81st Wisconsin Legislature
←80th 82nd→
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975
ElectionNovember 7, 1972
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentMartin J. Schreiber (D)
President pro temporeRobert P. Knowles (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members99
Assembly SpeakerNorman C. Anderson (D)
Speaker pro temporeJoseph Sweda (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Sessions
RegularJanuary 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975
Special sessions
Dec. 1973 Spec.December 17, 1973 – December 21, 1973
Apr. 1974 Spec.April 29, 1974 – June 13, 1974
Nov. 1974 Spec.November 19, 1974 – November 20, 1974

The Eighty-First Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 1, 1973, to January 6, 1975, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.[1]

This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the previous session. This was also the first legislative session under the current legislative configuration, with 99 members of the Assembly and 33 state senators, with each senate district comprising three assembly districts.

Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 7, 1972. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 3, 1970.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

  • August 4, 1973: An Act ... constituting the executive budget bill of the 1973 legislature, and making appropriations, 1973 Act 90. The 1973 budget, it also created the Wisconsin State Ethics Board.
  • July 6, 1974: An Act ... relating to regulation of elections and campaign contributions and expenditures, providing penalties and making appropriations, 1973 Act 334. Created the Wisconsin State Elections Board.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 15 seats
  Republican: 18 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 13 20 33 0
Start of Reg. Session 15 18 33 0
From Sep. 26, 1974[note 1] 14 32 1
Final voting share 43.75% 56.25%
Beginning of the next Legislature 18 13 31 2

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 62 seats
  Republican: 37 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 65 34 99 1
Start of Reg. Session 62 37 99 0
Final voting share 62.63% 37.37%
Beginning of the next Legislature 63 36 99 0

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975
  • December 1973 special session: December 17, 1973 – December 21, 1973
  • April 1974 special session: April 29, 1974 – June 13, 1974
  • November 1974 special session: November 19, 1974 – November 20, 1974

