Jim Doyle
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| Jim Doyle | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2003 |
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| Lieutenant | Barbara Lawton |
| Preceded by | Scott McCallum |
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| Born | November 23, 1945 Washington D.C. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Jessica Doyle |
| Children | Gus Doyle (adopted) Gabe Doyle (adopted) |
| Residence | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School (J.D.) University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.A.) |
| Profession | Prosecutor / Attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Signature |  |
James Edward "Jim" Doyle (born November 23, 1945) is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He took office in January 2003 as the 44th Governor of Wisconsin. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45% to 41%, a plurality reduced by the relative success of a third party candidate, Ed Thompson, the Libertarian candidate and former Governor Tommy Thompson's younger brother. Although in 2002 Democrats increased their number of governorships, Doyle was the only one of them to unseat a sitting Governor.
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[edit] Personal background
James Doyle was born in Washington, D.C.[4], the son of Ruth Bachhuber and James E. Doyle, Sr. who were founding members of the modern Democratic Party in Wisconsin.[1] James E. Doyle Sr. ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1954 and was appointed as a federal judge in 1965. Ruth Bachhuber Doyle was the first woman from Dane County to be elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1948.
Doyle, who graduated from Madison West High School in 1963, attended Stanford University for three years, then returned home to Madison to finish his senior year at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After graduating from college and inspired by John F. Kennedy's call to public service, Doyle worked as a teacher in Tunisia as part of the Peace Corps from 1967 to 1969.
In 1972, Doyle earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard University. He then moved to the Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona, where he worked as an attorney in a federal legal services office.
Doyle is married to Jessica Laird Doyle, niece of former Congressman Melvin R. Laird, and great-granddaughter of William D. Connor, who was Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1907–1909.[2] They have two adopted sons, Gus and Gabe.
[edit] Attorney General
In 1975, Doyle returned to Madison and served three terms as Dane County District Attorney, from 1977 to 1982. After leaving that office, he spent eight years in private practice.
Doyle was elected Wisconsin Attorney General in 1990, and reelected in 1994 and 1998. Between 1997–1998, he served as the president of the National Association of Attorneys General. During his twelve years as Attorney General, Doyle was considered tough on crime, but not unsympathetic to its causes. He also gained recognition as a result of several successful lawsuits against tobacco companies in the state.
[edit] Campaign for Governor
[edit] The 2002 Election
After Tommy Thompson resigned as Wisconsin Governor to become Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2001, Lieutenant Governor Scott McCallum became Governor, serving out the remaining two years of Thompson's term.
Governor McCallum inherited a state with a $3.2 billion budget deficit. In 2003, McCallum signed a budget-repair bill that traded most of a long-term return from the state’s $1.6 billion tobacco settlement for a one-time lump sum that fixed the deficit for a year but didn’t provide the necessary long-term solutions. He then spent all of the money in an attempt to balance the budget in under one year.
The 2002 governor's race is considered by some to have been the most negative campaign in the state's history.[citation needed] In response, Libertarian Ed Thompson (brother of Tommy), publicly critical of the negative campaigning of both major party candidates, who became a more viable option for some voters, garnered 10% of the vote.
On election day, Doyle defeated McCallum by over four percent, becoming the first Democratic governor in the state since Anthony Earl was defeated in 1986. Doyle was sworn in on January 6, 2003 in Madison.
[edit] The 2006 Election
Doyle defeated Republican Congressman Mark Green in 2006. Doyle topped Green 53% to 45% in a year in which no incumbent Democratic governor, senator, or congressman lost their reelection bid.
During the campaign, Doyle was dogged by charges that Georgia Thompson, a state employee, had steered a contract to a firm politically connected with his campaign. Thompson was convicted in late 2006, but released on April 4, 2007 by an appellate court, who called the U.S. Attorney's case "beyond thin".[citation needed] Doyle indicated she could have her old job back. The case's political implications have been taken up by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
[edit] The 2010 Election
On August 15, 2009 Politico announced Governor Doyle will not be seeking a third term according to sources familiar with his campaign.[3] Wispolitics.com confirmed that he will not seek a third term and reported that Governor Doyle would make a formal announcement of that decision on Monday, August 17, 2009. [4] Doyle officially announced that he would not seek a third term on August 17, 2009.
Doyle had raised about $500,000 in the first half of 2007, leading political analysts to think he would have been financially ready to run for re-election again had he decided to try to become the state's second third-term Democratic governor.[citation needed] In a speech to the state Democratic Party convention on July 6, 2007, Doyle promised to improve health care, job training and education in Wisconsin and then added, "And at the end of these four years of working together, who knows, maybe we'll need four more."[5] He had changed his campaign website to JimDoyle2010.com, which had been seen a further indication of a re-election run. [6] As of the end of 2008, Doyle's campaign reported $1.4 million cash on hand.
