Kathleen Falk
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Falk is an American politician who was the County Executive
of Dane County, Wisconsin
, serving from 1997 until 2011. In 2006, she was the Democratic Party
nominee for the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin. She was an Assistant Attorney General and Public Intervenor in the Wisconsin Department of Justice
from 1983 to 1997. Prior to her tenure as a prosecutor, Falk served as co-director and counsel to the Wisconsin Environmental Decade. She was the first woman elected Dane County Executive and in 2002 she became the first major party woman candidate for governor in Wisconsin’s history.
Falk is currently considered a leading potential Democratic candidate to run against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who’s facing the prospect of a 2012 recall.
, grew up in Waukesha County
and has lived in Madison, Wisconsin
since 1973. She earned a B.A. in philosophy from Stanford University
in 1973, and a law degree
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
in 1976. She resides in Madison, Wisconsin
with her husband, former Democratic
State Representative Peter Bock
. She has one son, Eric Phillips. She is an avid baseball fan, bicyclist, and hunter.
rate case
s.
's Public Intervenor, with responsibility for protecting the public's rights in natural resources. Republican Governor Tommy Thompson
eliminated this position from the budget.
In 2002, Falk was a candidate for governor in the Democratic primary, and would have been the first female major party candidate for governor
in Wisconsin history. Despite a late campaign surge, she placed third in a three-way race behind then Attorney General Jim Doyle
, and then U.S. Representative Tom Barrett
.
In 2006, Falk challenged Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager
for the Democratic nomination for that office, defeating Lautenschlager by a margin of 53% to 47%. She was narrowly defeated in the race by Republican J.B. Van Hollen, a former U.S. Attorney and former Ashland County district attorney. The margin of victory was 9,000 votes out of over 2.1 million votes cast.
After announcing October, 2010, that she would resign for personal reasons the coming April, it was found that this would create a requirement for a special election that would cost around $300,000. In order to spare the county this expense, a process was worked out whereby she would resign effective Dec. 28, 2010, and be appointed interim county executive by the head of the County Board, Scott McDonell, she would then serve until a special election was held. On April 5th, Dane County elected State Representative Joe Parisi
as it's new County Executive.
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Dane County, 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...
, serving from 1997 until 2011. In 2006, she was the Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. As of 2009, it is headed by state party chairman Mike Tate, who is the youngest chairman of a state party...
nominee for the office of Attorney General of Wisconsin. She was an Assistant Attorney General and Public Intervenor in the Wisconsin Department of Justice
Wisconsin Department of Justice
The Wisconsin Department of Justice is a state law enforcement agency with jurisdiction throughout the state of Wisconsin. Its headquarters are in Madison, the state capital, with main offices in the Risser Justice Center in downtown Madison. The Wisconsin Attorney General oversees the agency...
from 1983 to 1997. Prior to her tenure as a prosecutor, Falk served as co-director and counsel to the Wisconsin Environmental Decade. She was the first woman elected Dane County Executive and in 2002 she became the first major party woman candidate for governor in Wisconsin’s history.
Falk is currently considered a leading potential Democratic candidate to run against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who’s facing the prospect of a 2012 recall.
Personal life
Falk was born in MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, grew up in Waukesha County
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
and has lived in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
since 1973. She earned a B.A. in philosophy from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1973, and a law degree
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 1976. She resides in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
with her husband, former Democratic
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...
State Representative Peter Bock
Peter Bock (Wisconsin politician)
Peter Bock is a Wisconsin politician.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bock graduated from Marquette University High School and from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. In 1986, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly serving from 1987 until 2003...
. She has one son, Eric Phillips. She is an avid baseball fan, bicyclist, and hunter.
Professional life
From 1977 to 1983, Falk was the co-director and general counsel of Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, a statewide nonprofit citizens' environmental protection organization. In this capacity, she won nationally significant litigation to protect citizens' rights in public utilityPublic utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
rate case
Rate case
A rate case is the formal process which industries that have the legal designation of public utility are mandated to go through in order to set the rate at which they are allowed to charge consumers for their service...
s.
Department of Justice
Falk served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Wisconsin Department of Justice from 1983 to 1997, where she was responsible for enforcing environmental law. From 1983 to 1995, she also served as WisconsinWisconsin
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...
's Public Intervenor, with responsibility for protecting the public's rights in natural resources. Republican Governor Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
eliminated this position from the budget.
Dane County Executive
In 1997, Falk successfully ran for Dane County Executive as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 2001, 2005, and 2009. With a population of 453,000, Dane is Wisconsin's second largest county; its county seat is Madison. During Falk's tenure, Dane County has had a AAA bond rating.In 2002, Falk was a candidate for governor in the Democratic primary, and would have been the first female major party candidate for governor
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
in Wisconsin history. Despite a late campaign surge, she placed third in a three-way race behind then Attorney General 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...
, and then U.S. Representative Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett (politician)
Thomas Mark "Tom" Barrett is the Democratic Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving since 2004. He ran for Governor of Wisconsin in November 2010, losing by a margin of 52 percent to 47 percent to Republican Scott Walker. Previously, Barrett served in the United States House of Representatives...
.
In 2006, Falk challenged Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager
Peg Lautenschlager
Peggy A. "Peg" Lautenschlager was Attorney General of the State of Wisconsin from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2007. She succeeded fellow Democrat James Doyle when Doyle was elected Governor of Wisconsin in 2002...
for the Democratic nomination for that office, defeating Lautenschlager by a margin of 53% to 47%. She was narrowly defeated in the race by Republican J.B. Van Hollen, a former U.S. Attorney and former Ashland County district attorney. The margin of victory was 9,000 votes out of over 2.1 million votes cast.
After announcing October, 2010, that she would resign for personal reasons the coming April, it was found that this would create a requirement for a special election that would cost around $300,000. In order to spare the county this expense, a process was worked out whereby she would resign effective Dec. 28, 2010, and be appointed interim county executive by the head of the County Board, Scott McDonell, she would then serve until a special election was held. On April 5th, Dane County elected State Representative Joe Parisi
Joe Parisi
Joseph T. 'Joe' Parisi is a Madison, Wisconsin Democratic Party politician who had served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2005 until 2011, but in April 2011 was elected as Dane County county executive; he took office on April 18. 2011....
as it's new County Executive.