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Eighty-First Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 15 seats
  Republican: 18 seats
Dist.SenatorPartyAge
(1973)		HomeFirst
elected
01 Jerome Martin Dem. 64 Whitelaw, Manitowoc County 1970
02 Tom Petri Rep. 32 Green Bay, Brown County 1972
03 Casimir Kendziorski (died Sep. 26, 1974) Dem. 74 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1946
04 Robert Kasten Rep. 30 Thiensville, Ozaukee County 1972
05 Wilfred Schuele Dem. 66 Brookfield, Waukesha County 1964
06 Monroe Swan Dem. 35 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972
07 Kurt Frank Dem. 27 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970
08 James T. Flynn Dem. 28 West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972
09 Ronald G. Parys Dem. 34 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968
10 Robert P. Knowles Rep. 56 New Richmond, St. Croix County 1954
11 Wayne F. Whittow Dem. 39 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968
12 Clifford Krueger Rep. 54 Merrill, Lincoln County 1946
13 Dale McKenna Dem. 35 Jefferson, Jefferson County 1969
14 Gerald Lorge Rep. 50 Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954
15 James D. Swan Rep. 69 Elkhorn, Walworth County 1967
16 Carl W. Thompson Dem. 58 Stoughton, Dane County 1959
17 Gordon Roseleip Rep. 60 Darlington, Lafayette County 1962
18 Walter G. Hollander Rep. 76 Rosendale, Fond du Lac County 1956
19 Jack D. Steinhilber Rep. 41 Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1970
20 Ernest Keppler Rep. 54 Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1960
21 Henry Dorman Dem. 56 Racine, Racine County 1965
22 Doug La Follette Dem. 32 Kenosha, Kenosha County 1972
23 Bruce Peloquin Dem. 36 Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County 1970
24 William A. Bablitch Dem. 31 Stevens Point, Portage County 1972
25 Daniel Theno Rep. 25 Ashland, Ashland County 1972
26 Fred Risser Dem. 45 Madison, Dane County 1962
27 Everett Bidwell Rep. 73 Portage, Columbia County 1970
28 James C. Devitt Rep. 43 Greenfield, Milwaukee County 1968
29 Walter Chilsen Rep. 49 Wausau, Marathon County 1966
30 Reuben La Fave Rep. 57 Oconto, Oconto County 1956
31 Raymond C. Johnson Rep. 36 Eau Claire, Eau Claire County 1966
32 Milo Knutson Rep. 54 La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968
33 Roger P. Murphy Rep. 49 Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-First Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan representation
  Democratic: 62 seats
  Republican: 37 seats
Senate
Dist.		 Dist. Representative Party Age
(1973)		 Home First
Elected
01 01 Lary J. Swoboda Dem. 33 Luxemburg 1970
02 Francis J. Lallensack Dem. 56 Manitowoc 1972
03 Everett E. Bolle Dem. 53 Francis Creek 1960
02 04 John C. Gower Rep. 31 Green Bay 1972
05 William J. Rogers Dem. 42 Kaukauna 1962
06 Gervase Hephner Dem. 36 Chilton 1966
03 07 Raymond J. Tobiasz Dem. 56 Milwaukee 1960
08 Earl Keegan Jr. Dem. 51 Milwaukee 1972
09 Jerry Kleczka Dem. 29 Milwaukee 1968
04 10 Jim Sensenbrenner Rep. 29 Shorewood 1968
11 Gus Menos Dem. 52 Milwaukee 1971
12 Frederick C. Schroeder Rep. 62 Milwaukee 1964
05 13 David G. Berger Dem. 26 Milwaukee 1970
14 Robert E. Behnke Dem. 40 Milwaukee 1972
15 James W. Wahner Dem. 33 Milwaukee 1970
06 16 Michael Elconin Dem. 19 Milwaukee 1972
17 Walter L. Ward Jr. Dem. 29 Milwaukee 1972
18 Lloyd Barbee Dem. 47 Milwaukee 1964
