John Antaramian
John Antaramian | |
|---|---|
| 48th and 50th Mayor of Kenosha | |
| Assumed office April 19, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Keith Bosman |
| In office April 1992 – April 15, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Moran |
| Succeeded by | Keith Bosman |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 4, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Joanne Huelsman |
| Succeeded by | Robert Wirch |
| Constituency | 65th district |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas A. Hauke |
| Succeeded by | Thomas A. Hauke |
| Constituency | 23rd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Martin Antaramian September 21, 1954 Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Linda |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Parkside (BS) |
John Martin Antaramian (born September 21, 1954) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 50th mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to his re-election in 2016, Antaramian had served as the 48th mayor of Kenosha for 16 years and before that was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.[1]
Early life and education
Born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Antaramian earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and business management from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in 1977.[2]
Career
Pre-2016
Antaramian served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for ten years.[3] In 1992, Antaramian was elected Mayor of Kenosha, and served for sixteen years, stepping down in 2008.[4][5] In 2008, he retired and started a consulting business. He was a visiting professor at Carthage College before returning to the mayoral office in 2016.[6]
2016-present
Antaramian ran for mayor again in 2016, running for the open seat vacated by retiring two-term mayor Keith Bosman, who had replaced Antaramian as mayor in 2008.[citation needed] Antaramian defeated Alderman Bob Johnson in the general election.[7]
Antaramian ran unopposed for mayor in and was elected to a sixth term in the spring of 2020.[8] In October 2020, Antaramian participated in a challenge with the mayors of Wisconsin's five largest cities (Racine's Cory Mason, Milwaukee's Tom Barrett, Green Bay's Eric Genrich, and Madison's Satya Rhodes-Conway) to see which city would have the highest rate of absentee and early voting.[9] An investigation led by Michael Gableman on possible fraud in the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin subpoenaed Antaramian and the same four mayors in October 2021 regarding election funding received by their cities from the Center for Tech and Civic Life. Antaramian described the investigation as a waste of time and money.[10]
Shooting of Jacob Blake
Following the unrest that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake in August 2020, Antaramian requested the presence of the Wisconsin National Guard in Kenosha.[11] Hundreds of protesters later forced Antaramian to relocate his press conference on the shooting from a local park to the city's public safety building, where the protestors were contained by police with pepper spray after tearing the building's front entrance door from its hinges.[12] Antaramian also announced he would hold 4 community listening sessions on racism.[13]
In an interview days after the shooting, Antaramian said visits to Kenosha by President Donald Trump or then-candidate Joe Biden would be "too soon," saying that "...the President is always welcome, but at this time, it's just the wrong time." Trump would visit on September 1, and Biden on September 3.[14][15][16][17]
See also
References
- ^ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Andrey to Anthonis". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
- ^ "HOME | Citizens For Antaramian". Landing Page. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
- ^ http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2442&search=antaramian Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Antaramian new mayor of Kenosha". Racine Journal Times. 1992-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- ^ Elving, Elizabeth (2017-10-10). "Kenosha Mayor Focuses on Revitalization". Shepherd Express. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ http://www.wibuilder.com/wb-august-2008/peer-review.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Election Results for 4/5/2016 | Kenosha County, WI - Official Website". www.kenoshacounty.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Election Results for 4/7/2020 | Kenosha County, WI - Official Website". www.kenoshacounty.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ Hess, Corri. "Mayors of 5 Largest Cities Issue Voting Challenge". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Kenosha Mayor Responds to Election Probe Subpoena". WGTD. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ Peiser, Jaclyn; Berman, Mark; Guarino, Mark; Firozi, Paulina; Witte, Griff. "After video shows Wisconsin police shooting a Black man multiple times, National Guard is called to Kenosha". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
- ^ Webber, Tammy; Gash, Morry (2020-08-25). "Wisconsin National Guard called out after police shoot Black man". Military Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
- ^ "Kenosha Mayor Announces Listening Sessions to Address Black Residents' Quality of Life". UpNorthNews | Wisconsin News For You. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Kenosha Mayor Does Not Want President Trump To Visit 'At This Point In Time'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Trump's Kenosha visit produces outrage for some in the city, and calm for others". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Biden Visits Kenosha, Wis., Meets Community Members And Jacob Blake's Family". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Kenosha mayor: Too soon for Biden and Trump to be visiting". CNN. Retrieved 25 January 2022.