John Gard
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| John Gard | |
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| In office 2003 – 2007 |
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| Succeeded by | Michael Huebsch |
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Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 89th district |
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| In office 1987 – 2007 |
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| Succeeded by | John Nygren |
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| Born | March 8, 1963 Lena, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cathy Zeuske Gard |
John Gard (born August 3, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 89th Assembly District from 1987 until 2007. He served as Speaker of the State Assembly from 2003 until 2007.
He graduated from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
John Gard was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. Gard defeated State Rep. Terri McCormick of Appleton in the September 12, 2006 Republican primary and lost to Democrat Steve Kagen of Appleton in the November 7, 2006 mid-term election by a narrow margin of 51–49%. The 2006 8th congressional district race was the most expensive congressional race in state history.[citation needed]
He is married to Cathy Zeuske, a former Wisconsin State Representative, State Treasurer, and Revenue Secretary under former Governor Tommy Thompson. They have two children: Elizabeth (Libby) and John Vincent. In 2007, the Gard family moved from Peshtigo to the Howard-Suamico area.
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[edit] 2008 8th congressional district election
John Gard announced on Sunday April 27, 2008 that he is running to represent the 8th congressional district of Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives.[1]
The 8th district was considered a "lean-Republican district", even though it has not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1980. The Cook Political Report lists the 2008 8th District as a 'leans Democrat' even though its Partisan Voting Index (PVI) is R +4.
The other GOP potential candidates have dropped out of the race; including State Assemblymen Frank Lasse and Steve Wieckert, and former Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin.
As of May 12, 2008, incumbent Rep. Steve Kagen leads John Gard with $1,069,432 in funds, compared to Gard's $555,046.[2]
[edit] 2006 8th congressional district election
With four-term incumbent Republican, Mark Green, leaving the seat to run for Governor of Wisconsin, the 8th congressional district seat was up for grabs. On November 7, first-time candidate Democrat Steve Kagen narrowly defeated State Assembly Speaker John Gard in the most expensive congressional race in Wisconsin history.
Kagen's 51–49% victory was part of the national Republican defeat. Issues that dominated the election were the Iraq War, healthcare, immigration, and pork barrel spending. Gard was able to carry his home county of Marinette with 51.4% of the vote and neighboring Oconto County by 52.1%. He lost Brown County; home to Green Bay, by less than 1,000 votes (less than 1%). Kagen's victory of 54.5% in his home Outagamie County gave him just enough votes to secure the win.[3]
[edit] Electoral history
- 2006 general election results for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district
- Steven L. Kagen (D), 141,598, 51%
- John Gard (R), 134,990, 49%