07 19 Louise M. Tesmer Dem. 30 St. Francis 1972
20 John Plewa Dem. 27 Milwaukee 1972
21 William P. Atkinson Dem. 71 South Milwaukee 1964
08 22 George Klicka Rep. 38 Wauwatosa 1966
23 Thomas A. Hauke Dem. 34 West Allis 1972
24 Gary J. Barczak Dem. 33 West Allis 1972
09 25 Dennis Conta Dem. 32 Milwaukee 1968
26 Harout O. Sanasarian Dem. 43 Milwaukee 1968
27 Joseph Czerwinski Dem. 28 Milwaukee 1968
10 28 Harvey L. Dueholm Dem. 62 Luck 1958
29 Leo Mohn Dem. 47 Woodville 1970
30 Michael P. Early Dem. 54 River Falls 1970
11 31 Paul Sicula Dem. 33 Milwaukee 1966
32 Peter J. Tropman Dem. 28 Milwaukee 1972
33 Richard E. Pabst Dem. 39 Milwaukee 1966
12 34 Joseph Sweda Dem. 46 Lublin 1962
35 Sheehan Donoghue Rep. 29 Merrill 1972
36 Lloyd H. Kincaid Rep. 47 Crandon 1972
13 37 Norman C. Anderson Dem. 44 Madison 1956
38 Harland E. Everson Dem. 55 Edgerton 1970
39 Byron F. Wackett Rep. 60 Watertown 1952
14 40 Francis R. Byers Rep. 52 Marion 1968
41 Ervin Conradt Rep. 56 Shiocton 1964
42 Toby Roth Rep. 34 Appleton 1972
15 43 Cloyd A. Porter Rep. 37 Burlington 1972
44 Delmar DeLong Rep. 41 Janesville 1972
45 Gary K. Johnson Dem. 33 Beloit 1970
16 46 David D. O'Malley Dem. 60 Waunakee 1958
47 Janet Soergel Mielke Dem. 35 Milton 1970
48 Lewis T. Mittness Dem. 43 Janesville 1964
17 49 James N. Azim Jr. Rep. 36 Muscoda 1964
50 Joanne M. Duren Dem. 41 Cazenovia 1970
51 Joseph E. Tregoning Rep. 31 Shullsburg 1967
18 52 Earl F. McEssy Rep. 59 Fond du Lac 1956
53 James R. Lewis Rep. 36 West Bend 1972
54 Esther Doughty Luckhardt Rep. 59 Horicon 1962
19 55 Michael G. Ellis Rep. 30 Neenah 1970
56 Richard A. Flintrop Dem. 27 Oshkosh 1972
57 Gordon R. Bradley Rep. 51 Oshkosh 1968
20 58 Carl Otte Dem. 49 Sheboygan 1967
59 Bill B. Bruhy Rep. 56 Plymouth 1972
60 David W. Opitz Rep. 27 Saukville 1972
21 61 James F. Rooney Dem. 37 Racine 1972
62 R. Michael Ferrall Dem. 36 Racine 1970
63 Henry Rohner Rep. 53 Mount Pleasant 1972
22 64 George Molinaro Dem. 70 Kenosha 1946
65 Eugene Dorff Dem. 42 Kenosha 1970
66 Russell Olson Rep. 48 Randall 1960
23 67 Terry A. Willkom Dem. 29 Chippewa Falls 1970
68 Joseph Looby Dem. 55 Eau Claire 1968
69 Alvin Baldus Dem. 46 Menomonie 1966
24 70 John Oestreicher Dem. 36 Marshfield 1970
71 Leonard A. Groshek Dem. 59 Stevens Point 1966
72 Jon P. Wilcox Rep. 36 Wautoma 1968
25 73 Thomas B. Murray Dem. 34 Superior 1972
74 David Kedrowski Dem. 30 Washburn 1972
75 Kenneth M. Schricker Rep. 51 Spooner 1970
26 76 Mary Lou Munts Dem. 48 Madison 1972
77 Midge Miller Dem. 50 Madison 1970
78 Edward Nager Dem. 45 Madison 1962
27 79 Tommy Thompson Rep. 31 Elroy 1966
80 Kenyon E. Giese Rep. 39 Sauk City 1970
81 Mel J. Cyrak Rep. 36 Lake Mills 1972
28 82 James A. Rutkowski Dem. 30 Hales Corners 1970
83 John C. Shabaz Rep. 41 New Berlin 1964
84 John M. Alberts Rep. 39 Oconomowoc 1968
29 85 Tony Earl Dem. 16 Wausau 1969
86 Laurence J. Day Dem. 59 Eland 1968
87 Herbert J. Grover Dem. 35 Shawano 1964
30 88 Richard P. Matty Rep. 40 Crivitz 1972
89 Cletus J. Vanderperren Dem. 60 Green Bay 1958
90 Jerome Quinn Rep. 64 Green Bay 1954
31 91 Eugene Oberle Dem. 43 Stanley 1970
92 Robert Quackenbush Rep. 49 Sparta 1970
93 Marlin Schneider Dem. 30 Wisconsin Rapids 1970
32 94 Virgil Roberts Dem. 50 Holmen 1970
95 Lawrence R. Gibson Rep. 60 La Crosse 1972
96 Bernard Lewison Rep. 70 Viroqua 1954
33 97 John H. Niebler Rep. 31 Menomonee Falls 1972
98 Edward Jackamonis Dem. 33 Waukesha 1970
99 Kenneth Merkel Rep. 46 Brookfield 1964

