Louis Fortis | |
---|---|
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 11th district | |
In office January 5, 1987 –January 4, 1993 | |
Preceded by | Gus Menos |
Succeeded by | Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum |
Personal details | |
Born | Louis G. Fortis April 5,1947 Chicago,Illinois |
Political party | Democratic |
Louis G. Fortis (born April 5,1947) is an American economist,educator,and newspaper publisher-editor who served three terms as a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Milwaukee County.
Fortis was born in Chicago,Illinois on April 5,1947. He earned a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1969,and went on to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Massachusetts. He worked as a high school teacher and VISTA Volunteer,as executive director of the Wisconsin Community Development Finance Authority,and taught economics at Smith College and as an adjunct professor of economic development at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
In 1986,Fortis,who had been an active member of organizations such as the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development,the Wisconsin Cooperative Development Council,Jobs with Peace,and ESHAC,challenged incumbent Democratic State Representative Gus Menos in the 11th Assembly district (Brown Deer,Glendale and portions of northeastern Milwaukee). Menos was dismissed by local newspaper the Milwaukee Journal as "largely ineffective... except when it comes to doing legislative favors for campaign contributors." [1] Fortis won the Democratic primary 3331 votes to 1218 votes for Menos,and the general election,with 9579 votes to 5079 for Republican Katherine Drewes. He was assigned to the standing committees assignments on environmental resources and utilities,serving as vice-chair;on children and human services;on financial institutions and insurance;on housing and securities;and on trade,industry and small business. [2]
He served as a delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention pledged to Michael Dukakis;was unopposed for re-election in 1988; [3] and easily won re-election in 1990 against Republican Richard E. Williams. [4]
In 1992,after an extensive redistricting changed the boundaries of his district to include many new areas,he chose to run for the Democratic nomination for the Fourth State Senate District to succeed Barbara Ulichny (who had chosen not to seek re-election in the wake of the investigation into payments to her and other legislators by lobbyist Gary Goyke). He lost the primary to fellow Assembly member Gwen Moore,who drew 11,066 votes to 8,011 for Fortis and 1,254 for Phyllis Williams-Kirk. His seat in the newly revamped 11th Assembly district was taken by Democrat Johnnie Morris-Tatum. [5]
Since 1997,Fortis has been publisher of the Shepherd Express ,an alternative weekly newspaper;since 2000,he has also served as editor. [6]
Timothy W. Carpenter is an American politician and Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate,representing the 3rd Senate district since 2003. He previously served 18 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1985–2003).
Frederick P. Kessler is a retired American lawyer,arbitrator,judge,and Democratic Party politician. He served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 24 years between 1961 and 2019,and served 11 years as a state judge in the 1970s and 1980s.
Charles Joseph "Chuck" Chvala is an American real estate dealer,lawyer,and former politician. He served 20 years in the Wisconsin State Senate,representing Dane County,and was the Democratic leader from 1995 through 2002. His political career was ended by a 2002 scandal which found he and other lawmakers had illegally utilized state employees for campaign work.
Sylvester G. Clements is an American Republican politician,dairy farmer,and businessman.
Gus Menos was an American politician and jeweler from Wisconsin.
Mark G. Lipscomb,Jr.,is an American lawyer,former postal clerk and politician from Milwaukee,Wisconsin who served four terms as a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and one partial term in the Wisconsin State Senate.
The 1st Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in northeastern Wisconsin,the district comprises all of Door and Kewaunee counties,as well as portions of northeast Brown County. The district is represented by Republican Joel Kitchens,since January 2015.
Donald William "Donnie" Hasenohrl is a retired American politician and union steelworker. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 26 years,representing his hometown,Marshfield,Wisconsin,and surrounding areas.
Louise M. Tesmer is an American lawyer,judge,and former politician. She was a Wisconsin circuit court judge for 12 years in the Milwaukee County circuit (1989–2001),and has continued to serve as a reserve judge since her retirement. Prior to her judicial service,she served sixteen years in the Wisconsin State Assembly,representing the city of Milwaukee as a Democrat.
The 2nd Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in northeast Wisconsin,the district comprises most of northern Manitowoc County,including the city of Two Rivers,as well as most of the southern half of Brown County,including most of the city of De Pere. The district is represented by Republican Shae Sortwell,since January 2019.
The 10th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeastern Wisconsin,the district is entirely contained within northeastern Milwaukee County. The district comprises several neighborhoods of the north side of the city of Milwaukee,including the Williamsburg Heights,Arlington Heights,and Grover Heights neighborhoods,as well as the neighboring village of Shorewood. The district is represented by Democrat David Bowen,since January 2015.
The 12th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeast Wisconsin,the district is entirely contained within northwest Milwaukee County. It comprises much of the north side of the city of Milwaukee,as well as part of northern Wauwatosa. The district is represented by Democrat LaKeshia Myers,since January 2019.
The 14th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeast Wisconsin,the district comprises parts of western Milwaukee County. It includes most of the city of Wauwatosa and about half of West Allis. The district is represented by Democrat Robyn Vining,since January 2019.
The 18th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeast Wisconsin,the district is entirely contained within the boundaries of the city of Milwaukee in central Milwaukee County. It comprises neighborhoods of Milwaukee's west side,including Washington Heights and Sherman Park. It includes landmarks such as the Miller Brewing Company and Washington Park. The district is represented by Democrat Evan Goyke,since January 2013.
The 63rd Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeast Wisconsin,the district covers most of the south half of Racine County west of Wisconsin Highway 31,including the city of Burlington and the villages of Rochester,Union Grove,and Sturtevant,as well as most of the village of Mount Pleasant and part of the city of Racine. The district is represented by Republican Robin Vos,the Speaker of the Assembly,since 2005.
The 64th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeast Wisconsin,the district comprises northeast corner of Kenosha County and the southeast corner of Racine County,including part of the cities of Racine and Kenosha,as well as the village of Elmwood Park and parts of the villages of Somers and Mount Pleasant east of Wisconsin Highway 31. The district also contains the University of Wisconsin–Parkside campus,Carthage College,and the Kenosha campus of Gateway Technical College. The district is represented by Democrat Tip McGuire,since May 2019.
The 89th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in Northeastern Wisconsin,the district covers most of the eastern half of Oconto County,as well as neighboring municipalities in Marinette and Brown counties. It includes the cities of Oconto and Marinette,as well as the village of Suamico and the eastern half of the village of Howard. The district is represented by Republican Elijah Behnke,since May 2021.
The 33rd Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in southeast Wisconsin,the district comprises the southern half of Jefferson County and parts of northeast Rock County. It includes the cities of Fort Atkinson,Jefferson,and Milton,and part of the city of Janesville,as well as the villages of Palmyra and Sullivan. The district is represented by Republican Cody Horlacher,since January 2015.
The 68th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in Northwestern Wisconsin,the district comprises the eastern half of Eau Claire County and about half of Clark County,as well as part of southeast Chippewa County. The district includes the cities of Altoona,Augusta,Greenwood,Osseo,Owen,Stanley,and Thorp. The district is represented by Republican Jesse L. James,since January 2019.
The 85th Assembly District of Wisconsin is one of 99 districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Located in north-central Wisconsin,the district comprises much of eastern Marathon County,including the cities of Wausau and Schofield,and the villages of Elderon,Hatley,and Rothschild. The district is represented by Republican Patrick Snyder,since January 2017.