Randy Hopper

Randal B. Hopper
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 18th district
In office
2009–2011
Preceded by Carol Roessler (R)
Succeeded by Jessica King (D)
Personal details
Born January 23, 1966 (1966-01-23) (age 46)
Taylorville, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) separated
Children two
Residence Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Alma mater Denison University
Northwestern University
Occupation Broadcasting/radio station ownership

Randal B. "Randy" Hopper is a former Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 18th District from 2009 until losing his seat to Jessica King in a 2011 recall election. The 18th District includes the cities of Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Waupun.

Contents

Early life, education and career

Born in Taylorville, Illinois, Hopper graduated from The Hill School. He then received his bachelors degree from Denison University in 1989 and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2002.[1]

Hopper is the owner of Mountain Dog Media, a radio station and broadcasting company that owns Fond du Lac's two major radio stations, KFIZ (1450) and WFON (107.1).[2] In addition, Mountain Dog owns WCLB (950) in Sheboygan and operates Chilton's WMBE (1530), both stations which run mainly automated programming from Fox Sports Radio and a Country music syndicator. Those stations have office and broadcasting operations run from Fond du Lac, while no staff is maintained in those communities.

Wisconsin Senate

Hopper sat on the following committees 2011-2012:[3]

Hopper has shown strong support for Governor Walker's 2011 budget, which removed collective bargaining and cut many programs. According to Hopper, the business climate was improving from Republican policies and creating jobs.[4] However, the Wisconsin unemployment rate has increased from 7.4% to 7.6% under Governor Walker.[5][6]

2011 recall

See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011

Hopper was subject to an active recall effort. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Hopper" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.[7] 15,269 valid signatures of electors residing within the 18th district must be collected by May 2, 2011 to generate a recall election. His maid has signed the recall petition, and his estranged wife reportedly plans to do so as well.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

A March 9, 2011, poll by Survey USA shows that voters in Hopper's district would vote for recall by 11 points.[14] A March 10–13, 2011 poll by PPP (sponsored by Daily Kos) shows that voters in Hopper's district disapprove of his job performance 47-38 and support recall by 11 points. When asked if they would vote for Hopper or a generic Democratic candidate, Hopper trailed by 5% with 44% saying they would vote for Hopper again and 49% saying they would vote for the Democratic candidate.[15] He is seen as particularly vulnerable to recall, considering that his victory in the 2008 election came only after a mandatory recount; the margin of victory was 163 votes.[16]

On March 29, 2011, it was reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the recall organizers appeared to have enough signatures to force a recall election. On April 7, 2011, organizers filed 23,946 signatures[17] to recall Senator Hopper with the Government Accountability Board in Madison.[18]

On April 13, 2011, Oshkosh Deputy Mayor Jessica King, who lost to Hopper by 163 votes in 2008, announced she will run against Hopper in a potential recall election.[19]

In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified petitions against Hopper, overruling his challenges. The recall election was on July 12, 2011.[20]

Jessica King defeated Hopper in the recall election 28,188 to 26,937.

Personal life

Court records indicate Hopper filed a petition for divorce in August, 2010.[9] In a letter to Milwaukee television station WTMJ, Hopper's estranged wife Alysia wrote: "It is correct that my husband, Randy Hopper, started an affair in January 2010 with a then-25-year-old Republican aide. This affair has caused great emotional pain for my children and me. Randy moved out, without attempting marital counseling, as of May 2010 and now lives mostly in Madison."[11][13]

2011 arrest

In October 2011, Hopper was arrested on a charge of drunk driving, after his car was reportedly swerving "all over the road." Hopper initially refused a breathalyzer test; a later test in the county jail showed his blood alcohol level to be 0.13%, considerably above the legal limit of 0.08%; nevertheless, he insisted to officers that he "didn't do anything illegal." [21][22]

Controversies

Patronage Alleged

Hopper's alleged girlfriend was reportedly hired on February 7, 2011 by the state Department of Regulation and Licensing as a limited term communications specialist. Her salary was $11,128 per year higher than that of her predecessor, with no explanation given for the difference in pay.[23] The limited term position ended in August. When questioned, Hopper initially refused to comment, saying, “I want to keep my involvement of anything as a private matter. So, I'm going to maintain that.” Shortly after, he denied he had any role in the hiring.[24]

Voter registration

After vacating his home, Hopper continued to be registered to vote at the home, and voted multiple times. As a result, questions were raised by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin regarding the possibility of Hopper committing voter fraud by voting at the wrong polling location.[25]

Taxes

According to reporting by the Fond du Lac Reporter, Hopper paid state income tax once in the period between 1997-2008. The three businesses he owned paid no net income tax during the same period.[26][27][28]

Electoral history

Wisconsin State Senate District 18 Election 2008[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Randy Hopper 41,904 50.05%
Democratic Jessica King 41,741 49.86%
Scattering 79 .09%
Wisconsin State Senate District 18 Recall Election 2011[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jessica King 28,811 51.13%
Republican Randy Hopper 26,937 48.86%