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent[2]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Kenneth Nicholson

Assembly employees

Changes from the 80th Legislature

New districts for the 81st Legislature were defined in 1971 Wisconsin Act 304, passed into law in the 80th Wisconsin Legislature. This was probably the most important redistricting in state history, as it established the current system of representation, ending the process of allocating Assembly districts by county and creating each Senate district as a combination of three whole Assembly districts.

Senate redistricting

Summary of Senate changes

  • Every district saw its boundaries change.

Senate districts

Map after redistricting, changes highlighted.
  Territory which was moved to a new district
Dist. 80th Legislature 81st Legislature
1 Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc counties Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc counties and parts of eastern Brown County
2 Brown (south & east), Calumet counties Calumet County and parts of central Brown County, southwest Outagamie County, eastern Fond du Lac County, northwest Sheboygan County, and northern Washington County
3 Milwaukee County (city southwest) Milwaukee County (city southwest)
4 Milwaukee County (north) Northeast Milwaukee County and most of Washington County and part of southern Ozaukee County
5 Milwaukee County (city northwest) Milwaukee County (northwest)
6 Milwaukee County (city north) Milwaukee County (city north)
7 Milwaukee County (southeast) Milwaukee County (southeast)
8 Milwaukee County (middle-west) Milwaukee County (middle-west)
9 Milwaukee County (city center) Milwaukee County (city center)
10 Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties and western Barron County and part of southwest Trempealeau County
11 Milwaukee County (city west) Milwaukee County (city west)
12 Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Vilas counties Florence, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Rusk, Taylor, Vilas counties and parts of northeast Clark County, southern Price County, western Oconto County, northern Marinette County, and most of Langlade County
13 Dodge (east half), Jefferson, Washington counties Central and southern Jefferson County and eastern Dane County
14 Outagamie, Waupaca counties Waupaca County and most of Outagamie County and parts of southern Shawano County
15 Rock (east half), Walworth counties South and eastern Rock County and most of Walworth County and part of western Racine County
16 Dane (excluding Madison), Rock (west half) counties Northern, western, and southern Dane County and northern Rock County
17 Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland counties Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland counties and most of Grant County and parts of northwest Dane County and western Rock County
18 Dodge (west half), Fond du Lac counties Most of Dodge County and parts of central Fond du Lac County and western Washington County
19 Winnebago County Most of Winnebago County and part of northern Fond du Lac County
20 Ozaukee, Sheboygan counties Most of Sheboygan County and most of Ozaukee County
21 Racine County (southeast) Racine County (east)
22 Kenosha County Kenosha County and parts of central Racine County and southeast Walworth County
23 Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Washburn counties Chippewa and Dunn counties and parts of western Eau Claire County and eastern Pepin County
24 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Wood counties Green Lake and Portage counties and most of Waushara County and parts of northern Wood County, southern Marathon County, eastern Clark County, western Fond du Lac County, northwest Dodge County, and southwest Winnebago County
25 Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer counties Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Washburn counties and eastern Barron County and northern Price County
26 Dane County (Madison) Dane County (Madison)
27 Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Sauk counties Columbia, Marquette, Sauk counties and parts of southern Adams County, southern Juneau County, and western Dodge County
28 Milwaukee (southwest), Racine (most), Waukesha (south half) counties Milwaukee (southwest) and most of Waukesha County and parts of eastern Jefferson County
29 Marathon, Menominee, Shawano counties Menominee County and most of Marathon County and most of Shawano County and part of southern Langlade County
30 Brown (north & west), Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties Brown (north & west) and eastern Oconto County and southern Marinette County
31 Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Trempealeau counties Most of Eau Claire County, most of Jackson County, most of Monroe County, and most of Clark County, and northern Trempealeau County
32 Crawford, La Crosse, Vernon counties Crawford, La Crosse, Vernon counties and parts of northwest Grant County, southwest Monroe County, southern Trempealeau County, and southeast Jackson County
33 Waukesha County (north half) Waukesha County (northeast)

Assembly redistricting

Summary of Assembly changes

  • 1 district was left unchanged (73—previously the Douglas County district).
  • The Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls metro area was divided between four districts (67, 68, 69, 91) after previously being divided between three.
  • The Green Bay metro area was divided between five districts (1, 3, 4, 5, 89) after previously being divided between three.
  • The Madison metro area was divided between 7 districts (37, 38, 46, 47, 76, 77, 78) after previously being divided between five.
  • The Racine–Kenosha metro area was divided between 6 districts (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) after previously being divided between five.
  • The Waukesha County suburbs of Milwaukee were divided between 6 districts (82, 83, 84, 97, 98, 99) after previously being divided between four.
  • The size of Milwaukee County's delegation was roughly unchanged.

Notes

  1. ↑ Democrat Casimir Kendziorski (3rd District) died.

References

  1. 1 2 Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 468, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1973). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–89. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
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