| Jim Holperin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 12th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Roger Breske (D) |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 34th district | |
| In office 1982–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Robert J. Larson (R) |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Handrick (R) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 18, 1950 Eagle River, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy |
| Residence | Conover, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin, Whitewater |
| Occupation | legislator |
Jim Holperin is a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 12th District in northern Wisconsin since 2008. Previously, he was Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism from 2003 to 2007 and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving the 34th District from 1982 through 1994.[1] He is the only state legislator in history to face a recall twice—in 1990 for supporting a Republican governor, and in the August 16, 2011 election for opposing one.
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Holperin was born in Eagle River, Wisconsin on December 18, 1950 and grew up there. In 1969, he graduated from Eagle River High School. In 1973, he earned a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.[2] He also served for nine years as the director of Trees for Tomorrow, a "natural resources specialty school" focused primarily on conservation education for young people.[3][4]
In 1982, he ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly and won the seat representing Oneida and Vilas Counties. He served on the budget committee and the Joint Committee on Finance. He retired in 1994, avoiding the Republican Revolution of that election cycle.
In 2003, Governor Jim Doyle appointed him as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.[5] In 2008, he ran to become a State Senator when incumbent Democrat Wisconsin State Senator Roger Breske decided to retire after three terms (1990-2008). He defeated Republican nominee Tim Tiffany with 51% of the vote.[6]
During the 2011 protests in Wisconsin, Holperin, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state on February 17 to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's controversial budget repair bill. On March 9, Republicans in the State Senate declared that they had removed all fiscal provisions from the fiscal repair bill and passed it without needing a quorum. On March 12, Holperin returned to Wisconsin.
Holperin is one of eight Democratic state senators facing recall as a result of the 2011 Wisconsin protests. On February 22, 2011, the "Jim Holperin Recall Committee" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.[7] 15,960 valid signatures of electors residing within the 12th District must be collected by April 25, 2011 to generate a recall election.
On March 10, 2011, supporters of the recall effort against Holperin complained of intimidation by his supporters.[8] On April 21, 2011, Holperin recall supporters filed about 23,300 signatures on recall petitions.[9]
Holperin and Kim Simac faced off in the general recall election on August 16, 2011. Holperin won, keeping his seat.[10]
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