References

  1. ^ "Biographies: Senator Hopper" (SWF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2009 – 2010. p. 54. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/09bb/swf/1-98.swf. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  2. ^ "Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Stations". Federal Communications Commission. December 21, 2009. http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1349871&Service=AM&Form_id=322&Facility_id=36419. Retrieved March 17, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Randy Hopper: 2011-12 Committees". State of Wisconsin. 2011. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen18/news/Committees.asp. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
  4. ^ http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20110803-hopper-king,0,1649742.story
  5. ^ http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/article_74ba6c45-f55b-5b7d-96d3-e33d17f654da.html?mode=story
  6. ^ http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20110729/FON0101/107290397/Wisconsin-sees-unemployment-rates-increase
  7. ^ "Committee to Recall Hopper". Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. March 9, 2011. http://gab.wi.gov/node/1662. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
  8. ^ Black, Eric (March 15, 2011). "Wisconsin senator's wife plans to sign recall petition against him". MinnPost.com. http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2011/03/15/26617/wisconsin_senators_wife_plans_to_sign_recall_petition_against_him. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  9. ^ a b Kottke, Colleen (March 14, 2011). "State Sen. Randy Hopper not residing at Fond du Lac home". Fond du Lac Reporter. http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20110315/FON0101/103150360/1985/Lockout-court-cases-put-popular-NFL-hold/State-Sen-Randy-Hopper-not-residing-Fond-du-Lac-home. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Fond du Lac Senator Faces Recall and Scandal". Sheboygan, Wisconsin: WHBL. March 15, 2011. http://whbl.com/news/articles/2011/mar/15/fond-du-lac-senator-faces-recall-and-scandal/. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  11. ^ a b "GOP Senator's Wife Claims He No Longer Lives In District". Madison, Wisconsin: WISC-TV. March 14, 2011. http://www.channel3000.com/politics/27196630/detail.html. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  12. ^ Bice, Daniel (March 14, 2011). "Hopper recall effort turns ugly". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117973014.html. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  13. ^ a b Trevey, Mick (March 15, 2011). "Capitol Chaos: Was State Senator In Affair?". Milwaukee, Wisconsin: WTMJ-TV. http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/117973094.html. Retrieved March 16, 2011. 
  14. ^ Sargent, Greg (March 10, 2011). "Poll: Majorities support recall of two Wisconsin GOP senators". The Plum Line. The Washington Post. https://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/03/poll_majorities_support_recall.html. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
  15. ^ Nir, David (March 15, 2011). "Wisconsin recall: 3 GOP state senators trail Generic Dem, more at risk". Daily Kos. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/15/956357/-Wisconsin-recall:-3-GOP-state-senators-trail-Generic-Dem,-more-at-risk. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  16. ^ Associated Press (March 15, 2011). "Complaint filed with AG's office against GOP Sen. Hopper". Wisconsin State Journal. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_cb545ef0-4f3c-11e0-a4bd-001cc4c03286.html. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
  17. ^ Sargent, Greg (April 7, 2011). "Recall momentum continues: Dems collect huge number of signatures to recall Randy Hopper". The Plum Line (The Washington Post). http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/recall-momentum-continues-dems-collect-huge-number-of-signatures-to-recall-randy-hopper/2011/03/03/AFlxBtvC_blog.html. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  18. ^ Tolan, Tom (April 7, 2011). "Signatures filed to recall Sen. Randy Hopper; more possible". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119449699.html. Retrieved April 8, 2011. 
  19. ^ "King announces she will challenge Hopper in Senate recall election". Fond du Lac Reporter. April 13, 2011. http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20110413/OSH0101/110413087/0/WIS01/King-announces-she-will-challenge-Hopper-Senate-recall-election?odyssey=nav. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  20. ^ "GAB Clears Way For 3 GOP Recall Elections - Politics News Story - WISC Madison". Channel3000.com. http://www.channel3000.com/politics/27992662/detail.html. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
  21. ^ http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20111017/FON0101/111017018/Former-Fond-du-Lac-state-senator-arrested-OWI-charge?odyssey=mod%7Cbreaking%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
  22. ^ http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111019/GPG0101/111019033/Complaint-Ex-senator-arrested-drunken-driving-says-he-did-nothing-illegal?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|GPG-News|s
  23. ^ tgalli (March 18, 2011). "Salary boosted for worker with ties to Hopper". Madison, Wisconsin: WKOW. http://addins.wkow.com/blogs/scoop/2011/03/salary-boosted-for-worker-with-ties-to-hopper. Retrieved March 22, 2011. 
  24. ^ tgalli (March 16, 2011). "Hopper denies role in state employee's hire". Madison, Wisconsin: WKOW. http://addins.wkow.com/blogs/scoop/2011/03/hopper-denies-role-in-state-employees-hire. Retrieved March 18, 2011. 
  25. ^ http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=242402
  26. ^ http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_7d8fea81-a973-53d0-ba55-7a70f4de1e5e.html
  27. ^ Roznik, Sharon (October 24, 2008). "Hopper fends off tax questions". The Reporter. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/fdlreporter/access/1695792521.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+24%2C+2008&author=Sharon+Roznik&pub=The+Reporter&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=Hopper+fends+off+tax+questions. 
  28. ^ Hopper, Alysia (October 31, 2008). "Hopper opponents have taken low road in Senate campaign". The Reporter. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/fdlreporter/access/1695794801.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+31%2C+2008&author=Alysia+Hopper&pub=The+Reporter&desc=Hopper+opponents+have+taken+low+road+in+Senate+campaign&pqatl=google. 
  29. ^ "Fall General Election – 11/04/2008; State Senate, District No. 18 – Recount" (PDF). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 26, 2008. http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=15402&locid=47. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
  30. ^ "August 9 recall election results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 9, 2011. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/127331193.html. Retrieved August 9, 2011. 

External links