Russ Decker
Russ Decker | |
|---|---|
 Decker in 2008. | |
| Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate | |
| In office October 24, 2007 – December 15, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Judy Robson |
| Succeeded by | Dave Hansen |
| In office October 21, 2002 – January 6, 2003 Serving with Fred Risser | |
| Preceded by | Charles Chvala |
| Succeeded by | Mary Panzer |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 29th district | |
| In office January 7, 1991 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Chilsen |
| Succeeded by | Pam Galloway |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 25, 1953 Athens, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | married |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Schofield, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | Northcentral Technical College |
| Profession | building contractor |
Russell S. Decker (born May 25, 1953) is an American home construction contractor and former Democratic politician. He served 20 years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1991–2011) and was majority leader from October 2007 through December 2010.[1]
Early life and career
[edit]Born in Athens, Wisconsin, Decker graduated from Athens High School, afterward attending Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin as an apprentice bricklayer.
Political career
[edit]Decker was first elected to the Senate in 1990, and was re-elected four more times, serving a total of five terms.
Following the passage of the 2007-2009 state budget, the Senate Democratic Caucus voted to remove Judy Robson. The removal had led by Decker, who argued that Robson had betrayed Democratic principles.[2] After her removal, Decker was elected as the next Democratic Caucus leader.
DUI
[edit]In April 2005, Decker was arrested and charged with OWI.[3] He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of driving with a prohibited blood alcohol content and had to give up his driver's license for six months.[4]
2009-2010 budget
[edit]Decker attracted controversy in 2009 when he voted to attach an amendment to the yearly budget, which had to be voted on in the state senate. The amendment would have required the Government Accountability Board to use similar proceses that other state agencies use to request funding, which is through legislative approval. This amendment drew sharp criticism from organizations supporting government transparency like Common Cause, which argued that the amendment would defeat the purpose of the G.A.B and undermine the agency's ability to effectively investigate the legislature should it need to. Decker's staff justified the amendment, arguing "Many people felt [the board] needed to justify their budget like everyone else."[5]
2010 Lame duck session
[edit]On November 2, 2010, Republican Pam Galloway defeated Decker in his reelection bid.[6]
Following the 2010 elections, Wisconsin Democrats convened for a special session in December. Part of the special session included votes on ratifying new contracts for state employees, which had been negotiated by outgoing Governor Jim Doyle. Decker had grown distant with the rest of the Democratic caucus following his defeat in the election, and was described as difficult to reach by several fellow Democratic legislators.[7] Earlier in the day, Decker had voted with the rest of Democrats in commitee to put the state contracts to a floor vote. He eventually attended the session, with him and fellow outgoing Democrat Jeffrey Plale voting alongside all 15 Republican senators to reject the first of seventeen contracts.[8] Decker justified his vote arguing that the next legislature, which would be controlled by Republicans, could negotiate and vote on the contracts.
Due to his vote against the first contract, the Democrats quickly convened a caucus where they voted to remove him from his position as Democratic caucus leader, nominating Senator Dave Hansen to replace him for the remainder of the session. Following his removal, Decker and Plale voted alongside Republicans on the other sixteen contracts, all of which faced 16-16 tie votes and failed to pass.[9]
In the aftermath of the vote, Decker was subject to speculation and allegations that he had unsuccessfully attempted to persuade governor Doyle to pardon former Democratic Caucus leader Charles Chvala, who had been convicted for his role in the 2002 Caucus Scandal. With the alleged rejection of a pardon being the cause for Decker's vote. Speculators pointed to Decker's connections with Chvala, who was a close ally of Decker, and Chvala's wife, Barbara Worcester, who served as Decker's chief of staff.[10] It was also rumored, although ultimately never came to be, that Decker had been looking to gain a position in the incoming administration of Scott Walker, which had been what happened to Jeff Plale, as he would come to serve as the Administrator of the Wisconsin Division of State Facilities and later as the Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads. This never came to pass and Decker retired from politics all together.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Decker is married and lives in Schofield, Wisconsin with his wife.
Electoral history
[edit]Wisconsin Senate (1990–2010)
[edit]| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | General[11] | Nov. 6 | Russ Decker | Democratic | 24,587 | 50.66% | Walter Chilsen (inc) | Rep. | 23,947 | 49.34% | 48,534 | 640 |
| 1994 | General[12] | Nov. 8 | Russ Decker (inc) | Democratic | 31,422 | 62.58% | Michael D. Stefonik | Rep. | 18,791 | 37.42% | 50,213 | 12,631 |
| 1998 | General[13] | Nov. 3 | Russ Decker (inc) | Democratic | 32,644 | 62.45% | Dan Krema | Rep. | 19,628 | 37.55% | 52,272 | 13,016 |
| 2002 | General[14] | Nov. 5 | Russ Decker (inc) | Democratic | 38,779 | 68.05% | Jimmy Boy Edming | Rep. | 18,201 | 31.94% | 56,989 | 20,578 |
| 2006 | General[15] | Nov. 7 | Russ Decker (inc) | Democratic | 42,139 | 67.68% | Jimmy Boy Edming | Rep. | 20,101 | 32.28% | 62,265 | 22,038 |
| 2010 | General[16] | Nov. 2 | Pam Galloway | Republican | 32,640 | 52.26% | Russ Decker (inc) | Dem. | 29,742 | 47.62% | 62,452 | 2,898 |
References
[edit]- ^ The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010, biographical sketch of Russ Decker, pg. 76
- ^ Walters, Steven (September 25, 2017). "Democrats' Leadership Blender Claws Barca". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "Decker holds event at tavern," Wausau Daily Herald, April 5, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ "Sen. Decker says OWI arrest doesn't influence his position," Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, January 26, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ Heck, Jay (June 22, 2009). "Senator Decker's Misguided Amendment to Eviscerate the Government Accountability Board Must Not Prevail". Common Cause Wisconsin. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "GOP challenger defeats Majority Leader Decker," JS Online, November 3, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ Craver, Jack (December 15, 2010). "What's up with Senate Leader Russ Decker?". Isthmus. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Mills, Emily (December 16, 2010). "Emily's Post: Diva Russ Decker dumped after the curtain has fallen". Isthmus. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Maichle, Kyle (December 16, 2010). "Wisconsin state employee contracts fail in lame duck session". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via Ballotpedia.
- ^ a b Craver, Jack (December 21, 2010). "Explaining Russ Decker: The Chvala theory". Isthmus. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1991–1992 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 895, 912. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995–1996 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 919. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (1999). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1999–2000 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 868, 869. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ Results of Fall Primary Election - 11/05/2002 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved December 3, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 11, 2006. p. 11. Retrieved December 4, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. p. 17. Retrieved December 3, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.