Mark Pocan
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| Rep. Mark Pocan | |
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Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 78th district |
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| In office 1998 – present |
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| Preceded by | Tammy Baldwin |
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| Born | August 14, 1964 Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Philip Frank |
| Residence | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Website | MarkPocan.net |
Mark Pocan is an American politician from the state of Wisconsin. Since 1998, he has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 78th district in Madison.
Pocan attended Mary Bradford High School in Kenosha. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1986.
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[edit] Political career
In 1991, Pocan was elected to the first of three terms on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. He left the board in 1996.
In 1998, Tammy Baldwin, then a state representative from the 78th district, mounted a successful bid for Congress. Pocan ran to succeed her in the state legislature and won a three-way Democratic primary with 54% of the vote. He faced no Republican opponent in the general election and defeated an independent, polling 15,828 votes (93%) to his opponent's 1,251 (7%). He has been re-elected biennially ever since.
During his time as a state legislator, Pocan has consistently earned a reputation for moving the Wisconsin political debate to the left. One of the most outspoken progressive members of the state assembly, Pocan has focused on difficult issues including corrections reform, the state budget, education funding, and fighting privatization schemes.
Pocan serves on the Joint Committee on Finance, and the Joint Legislative Council within the Assembly.
[edit] Other organizations
Pocan identifies as a progressive Democrat, and is a member of a number of organizations, including Wisconsin Citizens Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Action Wisconsin and Midwest Progressive Elected Officials Network.
He is a member of the AFL-CIO, which he joined the union as a small business owner. Pocan owns and still operates a small printing company.[1]
[edit] Personal life
Pocan is notable for being the only openly gay member of the state assembly and is one of only two gay members of the Wisconsin State Legislature,[1] alongside Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee). Many of his election campaigns have received support from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
He has been an active participant in the ongoing debate regarding same-sex marriage in Wisconsin, though the state has approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
On November 24, 2006, Pocan and his long-term partner, Philip Frank, were legally married in Toronto, Ontario.[2] The marriage is not legally recognized in Wisconsin.
[edit] Recognition
Pocan has received the following recognition while in office:
- Environmental Decade award
- ACLU Special Recognition award
- Outreach Man of the Year
- Teachers State Employee Council Representative of the Year
[edit] References
- ^ a b Weier, Anita (October 28, 2004), “UW Student Challenges Rep. Pocan”, The Capital Times, <http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2004/10/28/0410280382.php>. Retrieved on 12 March 2008
- ^ Conklin, Melanie (December 13, 2006), “Gay Legislator's Marriage Is About Being A Couple”, Wisconsin State Journal, <http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2006/12/13/0612130002.php>. Retrieved on 12 March 2008