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton has already announced that she will seek the Democratic nomination in the event the Doyle did not seek a third term. [7] Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind considered running but in September of 2009 he announced he would not run. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (who held $360,000 cash on hand by the end of 2008) announced on April 28, 2009 that he will run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010. Other Republicans reportedly looking at the race include businessman Tim Michels, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, former Congressman Mark Neumann, and former Gov. Tommy Thompson. [8]
A poll released in March 2009 showed Doyle defeating both Walker and Neumann. In a hypothetical matchup against Walker, Doyle is ahead 50% - 43%. When paired against Neumann, the results are similar, with Doyle ahead 49% - 42%. [9]
[edit] Governor
Upon Doyle's taking office, Wisconsin faced a $3.2 billion deficit. The state ended the year 2006 with a deficit of $2.15 billion. Proposals for new programs have been constrained by continued budget-cutting and his decision to honor a campaign pledge to not raise taxes. Facing political pressure,[10] he signed a property tax freeze that has resulted in an anticipated decrease in average statewide property taxes in 2006.[11] Doyle's stated priorities are investing in public schools, including the University of Wisconsin system; lowering property taxes; regional economic development; transportation reform; and funding of stem cell research.
In February 2007, Doyle proposed taxing oil companies more than $270 million over the next two years to help pay for the state's transportation needs.[12] This tax did not pass in that budget and was re-introduced in the January 2009 proposed budget.
On January 2, 2009, Doyle joined the governors of four states in urging the federal government to provide $1 trillion in aid to the country's 50 state governments to help pay for education, welfare and infrastructure as states struggle with steep budget deficits amid a deepening recession. [13]
On May 7, 2009, Doyle announced that the state budget was in such severe straits that rather than raise taxes, he was laying off 700 state workers, and would lay off another 400 if state employee unions did not consent to the revocation of their contractually-scheduled June 2% raises. He also announced that all state employees would be furloughed for 16 days without pay over the next two years.[14]
On May 19, 2009 Doyle proposed a 75-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax, an "assessment" against oil companies to help pay for road improvements, imposition of sales tax on music downloads and cell phone ringtones, and a 1 percent hike in the state income tax for individuals earning above $300,000 a year (approximately 1 percent of the state's population). [15]
[edit] Possible Cabinet post in Obama Administration
On November 15, it was reported on Milwaukee's WISN, an ABC affiliate, that Doyle may have been offered a cabinet post. Doyle was an early supporter of Barack Obama.[16] Doyle did not accept any such offer and as of January 6, 2009 all the Obama cabinet positions had been announced. It had been reported by The Capital Times that Doyle may have been considered for the position of Ambassador to Ireland in the new Obama administration[17] but that position ultimately went to Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney.
[edit] Electoral history
| Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate 2006 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Jim Doyle (incumbent) | 1,139,115 | 52.70 | +7.7 | |
| Republican | Mark Green | 979,427 | 45.31 | ||
| Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Jim Doyle | 800,971 | 45.09 | ||
| Republican | Scott McCallum (incumbent) | 732,796 | 41.39 | ||
| Libertarian | Ed Thompson | 185,085 | 10.45 | ||
| Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election 2002 - Democratic Primary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Jim Doyle | 212,066 | 38.36 | ||
| Democratic | Tom Barrett | 190,605 | 34.48 | ||
| Democratic | Kathleen Falk | 150,161 | 27.16 | ||
| Wisconsin Attorney General Election 1998 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Jim Doyle (incumbent) | 1,111,773 | 64.86 | ||
| Republican | Linda Van De Water | 565,073 | 32.97 | ||
| Wisconsin Attorney General Election 1994 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Jim Doyle (incumbent) | 805,334 | 52.52 | ||
| Republican | Jeff Wagner | 709,927 | 46.30 | ||
| Wisconsin Attorney General Election 1990 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Jim Doyle | 687,283 | 50.87 | ||
| Republican | Don Hanaway (incumbent) | 635,835 | 47.06 | ||
[edit] Sources
- Laird, Helen L., 'A Mind of Her Own Helen Connor Laird and Her Family 1888-1982' The University of Wisconsin Press, 2006.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.madisonwest61.com/obit_m-doyle_mother.htm
- ^ http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=986&search_term=doyle
- ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26145.html
- ^ Wispolitics.com Doyle Not Running for Re-Election
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://badgerherald.com/news/2009/01/20/doyle_may_try_for_re.php
- ^ "Lawton keeps political options open with new Internet site". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 16, 2008.
- ^ "Walker laying traps for gubernatorial run?". Wisconsin State Journal, December 4, 2008.
- ^ "New poll puts Doyle ahead of Walker, Neumann". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 9, 2009.
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ "Wisconsin Gov. Doyle Pitches $270 Million 'Big Oil' Tax". Reuters, February 12, 2007.
- ^ http://www.newsfetish.com
- ^ WDJT-TV news report May 7, 2009
- ^ http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20090221/SHE0101/902210455&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
- ^ http://www.wisn.com/politics/17980722/detail.html
- ^ http://www.madison.com/tct/news/314383,
- "Notable Former Volunteers / Government". Peace Corps official site. Accessed 5 January 2007.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jim Doyle |
- Wisconsin Office of the Governor Jim Doyle official state site
- James Doyle, Dictionary of Wisconsin History, Wisconsin Historical Society
- Jim Doyle 2010 official campaign site
- Biography at the National Governors Association
- Campaign contributions at Follow the Money
- Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Collected news and commentary at The Washington Post
- Follow the Money - Jim Doyle
- Peace Corps biography of Jim Doyle
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Don Hanaway |
Attorney General of Wisconsin 1991 – 2003 |
Succeeded by Peg Lautenschlager |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Scott McCallum |
Governor of Wisconsin 2003— |
Incumbent |
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