Ed Thompson

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Ed Thompson (born December 25, 1944 in Elroy, Wisconsin) was the United States Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 2002. He received 11% of the vote. He was elected mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin in April, 2000 with 58% of the vote. His older brother, Tommy Thompson, was previously Governor of Wisconsin and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Ed Thompson was the subject of the documentary A Remarkable Man.

On April 5, 2005, Ed Thompson won an unexpected victory in the city council election in Tomah, Wisconsin.

It was unexpected because Thompson wasn't running for the position. He had recently decided not to run for re-election for his position as chairman of the Wisconsin Libertarian Party, and was actually planning to take a break from politics.

Although he didn't know it, Ed Thompson was the subject of a write-in campaign. He would receive 31 of 34 votes. His "opponent", John Buick, received one vote from Thompson himself.

When Thompson first heard the news of his victory, he immediately declined the position. But days later, Thompson said, "I am honored by the confidence the people of Tomah have shown by electing me to serve them, and I would be shirking my responsibility and duty if I were to decline.

"I received just a deluge of phone calls, asking me to reconsider. And when I thought about all the people who don't get involved in politics, and how often I've told people they really should get involved in local politics, I had to say yes."

Thompson was sworn in on April 15, 2005 and will serve two years on the Tomah city council.