James Edward Doyle Jr. (born November 23,1945) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 44th governor of Wisconsin from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party,he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican governor Scott McCallum in his first election to the governorship. Although in 2002 Democrats increased their number of governorships,Doyle was the only one of them to unseat a Republican.
In 1975,Doyle returned to Madison,Wisconsin,and served three terms as Dane County District Attorney,from 1977 to 1982. After leaving that office,he spent eight years in private practice. Doyle was elected Wisconsin Attorney General in 1990,and reelected in 1994 and 1998. Between 1997 and 1998,he served as the president of the National Association of Attorneys General. During his twelve years as attorney general,Doyle was considered tough on crime,[4] but not unsympathetic to its causes. He also gained recognition as a result of several successful lawsuits against tobacco companies in the state.
The 2002 governor's race is considered by some to have been the most negative campaign in the state's history.[who?] In response,LibertarianEd Thompson (brother of Tommy),publicly critical of the negative campaigning of both major party candidates,who became a more viable option for some voters,[5] garnered 10% of the vote.
Doyle giving a speech in 2005
On election day,Doyle defeated McCallum by over four percent of the vote,becoming the first Democratic governor in the state since Anthony Earl was defeated in 1986. Doyle was sworn in on January 6,2003 at the State Capitol in Madison.
Doyle defeated Republican Congressman Mark Green in 2006. Doyle topped Green 53% to 45% in a year in which no incumbent Democratic governor,senator,or congressman lost their reelection bid.
During the campaign,Doyle was dogged by charges that Georgia Thompson,a state employee,had steered a travel agency contract to a firm whose principals had donated $20,000 to his campaign. Thompson was convicted in federal court in late 2006 and sentenced to 18 months in prison.[6] The conviction was reversed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in April 2007,with one judge calling the U.S. Attorney's case "beyond thin".[7]
Doyle announcing his decision not to seek reelection
Doyle raised about $500,000 for a campaign fund in the first half of 2007,leading political analysts to think he would have been financially ready to run for a third term as governor. In a speech to the state Democratic Party convention on July 6,2007,he said,"And at the end of these four years of working together,who knows,maybe we'll need four more."[8] He had changed his campaign website to JimDoyle2010.com,which had been seen a further indication of a re-election run. However,on August 17,2009,Doyle announced that he would not seek a third term.[9]
Governor of Wisconsin
Doyle on board a UH-60 Blackhawk viewing 2008 flood damage.Doyle (right) with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in 2009
Upon Doyle's taking office,Wisconsin faced a $3.2 billion deficit. The state ended the year 2003 with a deficit of $2.15 billion. Proposals for new programs were constrained by continued budget-cutting and his decision to honor a campaign pledge to not raise taxes. Facing political pressure,[10] he signed a property tax freeze that has resulted in an anticipated decrease in average statewide property taxes in 2003.[11] Doyle's stated priorities were investing in public schools,including the University of Wisconsin System;lowering property taxes;regional economic development;transportation reform;and funding of stem cell research.
On January 2,2009,Doyle joined the governors of four states in urging the federal government to provide $1 trillion in aid to the country's 50 state governments to help pay for education,welfare and infrastructure as states struggled with steep budget deficits amid a deepening recession.[12]
On May 19,2009,Doyle proposed a 75-cent-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax,an "assessment" against oil companies to help pay for road improvements,imposition of sales tax on music downloads and cell phoneringtones,and a 1 percent hike in the state income tax for individuals earning above $300,000 a year (approximately 1 percent of the state's population).[13]
In October 2007,the Republican-led Assembly,Democratic-controlled Senate,and Governor Doyle passed a balanced budget that approved transferring $200 million from a medical malpractice fund to the Medical assistance trust fund. In July 2010,the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the transfer was illegal and that the state must restore the money to the malpractice fund.[14]
Personal life and family
Jim Doyle is a fifth generation state officeholder in Wisconsin. His mother,Ruth Bachhuber Doyle,represented Dane County in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1940s;his maternal grandfather,Frank E. Bachhuber,represented Marathon County in the Assembly in the 1930s;his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather,Andrew Bachhuber and Max Bachhuber,represented Dodge County in the Assembly in the 19th century.[15]
Doyle is married to Jessica Laird Doyle,niece of former Congressman Melvin Laird,and great-granddaughter of William D. Connor,who was lieutenant governor of Wisconsin from 1907–1909,[16] and great-great-granddaughter of Wisconsin State Representative Robert Connor.[17] They have two adopted sons,Gus and Gabe,a daughter-in-law,Carrie,a grandson,Asiah,and granddaughters Lily and Lucy.[18]
↑ "Doyle, Jessica Laird, 1945". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on August 24, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
↑ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1991–1992 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp.891, 908. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
↑ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995–1996 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp.894, 913. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
↑ Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (1999). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1999–2000 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp.890, 913. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
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