Don Vruwink | |
---|---|
Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads | |
Assumed office April 7, 2023 | |
Governor | Tony Evers |
Preceded by | Yash Wadhwa |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 43rd district | |
In office January 3,2017 –January 2,2023 | |
Preceded by | Andy Jorgensen |
Succeeded by | Jenna Jacobson |
Personal details | |
Born | Auburndale,Wisconsin,U.S. | June 12,1952
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Beth |
Children | 1 |
Residence | Milton,Wisconsin |
Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
Occupation | Educator,politician |
Don J. Vruwink (born June 12,1952) is an American educator and Democratic politician from Rock County,Wisconsin. He is the current Wisconsin commissioner of railroads,appointed by governor Tony Evers in 2023. He previously served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly,representing the 43rd Assembly district from 2017 through 2022.
Vruwink grew up on a dairy farm near Auburndale,Wisconsin,and graduated from Auburndale High School in 1970. He received his bachelor's degree in Social Studies and Political Science from University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and his master's degree in history from University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Vruwink taught history and was a coach of football,basketball and softball at Milton High School in Milton,Wisconsin from 1979 to 2011. Although retired from full-time teaching,Vruwink serves as both a substitute teacher,and as a baseball and softball umpire. Vruwink is the former parks and recreation director for the City of Milton. From 2011 to 2015,Vruwink served on the Milton Common Council. In 2016,Vruwink served on the Milton School Board. Starting in 2017,Vruwink served in the Wisconsin State Assembly as a member of the Democratic Party. [1] [2] Vruwink served on the Assembly's Agriculture,Education,Rural Development,and Tourism committees. He was also appointed to Governor Tony Evers' Dairy Task Force 2.0.
After the 2020 U.S. census,the Wisconsin Legislature failed to pass a redistricting plan,unable to find compromise between the Republican legislative majority and the Democratic governor. The conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court took jurisdiction of the case and imposed the Republicans' preferred legislative map,as Republicans sought to reach for legislative super-majorities through maximal gerrymandering. Vruwink's district was significantly affected by the changes;he was drawn out of the 43rd district and drawn into the 33rd district,which stretched from the outskirts of Janesville across the southern half of Jefferson County. The new district contained almost none of Vruwink's previous constituents. His Republican opponent was Jefferson County farm consultant Scott Johnson. The election in the 33rd district was the closest race in the state that year,Johnson prevailed by 247 votes. [3]
Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Primary [4] | Aug. 9 | Don Vruwink | Democratic | 3,038 | 57.92% | Anissa M. Welch | Dem. | 2,207 | 42.08% | 5,245 | 831 |
General [5] | Nov. 8 | Don Vruwink | Democratic | 16,179 | 54.56% | Allison Hetz | Rep. | 13,427 | 45.28% | 29,651 | 2,752 | |
2018 | General [6] | Nov. 6 | Don Vruwink (inc) | Democratic | 16,241 | 61.14% | Gabriel Szerlong | Rep. | 10,288 | 38.73% | 26,564 | 5,953 |
2020 | General [7] | Nov. 3 | Don Vruwink (inc) | Democratic | 17,643 | 55.24% | Beth Drew | Rep. | 14,263 | 44.66% | 31,939 | 3,380 |
Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | General [3] | Nov. 3 | Scott Johnson | Republican | 13,709 | 50.40% | Don Vruwink | Dem. | 13,462 | 49.49% | 27,202 | 247 |