Barbara Lawton
Barbara Lawton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2003 | |
| Governor | Jim Doyle |
| Preceded by | Margaret Farrow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1951 Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.A |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cal Lawton |
| Profession | Business Consultant |
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This article documents a current political event. Information may change rapidly as the situation develops. |
Barbara Lawton (born July 5, 1951) is an American politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin and member of the Democratic Party. She is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. She became the first woman elected to the position in 2002, as the running mate of current Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Lawton was re-elected on November 7, 2006.
Early life and education
Lieutenant Governor Lawton grew up in southeastern Wisconsin, first in Hales Corners and then on a farm near Waterford. She worked her way through college, ultimately earning a degree in Spanish from Lawrence University in Appleton and a Master's Degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Lawton has an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Lawrence University and an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She met and married Cal Lawton when she was a student at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
During thirty-five years living in the Green Bay area, Barbara Lawton was active in the community, helping to co-found the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and was a leader in the Educational Resource Foundation. She was also a founding member of the Latinos Unidos and the Green Bay Area Multicultural Center. She served on the Entrepreneurs of Color Advisory Board, winning their first Founders' Award. She also served on the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Foundation Board.
Political career
Professionally, Lawton worked as an international business consultant, helping businesses export their products to the Southern Cone of South America and providing cultural training. The Lawton family lived for a time in Oaxaca, Mexico and Santiago, Chile.
Prior to being elected lieutenant governor in 2002, Lawton won the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor in 1998 and ran alongside the party's nominee for governor, attorney Ed Garvey. The Garvey/Lawton ticket lost to incumbent Tommy Thompson and Scott McCallum. Lawton also ran unsuccessfully for State Senate in 1992.
Lieutenant Governor
As Lieutenant Governor, Lawton has taken on many issues, most related to economic development and climate change. She is seen as a leading advocate for women in the workplace; in 2003 she launched an economic development initiative called "Wisconsin Women = Prosperity." Lawton has also championed such issues as clean energy policy, stem cell research and affordable higher education. In 2007, Lawton authored and passed the landmark Energy Independence and Climate Protection Resolution at the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Lawton also Chairs the Wisconsin State Arts Board.
A 2006 editorial in the Madison, Wisconsin daily The Capital Times called Lawton "the boldest and most active lieutenant governor in state history."[2]
National Lieutenant Governor's Association
Barbara Lawton was unanimously elected Chairwoman of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association (NLGA) at their 2008 annual meeting in Buffalo, NY. Lawton served as the Vice-Chair of the NLGA in 2007.[3]
In September 2008, as Chairwoman of the NLGA, Lawton had traveled on a mission to China along with Lt. Governors from Alabama, Connecticut, Kansas and Nevada. There, she signed a student exchange agreement between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Tsinghua University in Beijing. Lawton also reached an agreement for the two Universities to form an exploratory commission to create a Global Manufacturing Institute.[4]
2010 gubernatorial run
Lawton hinted in a March 2008 interview with the Associated Press that she would consider running for governor of Wisconsin in 2010 if Doyle does not seek a third term. If elected, she would be the state's first female governor.
At the 2007 Democratic Party of Wisconsin Convention, Lawton decisively won the Wispolitics.com straw poll for Governor in 2010 should Jim Doyle decide against a third term.
On August 15, 2009 Politico announced Governor Doyle will not be seeking a third term according to sources familiar with his campaign.[5] Soon after this announcement, her entry into the race was confirmed.[6] On October 26, 2009, Lawton announced she would be withdrawing from the race, citing "very personal reasons." [7] On October 29, 2009, Green Bay Conservative Talk Show Host, Jerry Bader was suspended for two weeks, for blogging unconfirmed, unsourced and slanderous information about Lawton, which he issued an internet apology for. Bader's future employment is unknown with WTAQ-AM Radio and its parent, Midwest Communications.
Personal life
Barbara and Cal Lawton have two children and four grandchildren.
2008 presidential election
On June 29, 2007 Barbara Lawton endorsed Hillary Clinton for President.[8] She also served as a Midwest Campaign Co-Chair for Clinton's campaign. Following the Democratic Primary, she endorsed Barack Obama.
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barbara Lawton (Inc.) | 52.8 | +7.8 | ||
| Republican | Jean Hundertmark | 45.3 | |||
| Green | Leon Todd | 1.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barbara Lawton | 45.0 | |||
| Republican | Margaret Farrow (Inc.) | 41.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott McCallum (Inc.) | 60.0 | |||
| Democratic | Barbara Lawton | 39.0 | |||
References
- ^ http://www.guideforpennypinchers.com Barbara's Guide for Penny Pinchers
- ^ http://action.barbaralawton.com/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY=20931 Capital Times Editorial
- ^ http://www.nlga.us/web-content/Single-Purpose-Page/message_from_nlga_chair__lt.htm NLGA Chair Remarks
- ^ http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/travels_details.asp?travelid=65&locid=126 Office of the Lt. Governor Blog on China Trade Mission
- ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26145.html
- ^ [1]. "Lawton enters race; Kind considering it"
- ^ http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=174717
- ^ http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2233 Clinton Campaign Press Release
External links
- Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton official website
- Barbara Lawton official campaign site
- Follow the Money - Barbara lawton 2006 campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton (WI) profile
- Capital Times Editorial
- Wispolitics 2007 Straw Poll Results for Governor at the Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention Wispolitics.com
- WW=P 5-year Progress Report
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(*) elected but died before taking office | ||
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