Roger Breske

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Roger Breske
Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads
In office
May 28, 2008 – March 2011
Appointed byJim Doyle
Preceded byRodney W. Kreunen
Succeeded byJeffrey Plale
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 12th district
In office
November 28, 1990 – June 4, 2008
Preceded byLloyd H. Kincaid
Succeeded byJim Holperin
Personal details
Born(1938-11-08)November 8, 1938
Elderon, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedApril 3, 2012(2012-04-03) (aged 73)
Weston, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Philomenes Cemetery, Norrie, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Karen Woznicki
​
(m. 1959⁠–⁠2012)​
Children4
OccupationTavern owner
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army Reserve

Roger M. Breske (November 8, 1938 – April 3, 2012) was an American businessman and Democratic politician from Shawano County, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate from 1990 through 2008, representing much of northern Wisconsin. He then served two years as Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner.

Biography[edit]

Roger Breske was born November 8, 1938, in Elderon, Wisconsin, in eastern Marathon County. As a child, he attended school in the neighboring community of Wittenberg, Wisconsin, in Shawano County, and graduated from Wittenberg High School.[1] As a young man, he served in the United States Army Reserve. He became the owner of a tavern and restaurant known as "Breske's Bar", which he operated for more than 20 years.[1]

Through his tavern business, he became active in the Tavern League of Wisconsin, one of the most powerful business lobbies in the state. He first became president of the Marathon County Tavern League, and was then elected president of the state organization in 1985.[2]

In 1990, Wisconsin state senator Lloyd H. Kincaid announced he would retire due to poor health before the end of his term, necessitating a special election that fall.[3] Breske entered the race for the Democratic Party nomination, and prevailed in the crowded five-person primary, receiving 39% of the vote.[4] Breske went on to win a close victory over his Republican opponent in the special election, which coincided with the November 6, 1990, general election.[4]

Breske went on to win re-election in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. He was considered a more conservative member of the Democratic caucus, and sometimes frustrated his party leadership. Most notoriously, in 2008 Breske managed to derail a statewide smoking ban which had been a signature issue pushed by Democratic governor Jim Doyle.[5] The following Spring, Doyle appointed Breske to serve as Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner.[6] Breske accepted the appointment and resigned from the Senate in June 2008.[7]

Breske served until the end of his term, which ended on March 1, 2011, and did not seek re-appointment from the new Republican governor Scott Walker.[8]

Breske died less than a year later, suffering a heart attack in his home on April 3, 2012.[9]

Personal life and family[edit]

Roger Breske married Karen Woznicki at St. Florian Catholic Church, in Hatley, Wisconsin, on April 25, 1959. They had four children together and were married for 53 years.[10]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Senate (1990–2004)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1990[4] Primary Sep. 11 Roger Breske Democratic 4,906 39.20% Jolene Plautz Dem. 4,309 34.43% 12,515 597
Bonnie Stowers Dem. 1,742 13.92%
James V. Mabry Dem. 1,010 8.07%
Joseph Pasowicz Dem. 548 4.38%
Special Nov. 6 Roger Breske Democratic 24,350 50.93% Gordon R. Connor Rep. 23,462 49.07% 47,812 888
1992[11] Primary Sep. 8 Roger Breske (inc) Democratic 11,601 70.67% Lloyd H. Kincaid Dem. 4,815 29.33% 16,416 6,786
General Nov. 3 Roger Breske (inc) Democratic 39,282 52.34% Robert G. Ourada Rep. 35,765 47.66% 75,047 3,517
1996[12] General Nov. 5 Roger Breske (inc) Democratic 40,220 57.41% Nancy Levanetz Rep. 29,838 42.59% 70,058 10,382
2000[13] General Nov. 7 Roger Breske (inc) Democratic 55,692 88.34% John E. Bailey Lib. 7,278 11.54% 63,045 48,414
2004[14] General Nov. 2 Roger Breske (inc) Democratic 47,287 53.47% Tom Tiffany Rep. 41,119 46.49% 88,444 6,168

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1991). "Biographies". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1991–1992 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 44. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Breske elected Tavern League head". Wausau Daily Herald. December 8, 1985. p. 35. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Elderon resident seeks Kincaid's Senate seat". Wausau Daily Herald. July 25, 1990. p. 3. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1991–1992 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 895, 912. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Bauer, Scott (January 31, 2008). "Smoking ban deal rejected". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 23. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Richmond, Todd (May 20, 2008). "Rail commissioner named". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 5. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Petitions and Communications". State of Wisconsin Senate Journal. Ninety-Eighth Regular Session (Wednesday, June 4, 2008). Wisconsin Legislature. June 4, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Walker names new railroad commissioner". Oshkosh Northwestern. August 24, 2011. p. 3. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Former State Sen. Breske, 73, dies". Wisconsin State Journal. April 4, 2012. p. 7. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Roger Breske". Wausau Daily Herald. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Legacy.com.
  11. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1993–1994 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 919. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997–1998 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 888–889. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 30, 2000. p. 6. Retrieved April 11, 2023 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  14. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 8. Retrieved April 11, 2023 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.

External links[edit]

Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 12th district
November 28, 1990 – June 4, 2008 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by
Rodney W. Kreunen
 Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads
May 28, 2008 – March 2011 		Succeeded by


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