R. Michael Ferrall

Last updated

R. Michael Ferrall (born October 3, 1936) is a former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Contents

Biography

Ferrall was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [1] He graduated from high school in Gresham, Wisconsin before receiving a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1962 and a M.S. from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1967. [1] From 1954 to 1957, Ferrall served in the United States Navy. [1] He has five children.

Political career

Ferrall was first elected to the Assembly in 1970. He is a Democrat. [2]

In two successive legislative sessions, Ferrall championed the "Ferrall bill" to establish a right to privacy in Wisconsin for the first time, making an invasion of the right to privacy and false light as causes of action under state law. In 1975, the Assembly passed the bill but the Senate failed to act on it. [3] In 1977, the bill passed committee and was sent to the Assembly floor, but was delayed on a close vote; critics were concerned about a proliferation of lawsuits and media outlets were concerned about freedom of the press issues. [4] [5]

In 1978, Ferrall became embroiled in a controversy over a $30 legislative per diem allowance he received while maintaining a house in Dane County, where the capital of Madison is situated. State law provided that legislators who maintained "primary residence" in Dane County were entitled only to half the maximum $30 per diem allowance. Ferrall was eventually cleared of wrongdoing in a report by Legislative Counsel staff attorneys. [6] [7]

In April 1979, Ferrall and fellow representative John Shabaz were arrested in separate incidents on charges of driving under the influence. Ferrall decided not to fight the charge. [8] [9]

Ferrall did not seek renomination to the Assembly in 1980. [10]

Ferrall's 1970-1980 papers are held by the University of Wisconsin–Madison library. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Senate</span> Upper house of the Wisconsin Legislature

The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin State Assembly</span> Lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature

The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Walker (politician)</span> American politician (born 1967)

Scott Kevin Walker is an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Milwaukee County executive from 2002 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republican majorities since January 2011. With both houses combined, the legislature has 132 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. The Legislature convenes at the state capitol in Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug La Follette</span> Secretary of State of Wisconsin

Douglas J. La Follette is an American academic, environmental scientist, and politician who served as the 30th secretary of state of Wisconsin from 1983 to 2023. He is a member of the Democratic Party. At the time of his retirement, La Follette was the longest-serving statewide elected official in the United States; he was narrowly re-elected in 2022 to an unprecedented 12th term in office, but retired shortly after the start of the new term. He previously served as the 28th secretary of state from 1975 to 1979, and in the Wisconsin Senate from 1973 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin J. Schreiber</span> American politician (born 1939)

Martin James Schreiber is an American politician, publisher, author, and lobbyist who served as the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977, and as the 39th Governor of Wisconsin from 1977 to 1979. Schreiber has become an advocate on issues related to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Prosser Jr.</span> American politician and judge (born 1942)

David Thomas Prosser Jr. is an American jurist and politician who served as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1995 to 1996, and as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1998 to 2016. He was an advisor to Wisconsin Assembly speaker Robin Vos as Vos sought a rationale for impeaching current Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Janet Protasiewicz.

David M. "Dave" Travis is a retired American communications consultant and Democratic politician. He served 30 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Dane County, and was majority leader of the Assembly from 1991 to 1995.

John C. Shabaz was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served 30 years as a United States district judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, and was Chief Judge between 1996 and 2001. Earlier in his career, he represented Waukesha County in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 16 years as a Republican, serving as minority leader from 1973 to 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah Vukmir</span> Wisconsin politician

Leah Vukmir is an American politician and nurse who served as a member of the Wisconsin Senate. A Republican, she represented Wisconsin's 5th District. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly. Vukmir was the Republican nominee in the 2018 U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin, running unsuccessfully against incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin. In March 2019, Vukmir became vice president of state affairs at the National Taxpayers Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Chvala</span> American politician

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.

William D. "Bill" Lorge is an American real estate broker, farmer, and Republican politician. He served ten years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 2002.

Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. was an American lawyer and a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Wedemeyer served twice on the court's Milwaukee-based District I; he was the district's presiding judge from 1983 to 1985 and from 1992 until 2007.

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.

Raymond Lee Lathan (1915–1996) was an American politician who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Ervin Schneeberg was an American businessman and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Wisconsin</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in Wisconsin, U.S.

Cannabis in Wisconsin remains illegal for recreational use, yet a notable federal loophole has emerged, complicating the legal landscape. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis plants harvested four weeks earlier than typical maturity are classified as hemp, which is legal for sale and possession in all 50 states, including Wisconsin. This provision effectively allows for the legal distribution of these early-harvest cannabis products as hemp, sidestepping state bans on recreational marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">83rd Wisconsin Legislature</span> Wisconsin legislative term for 1977–1978

The Eighty-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 1977, to January 3, 1979, in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">84th Wisconsin Legislature</span> Wisconsin legislative term for 1979–1980

The Eighty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 1979, to January 5, 1981, in regular session, and also convened in three special sessions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ferrall, R. Michael 1936". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  2. ↑ "Ferrall, R. Michael". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  3. ↑ Privacy Bill Offered Again (Jan. 30, 1975), Milwaukee Journal.
  4. ↑ Assembly Gets Altered Bill on Privacy Right (Mar. 9, 1977), Milwaukee Sentinel.
  5. ↑ Opponents Head Off Assembly Vote on Controversial Right to Privacy Bill (Apr. 13, 1977), Milwaukee Journal.
  6. ↑ Eldon Knoche, Dane County Home, But Full Pay to Ferrall (July 27, 1978), Milwaukee Sentinel.
  7. ↑ Eldon Knoche, Finding Appears to Clear Ferrall (July 28, 1978), Milwaukee Sentinel.
  8. ↑ Associated Press, Ferrall Won't Fight Charge (April 21, 1979).
  9. ↑ Charles E. Friederich, Ferrall and Shabaz Face Drunken Driving Charges (Apr. 18, 1979), Milwaukee Journal.
  10. ↑ Ron Elving, 2 Newcomers Seek To Replace Ferrall In 62nd District (Oct. 31, 1980), Milwaukee Journal.
  11. ↑ Papers, 1970-1980 Archived 2013-10-08 at archive.today .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.