Jens Wisløff
Encyclopedia
Jens Juell Wisløff was a Norwegian businessman in the asphalt
industry and a politician for the Conservative Party
.
, and resided at Nesbru in his later life. He was a member of the executive committee of Asker
municipal council from 1968 to 1975, and chaired the municipal party chapter from 1971 to 1973. Ahead of the 1979 election he tried to be nominated as the Conservative Party mayor candidate, but lost out to Eyvind W. Wang
. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus
during the term 1969–1973.
in 1944, and was the CEO of the company Sigurd Hesselberg from 1945 to 1973. From 1973 to 1984 he worked as the chair of Veidekke
. He was also the chair of Vestfjorden Avløpsselskap for fifteen years. The company Sigurd Hesselberg was later incorporated into Veidekke in 1989.
Wisløff chaired the publicity body Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken
from 1976 to 1989, and the employers' associations Asfaltentreprenørenes Forening and the European Asphalt Pavement Association. He helped found both these organizations. From 1980 to 1990 he was the deputy chairman of the Norwegian branch of the Nordic Road Association. He received an honorary prize from this organization in 1993, and became an honorary member in 1994. In an obituary he was called "the grand old man of asphalt".
In late 1986, around the time when the Oslo Package 1
was planned, Wisløff surprised many by supporting an increase of the duties
on gasoline
. The reason was to avoid toll plazas in Greater Oslo in general, specifically those planned by Fjellinjen
. Toll plazas would create congestion, and their administration would be too costly, Wisløff feared. Gasoline duty was a hot issue in Norwegian politics at the time, as the second cabinet
of Kåre Willoch
—a fellow Conservative politician—had fallen on a vote of confidence, as the Labour
and Progress Party
opposed the cabinet's proposed increase of such duties. Wisløff's suggestion came as a response to the new Minister of Transport, Labour's Kjell Borgen
, who recently—shortly after assuming office—had suggested a small increase.
A devout Christian, Wisløff was a member of the Diocese Council of Oslo
in the 1960s, and chaired the YMCA Scouts of Norway
from 1958 to 1962. He was also the chair of Asker Museum for twelve years. During his period, Labråten, the home of Arne
and Hulda Garborg
, was incorporated into the museum. Preserving it was a "task ... for the entire Norwegian people", he proclaimed. He received the Cultural Award of Asker municipality in 1998.
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
industry and a politician for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
.
Political career
He was born in SarpsborgSarpsborg
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.Sarpsborg is part of the fifth largest urban area in Norway when paired with neighbouring Fredrikstad...
, and resided at Nesbru in his later life. He was a member of the executive committee of Asker
Asker
Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
municipal council from 1968 to 1975, and chaired the municipal party chapter from 1971 to 1973. Ahead of the 1979 election he tried to be nominated as the Conservative Party mayor candidate, but lost out to Eyvind W. Wang
Eyvind W. Wang
Eyvind W. Wang is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He hails from Blommenholm in Bærum, and started his career as a car mechanic. He eventually became workshop manager in the company Skotvedt, and later served on its board of directors...
. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
during the term 1969–1973.
Professional career
Wisløff completed his education at the Norwegian Institute of TechnologyNorwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
in 1944, and was the CEO of the company Sigurd Hesselberg from 1945 to 1973. From 1973 to 1984 he worked as the chair of Veidekke
Veidekke
Veidekke is the largest Norwegian construction company and the fourth largest in Scandinavia. Veidekke’s business involves a network of Scandinavian construction operations, rehabilitation work, major heavy construction contracts and development of dwellings for the company’s own account as well...
. He was also the chair of Vestfjorden Avløpsselskap for fifteen years. The company Sigurd Hesselberg was later incorporated into Veidekke in 1989.
Wisløff chaired the publicity body Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken
Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken
Opplysningsrådet for Veitrafikken is a Norwegian interest group.It was established in 1948, and its purpose is to spread information and to "influence opinion" for the benefit of road transportation. It is a member of the International Road Federation....
from 1976 to 1989, and the employers' associations Asfaltentreprenørenes Forening and the European Asphalt Pavement Association. He helped found both these organizations. From 1980 to 1990 he was the deputy chairman of the Norwegian branch of the Nordic Road Association. He received an honorary prize from this organization in 1993, and became an honorary member in 1994. In an obituary he was called "the grand old man of asphalt".
In late 1986, around the time when the Oslo Package 1
Oslo Package 1
Oslo Package 1 was a political agreement and plan for introducing an urban toll ring around Oslo, Norway, and making 31 investments to road infrastructure in Oslo and Akershus. The package was approved in 1988, and toll charges were introduced in 1990. It was supplemented by Oslo Package 2, which...
was planned, Wisløff surprised many by supporting an increase of the duties
Duty (economics)
In economics, a duty is a kind of tax, often associated with customs, a payment due to the revenue of a state, levied by force of law. It is a tax on certain items purchased abroad...
on gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
. The reason was to avoid toll plazas in Greater Oslo in general, specifically those planned by Fjellinjen
Fjellinjen
Fjellinjen AS is a municipal company owned by the City of Oslo and Akershus County Municipality . It is responsible for the collection from the toll ring around Oslo, with a total of nineteen toll plazas.-History:...
. Toll plazas would create congestion, and their administration would be too costly, Wisløff feared. Gasoline duty was a hot issue in Norwegian politics at the time, as the second cabinet
Second cabinet Willoch
Willoch's Second Cabinet was a majority, Conservative/Centre/Christian Democrat Government of Norway. It succeeded the Conservative First cabinet Willoch in mid-term to secure a majority, right-winged government, and sat from 8 June 1983 to 8 May 1986...
of Kåre Willoch
Kåre Willoch
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986...
—a fellow Conservative politician—had fallen on a vote of confidence, as the Labour
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
and Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
opposed the cabinet's proposed increase of such duties. Wisløff's suggestion came as a response to the new Minister of Transport, Labour's Kjell Borgen
Kjell Borgen
Kjell Borgen was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He served as Minister of Transport and Communications from 1986 to 1988, Minister of Local Government 1988 to 1989 and 1990 to 1992. He served as County Governor of Hedmark from 1993 to his death.-Early life and career:He was born in...
, who recently—shortly after assuming office—had suggested a small increase.
A devout Christian, Wisløff was a member of the Diocese Council of Oslo
Diocese of Oslo
Oslo bishopric is The Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.-History:...
in the 1960s, and chaired the YMCA Scouts of Norway
YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway
The YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway is a Norwegian Scouting and Guiding association founded in its present form in 2003, when the YMCA-Scouts and the YWCA-Guides merged. Norges KFUK-KFUM-speidere serves about 13,000 members....
from 1958 to 1962. He was also the chair of Asker Museum for twelve years. During his period, Labråten, the home of Arne
Arne Garborg
Arne Garborg, born Aadne Eivindsson Garborg was a Norwegian writer.Garborg championed the use of Landsmål , as a literary language; he translated the Odyssey into it...
and Hulda Garborg
Hulda Garborg
Hulda Garborg was a Norwegian writer, novelist, playwright, poet, folk dancer, and theatre instructor...
, was incorporated into the museum. Preserving it was a "task ... for the entire Norwegian people", he proclaimed. He received the Cultural Award of Asker municipality in 1998.