Don Hanaway
Encyclopedia
Donald J. Hanaway was the Attorney General
of the State of Wisconsin
from 1987 – 1991. He defeated incumbent Democrat
Bronson La Follette
in 1986, but was himself defeated for re-election by Democrat Jim Doyle
in 1990.
Hanaway was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
School of Commerce in 1958, and received his juris doctor
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
in 1961. He had previously served in the United States Army
from 1954 to 1956.
Before being elected Attorney General, Hanaway served as a Brown County Assistant District Attorney from 1962 to 1964, and later as a special prosecutor in Brown County from 1967 to 1968. He also served concurrently as the De Pere
city attorney from 1965 to 1972, and again from 1976 to 1979. In between those stints as city attorney, he served as mayor of De Pere from 1972 to 1974.
Hanaway was elected as a Republican
in a special election to the Wisconsin State Senate
in July 1979. He was re-elected to the State Senate's 2nd District
in 1980, and again in 1984. He served as an assistant minority leader
from 1981 to 1982.
In 1986, Hanaway ran for attorney general, defeating incumbent Bronson La Follette
. He served one term, being defeated for re-election by Jim Doyle
in 1990.
Hanaway went on to serve as a Brown County Circuit Judge
from 1991 until his death in 1995. He and his wife, Jo Ann, had four children.
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
from 1987 – 1991. He defeated incumbent Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bronson La Follette
Bronson La Follette
Bronson Cutting La Follette was Attorney General of the state of Wisconsin. La Follette was a candidate for governor of Wisconsin in 1968 as a Democrat....
in 1986, but was himself defeated for re-election by Democrat Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
in 1990.
Hanaway was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
School of Commerce in 1958, and received his juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
in 1961. He had previously served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1954 to 1956.
Before being elected Attorney General, Hanaway served as a Brown County Assistant District Attorney from 1962 to 1964, and later as a special prosecutor in Brown County from 1967 to 1968. He also served concurrently as the De Pere
De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...
city attorney from 1965 to 1972, and again from 1976 to 1979. In between those stints as city attorney, he served as mayor of De Pere from 1972 to 1974.
Hanaway was elected as a Republican
Republican Party of Wisconsin
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin affiliate of the United States Republican Party . The state party chair is Brad Courtney...
in a special election to the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
in July 1979. He was re-elected to the State Senate's 2nd District
Wisconsin Senate, District 2
The 2nd District of the Wisconsin Senate is located in Eastern Wisconsin, and is currently composed of parts of Shawano, Outagamie, and Brown Counties. The district does not contain, but is adjacent to the Green Bay metro area.-Current elected officials:...
in 1980, and again in 1984. He served as an assistant minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
from 1981 to 1982.
In 1986, Hanaway ran for attorney general, defeating incumbent Bronson La Follette
Bronson La Follette
Bronson Cutting La Follette was Attorney General of the state of Wisconsin. La Follette was a candidate for governor of Wisconsin in 1968 as a Democrat....
. He served one term, being defeated for re-election by Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
in 1990.
Hanaway went on to serve as a Brown County Circuit Judge
Wisconsin Circuit Court
Circuit Courts are the primary trial courts in Wisconsin, United States. They hear and decide cases involving a wide variety of topics, including contracts, personal injury, family law, children in need of protection and/or services, juvenile delinquency, probate, traffic, small claims,...
from 1991 until his death in 1995. He and his wife, Jo Ann, had four children.
Electoral history
- 1990 Race for state Attorney General
- Jim DoyleJim DoyleJames Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
(D), 51% - Don Hanaway (R) (inc.), 47%
- Jim Doyle