Robert Cowles
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Cowles is a Republican
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 2nd District
since 1987. In August 2011, Cowles faced a recall election
, but easily defeated the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, sixty percent to forty percent.
. He graduated from University of Wisconsin–Green Bay in 1975 and did some graduate work there. He was formerly a director of an alternative energy
division for a communications construction company, but is now a full time legislator.
in 1982 and re-elected until 1986 when he resigned to run for the state senate. He was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate
in a special election in 1987. He ran unopposed in 2008.
Cowles supported Walker's budget repair bill, including the section that removed collective bargaining. In July, a businessman alleged that Cowles did not like the bill, but supported it because Walker threatened to run a tea party candidate against him otherwise.
. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Cowles" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
On April 28, roughly 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed with the Government Accountability Board. If more than 15,960 are found to be valid, a recall election will ensue.
In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified petitions against Cowles, overruling his challenges.
The recall election was held on August 9, 2011 and Cowles easily defeated the Democratic recall challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, sixty percent to forty percent.
on Audit, the Joint Committee on Finance, and chairs the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Information Technology.
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...
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 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:...
since 1987. In August 2011, Cowles faced a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
, but easily defeated the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, sixty percent to forty percent.
Early life and education
Cowles was born in Green Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
. He graduated from University of Wisconsin–Green Bay in 1975 and did some graduate work there. He was formerly a director of an alternative energy
Alternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
division for a communications construction company, but is now a full time legislator.
Elections
Cowles was elected to the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin 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....
in 1982 and re-elected until 1986 when he resigned to run for the state senate. He was first elected 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 a special election in 1987. He ran unopposed in 2008.
Cowles supported Walker's budget repair bill, including the section that removed collective bargaining. In July, a businessman alleged that Cowles did not like the bill, but supported it because Walker threatened to run a tea party candidate against him otherwise.
Recall effort
Cowles was subject to an active recall effort 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 Cowles" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
On April 28, roughly 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed with the Government Accountability Board. If more than 15,960 are found to be valid, a recall election will ensue.
In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified petitions against Cowles, overruling his challenges.
The recall election was held on August 9, 2011 and Cowles easily defeated the Democratic recall challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, sixty percent to forty percent.
Committee assignments
He currently sits on the Joint committeeJoint committee
A Joint Committee is a term in politics that is used to refer to a committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature. In other contexts, it refers to a committee with members from more than one organization.-Republic of Ireland:...
on Audit, the Joint Committee on Finance, and chairs the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Information Technology.
Electoral history
External links
- Senator Robert Cowles at the Wisconsin State Legislature
- Robert Cowles constituency site
- 2nd Senate District, Senator Cowles 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)