Cathy Zeuske

Last updated
John Gard
(m. 1990)
Cate Zeuske
9thSecretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
In office
November 27, 1996 March 2001
Children2

Cathy Susan "Cate" Zeuske (born December 4, 1958), [1] is an American Republican politician who served as the 31st State Treasurer of Wisconsin and 9th Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. She was also elected to four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly and was Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration. [2]

Contents

Zeuske is married to John Gard, a former speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Early life and career

A native of Clintonville, Wisconsin, Zeuske graduated from Shawano High School and then attended McGill University. She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. [1] Prior to her political career, she worked as an insurance agent. [3]

Public office

Zeuske was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1982 at the age of 23. She won re-election three times and served until 1991, having decided to forgo re-election and instead run against incumbent State Treasurer Charles Smith in 1990.

State Treasurer (19911995)

On November 6, 1990, Zeuske was elected Wisconsin State Treasurer. [2] During her time in office she established the State Treasurer's Advisory Council and State Treasurer's Annual Conference for Local and County Clerks/Treasurers. She was also a member of the State Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, State Board of Canvassers, State Depository Selection Board, Insurance Security Fund, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Retirement Fund, National Association of State Treasurers, Heritage Tourism Advisory Council, Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, Governor's Commission on Dental Care, and Council on State-Local Relations.

She gave up her reelection bid in 1994 to compete in the Republican Senate primary for the opportunity to run against incumbent Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. In the September primary, she lost the nomination to State Senator Robert Welch. On November 8, 1994, Republican Jack Voight was elected as the new State Treasurer, while Senator Kohl went on to defeat State Senator Welch 58% to 41%.

Appointed positions

In 1995, Governor Tommy Thompson appointed Zeuske to serve as deputy director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. She served in that role until 1999, when Thompson appointed her to serve as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. While in that role, Zeuske served as a member of the platform committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention.

From 2001 to 2015, Zeuske was the administrative director of a non-profit organization and international leadership academy for public officials. [4]

In 2015, Zeuske was appointed by Governor Scott Walker to serve as deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration. [5] She resigned in May 2018. [6]

She was a member of the Wisconsin Women for Trump coalition in 2016. [7]

Personal life

Zeuske is married to John Gard, [8] who served as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2003 until 2007. [9] They have two children. [1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Treasurer (1990)

Wisconsin State Treasurer Election, 1990 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
General Election, November 6, 1990
Republican Cathy S. Zeuske 623,548 48.70% +5.01%
Democratic Charles P. Smith (incumbent)609,50547.61%−5.07%
Labor–Farm Lucille Berrien 28,1412.20%−1.43%
Independent David A. Ameringer19,0771.49%
Plurality14,0431.10%-7.88%
Total votes1,280,271 100.0% -6.99%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 10.08%

United States Senate (1994)

United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 1994 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Primary, September 13, 1994
Republican Robert T. Welch 157,109 47.39%
Republican Matthew Gunderson74,46022.46%
Republican Cathy S. Zeuske56,24816.97%
Republican Thomas M. Fitzpatrick43,69513.18%
Total votes331,512 100.0%

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Zeuske, Cathy S. (born 1958)". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  2. 1 2 Eagleton Institute of Politics. "Women in Elective Office - Historical Summary". Center for American Women and Politics. Rutgers University. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  3. "Wisconsin Women Legislators − A Historical List" (PDF). Legislative Reference Bureau. Wisconsin State Legislature. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  4. "Zeuske, Cathy S. 1958". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  5. Journal, Matthew DeFour | Wisconsin State. "Scott Walker announces administrative shake-up". madison.com. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  6. "Zeuske Resigns from Department of Administration - Hamilton Consulting". The Hamilton Consulting Group. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  7. Bauer, Scott (2016-08-24). "Trump unveils Wisconsin women coalition lacking big names". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  8. "WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL". Beacon Design Handcrafted Keepsakes Since 1976. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  9. "Wisconsin 08". cnn.com. CNN . Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  10. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 908. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  11. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 896. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for State Treasurer of Wisconsin
1990
Succeeded by
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded byMember of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 54th district
January 3, 1983 January 7, 1985
Succeeded by
Preceded byMember of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 4th district
January 7, 1985 January 7, 1991
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by
Mark D. Bugher
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
November 27, 1996 March 2001
Succeeded by
Richard G. Chandler
Political offices
Preceded by State Treasurer of Wisconsin
January 7, 1991 January 3, 1995
Succeeded by