Gregg Underheim
Encyclopedia
Gregg Underheim was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
, representing the 54th District in and around Oshkosh
. He served from 1987 until 2007 and was chair of the Assembly Health Committee for 12 of his 20 years in the State Assembly. He did not seek reelection in the United States midterm elections, 2006.
in 1968. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, then became a high school English teacher at Caledonia, Minnesota
. He resigned from his teaching position in 1978 to begin working in politics.
Underheim tried to meet with Karl Rove
in Texas
, attempted (but failed) to meet with Howard Baker
in Tennessee
, and attempted (and failed) to become a speechwriter for the Republican National Committee
in Washington D.C.. He returned to Wisconsin and joined Tom Petri
's campaign for Congress. Petri won the race, and Underheim joined his staff full-time.
Underheim ran for the State Assembly in 1987, and was elected as the representative from Oshkosh. He focused on health-related issues during his term. In 1998, Underheim proposed legislation that required physicians to provide and pay for the submission of claims data.
Underheim became involved in controversies in the mid-1990s about how to teach reading to children. He argued in favor of research-supported, phonics-based reading programs. Underheim used this controversy as a key issue in his first race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1997, but he was not successful in that election. He sought election to the same office a second time in 2005, and was again unsuccessful. Underheim received a lifetime recognition award from the Wisconsin Hospital Association in 2006.
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
, representing the 54th District in and around Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
. He served from 1987 until 2007 and was chair of the Assembly Health Committee for 12 of his 20 years in the State Assembly. He did not seek reelection in the United States midterm elections, 2006.
Early life
Underheim graduated from La Crosse Central High SchoolLa Crosse Central High School
La Crosse Central High School is one of two public high schools in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is located on the south side of the city, and is in the School District of La Crosse. The school was established in 1907.-History:...
in 1968. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, then became a high school English teacher at Caledonia, Minnesota
Caledonia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 1,223 households, and 754 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,037.1 people per square mile . There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of 449.8 per square mile...
. He resigned from his teaching position in 1978 to begin working in politics.
Underheim tried to meet with Karl Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, attempted (but failed) to meet with Howard Baker
Howard Baker
Howard Henry Baker, Jr. is a former Senate Majority Leader, Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee, White House Chief of Staff, and a former United States Ambassador to Japan.Known in Washington, D.C...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and attempted (and failed) to become a speechwriter for the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in Washington D.C.. He returned to Wisconsin and joined Tom Petri
Tom Petri
Thomas Evert Petri is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1979. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes most of the east-central part of the state.-Early life, education, and early career:...
's campaign for Congress. Petri won the race, and Underheim joined his staff full-time.
Underheim ran for the State Assembly in 1987, and was elected as the representative from Oshkosh. He focused on health-related issues during his term. In 1998, Underheim proposed legislation that required physicians to provide and pay for the submission of claims data.
Underheim became involved in controversies in the mid-1990s about how to teach reading to children. He argued in favor of research-supported, phonics-based reading programs. Underheim used this controversy as a key issue in his first race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1997, but he was not successful in that election. He sought election to the same office a second time in 2005, and was again unsuccessful. Underheim received a lifetime recognition award from the Wisconsin Hospital Association in 2006.
External links
- Image of Underheim in Assembly from the Oshkosh NorthwesternOshkosh NorthwesternThe Oshkosh Northwestern is a daily newspaper based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is part of the Gannett chain of newspapers.The Northwestern is primarily distributed in Winnebago, Waushara, and Green Lake counties.-Building:...
's "Newsmakers of 2006" collection, Retrieved January 12, 2007