stated that public safety unions (police, firemen, and state patrol unions) should be included in the collective bargaining ban (under Walker's plan, they are exempt.)
On April 1, 2011, Wisconsin Democrats announced that they had enough signatures to recall Kapanke and filed petitions that day, with 22,561 signatures, 45% more than the 15,588 verifiable signatures required by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB).
On April 9, 2011, State Rep. Jennifer Shilling
Jennifer Shilling
Jennifer Shilling is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate first elected to represent the 32nd district in 2011 . She has also worked as a legislative aide and served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.-Background:Shilling was born Jennifer Ehlenfeldt on July 4, 1969 in Oshkosh...
(D - La Crosse) announced her candidacy against Kapanke in a possible recall election.
At a LaCrosse County Republican Party meeting held in late May 2011, party officials discussed the possibility of running an additional Democratic Party candidate against Rep. Shilling, with the intent being to force a primary election against a token opponent, delaying the date of the recall election. According to election clerks, this would cost the state $101,000. At the same meeting, Kapanke expressed concern over his re-election bid due to the large number of public workers in his district, saying that he hoped they would sleep through the election.
Kapanke challenges the petition
On April 15, 2011, Kapanke filed a challenge with the Government Accountability Board stating that the recall petitions should be thrown out as organizers neglected to file a required registration statement. According to Kapanke's challenge, a specific organizer, Patrick Scheller, is the Recall Petitioner, as he was the one delivering the 22,561 petitions, and thus should have filed the registration himself (which was instead filed by the Recall Committee.) Kapanke also challenged approximately 900 of the 22,561 signatures (15,588 valid signatures are required to force a recall election.)Pro-recall organizers filed a rebuttal in response, arguing that Kapanke's argument "proceeds from a false factual premise", noting that Scheller was simply a representative of the recall committee, as "a committee can neither be an elector or hold a pen."
GAB rules against Kapanke
In late May, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) approved the recall petition against Senator Kapanke, rejecting his challenge. The date for the recall election was set for August 9, 2011, following a Democratic primary on July 12, 2011.Recall Results
Kapanke lost the recall effort to Shilling on August 9, 2011, earning 45% of the vote (26,724) to Shilling's 55% (33,192).2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
In the summer 2009, Kapanke announced his intention to run for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district
Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district
Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district covering much of southwestern and western Wisconsin; it is the second-largest congressional district by area in Wisconsin...
.
In October 2009, Kapanke was added to the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
's Young Guns Program as an "On the Radar" candidate. This designation was only given to ten Republican Congressional candidates in the Midwest. During the same month, Congressional Quarterly readjusted the 3rd Congressional District political status from a "Safe Democratic" to a "Likely Democratic" district.
In September 2010, Kapanke defeated Bruce Evers in the 3rd congressional district Republican Primary election. Kapanke won with approximately 78% of the vote. Kapanke then narrowly lost the general election to incumbent Congressman Ron Kind
Ron Kind
Ronald James "Ron" Kind is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district is located in the western portion of the state and is anchored by La Crosse and Eau Claire and Platteville....
.
Electoral history
External links
- Senate District 32 map
- Kapanke for Congress official campaign site
- 32nd Senate District, Senator Kapanke in the Wisconsin Blue BookWisconsin Blue BookThe Wisconsin Blue Book is a biannual publication of the Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau. The Blue Book is an almanac containing information on the government, economics, demographics, geography and history of the state of Wisconsin. The book was first published in 1853...
(2005–2006)