Martin J. Schreiber

Martin James "Marty" Schreiber (born April 8, 1939) is an American politician, publisher, and lobbyist. A Democrat, Schreiber served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1963 to 1971 before becoming the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and (following the resignation of Governor Patrick Lucey), the 39th Governor of Wisconsin. Schreiber, served as the state's 39th governor from 1977 to 1979.

Schreiber lost a bid for election as governor in 1978 and lost his bid for the Democratic nomination in the 1982 primary. Schreiber formed a successful lobbying firm in 1988.

Early life and education

Schreiber was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father Martin E. Schreiber was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1941-1944), and later a member of the Milwaukee Common Council (1944 to 1976). The younger Schreiber attended the youth government and leadership program Badger Boys State in 1956 as a representative chosen from his high school. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (1956–60) where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity; and law school at Marquette University.

Political career

A Democrat, Schreiber served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1963 to 1971. During his political career, Schreiber focused on education, children’s issues, consumer protection, and the rights of workers and the elderly. He established a special nursing home residents’ ombudsman program, among the first of its kind in the nation.

In 1970, he was elected lieutenant governor on the Lucey-Schreiber ticket. In July 1977, following the resignation of Lucey to become the United States ambassador to Mexico, Schreiber succeeded him as Governor for the remainder of their four-year term. In 1978, Schreiber had the political misfortune of running for office during a period of double-digit interest rates, high inflation, and increasing unemployment. Inflation also caused local governments to raise property taxes and forced state residents into higher income-tax brackets. He campaigned on his own limited track record in the shadow of former Governor Lucey's fairly lengthy one. Lucey had been a popular but sometimes controversial governor with a liberal approach to administering state government.

Schreiber faced a divisive primary challenge by developer David Carley. In the general election, political newcomer Lee S. Dreyfus, a populist Republican and skilled orator, waged an unconventional campaign and successfully attacked the Lucey-Schreiber record on taxes and big government. Schreiber lost 54% to 44%.

Schreiber ran for the governor's office again in 1982, campaigning against Anthony S. Earl, former head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He did not get past the Democratic primary election. He ran again for office in 1988,seeking the mayoralty of Milwaukee, but was defeated by John Norquist.^[1]

In 1988, after leaving state government, Schreiber formed his own public affairs consulting firm, becoming a successful lobbyist.^[2] In this position, he has built strong relationships with Wisconsin's U.S. senators and congressmen, state legislators, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and key Milwaukee-area elected officials. He has successfully grown the firm to become one of the top bi-partisan lobbying and public relations firms in the state.

Schreiber also serves on the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees. His wife, Elaine, is a former Milwaukee public-school teacher.

References

External links

• Governor Martin Schreiber, Wisconsin State Historical Society
• Martin Schreiber & Associates, Inc. Public Affairs Consulting