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Mark Neumann

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American politician in Alaska, see Mark Neuman. For other people, see Mark Newman (disambiguation).
Mark Neumann
Neumann in 2009
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded byPeter Barca
Succeeded byPaul Ryan
Personal details
Born
Mark William Neumann

(1954-02-27) February 27, 1954 (age 70)
East Troy, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSue Neumann
ChildrenTricia, Andrew, Matthew
Residence(s)Nashotah, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Whitewater (BS)
University of Wisconsin–River Falls (MS)
OccupationHome builder

Mark William Neumann (born February 27, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. He represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district for two terms, from 1995 to 1999. In 2010, Neumann unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor. In 2012, Neumann ran for the U.S. senate seat held by retiring Democratic senator Herb Kohl, placing third in the Republican primary.

Early life, education, and early career

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Neumann was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, one of five siblings. His parents were Stella and Kurt Neumann. His father was an electrical engineer for General Motors and his mother was an executive assistant. Neumann graduated from East Troy High School in 1972. After high school, he briefly attended General Motors Institute (now Kettering University).[1] In 1973, Neumann married Sue Link, his high school sweetheart, whom he met in Sunday school in the 4th grade. That same year, Neumann enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where he graduated with honors in 1975, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. After graduating from Whitewater, Neumann moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where he taught mathematics at River Falls High School while attending the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, earning a Masters of Science in Supervision and Instructional Leadership. Neumann did additional post-graduate work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[2]

After college, Neumann relocated to Milton, Wisconsin, where he began his career teaching Mathematics at Milton High School and Milton College before the campus closed in 1982.[3][4] Neumann is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.[5] He started his first company in 1986 in his basement, building homes in the Milton and Janesville, Wisconsin areas. By 1991, Neumann's company was listed as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine.[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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1992

Neumann decided to run for the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992. He faced Congressman Les Aspin and lost 58% to 41%, while spending $700,000.

U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Election, 1992[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Les Aspin (incumbent) 32,815 62.24%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 16,547 31.38%
Republican Kenneth Elmer 3,364 6.38%
Total votes '52,726' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Les Aspin (incumbent) 147,495 57.56%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 104,352 40.72%
Independent John Graf 4,391 1.71%
Total votes '256,238' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
1993 special election

Shortly after defeating Neumann, Aspin was appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense by President Bill Clinton in 1993.[7] Just months after being defeated by over 17%, Neumann entered the special election to fill the seat vacated by Aspin. Neumann lost narrowly to his opponent, Peter Barca by only 675 votes; 49.3% to Barca's 49.9%.[8]

U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Special Election, 1993[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca 31,073 31.03%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 28,115 28.08%
Democratic Jeffrey A. Neubauer 21,610 21.58%
Democratic Wayne W. Wood 8,254 8.24%
Republican Charles W. Coleman 7,567 7.56%
Democratic Jeffrey C. Thomas 1,814 1.81%
Democratic Samuel Platts 1,094 1.09%
Libertarian Edward J. Kozak 613 0.61%
Total votes '100,140' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca 55,605 49.90%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 54,930 49.29%
Libertarian Edward J. Kozak 375 0.34%
Independent Gary W. Thompson 327 0.34%
Independent Karl Huebner 203 0.34%
Total votes '111,440' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
1994

After losing in both 1992 and 1993, Neumann once again entered the race for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. After losing to Peter Barca by 675 votes in the previous year, Neumann defeated Barca by 1,120 votes, becoming the first Republican to hold that seat since 1971. Neumann's victory was one of 52 Republican pick-up seats during the Republican Revolution.

U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Election, 1994[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election
Republican Mark W. Neumann 83,937 49.42%
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 82,817 48.76%
Libertarian Edward J. Kozak 3,085 1.82%
Total votes '169,839' '100.0%'
Republican gain from Democratic
1996

Neumann won re-election by 4,260 votes in a close 1996 race against Lydia Spottswood.

U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Election, 1996[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election
Republican Mark W. Neumann (incumbent) 118,408 50.92%
Democratic Lydia Spottswood 114,148 49.08%
Total votes '232,556' '100.0%'
Republican hold

Tenure

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Neumann was sworn into the 104th United States Congress on January 3, 1995, when the Republican Party gained control of both houses for the first time since the 1950s. Neumann was assigned to the Appropriations committee, being the only freshman appointed to the committee that year. While on the committee, Neumann wrote his own version of the budget, which would produce a balanced budget by 1999. Neumann voted present in the election for Speaker of the House in 1997, instead of voting for Newt Gingrich.[11]

In September 1995, Neumann introduced an amendment requiring congressional approval of troop deployment to Bosnia which failed to pass. Then, on September 29, he voted to defeat the $243 billion military appropriation, along with other freshman Members, because it did not contain his amendment.[12] As punishment for his vote, Bob Livingston removed him from the committee.[12] This was brief, and Neumann was eventually reassigned to the committee.[13]

Neumann has been critical of LGBT rights in the past. In 1996, he commented to the New York Times that "if I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn't be permitted, but nobody's electing me God".[14][15]

Committee assignments

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Congressman Neumann served on the following committees and subcommittees:[16]

1998 U.S. Senate election

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Main article: 1998 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

In September 1997, Neumann announced his candidacy for the United States Senate against incumbent Russ Feingold. Both candidates had similar views on the budget surplus, although Neumann was for banning partial-birth abortion while Feingold was against a ban. Both candidates limited themselves to $3.8 million in campaign spending ($1 for every citizen of Wisconsin), although outside groups spent more than $2 million on Neumann; Feingold refused to have outside groups spend on his behalf.[17][18] Feingold defeated Neumann by a 3% margin in the election, 51% - 48%. Neumann had a 68,000-vote deficit in Milwaukee County.[19]

Wisconsin U.S. Senatorial Election, 1998[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election
Democratic Russ Feingold (incumbent) 890,059 50.55%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 852,272 48.40%
Constitution Robert R. Raymond 7,942 0.45%
Libertarian Tom Ender 5,591 0.32%
Independent Eugene A. Hem 4,266 0.24%
Write-ins 706 0.04%
Total votes '1,760,836' '100.0%'
Democratic hold

Post-congressional career

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Neumann stayed out of the 2004 Senate campaign, instead supporting former Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow, who did not run. Despite speculation that Neumann might run against Senator Herb Kohl or Governor Jim Doyle, he did not choose to seek elective office during the 2006 election cycle. He had considered a run for governor, but did not enter the race in deference to Scott Walker, who withdrew in favor of former Congressman Mark Green. [citation needed]

2010 gubernatorial election

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Main article: 2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Neumann told the Wisconsin State Journal on April 23, 2009 that he intended to run for governor in 2010,[21] and on July 1, 2009, Neumann officially declared his candidacy.[22]

In 2010 Neumann stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, and claimed that he wanted to focus on jobs and economic development.[23]

Neumann was defeated 59% to 39% in the September 14, 2010, primary by opponent Scott Walker. Walker was ultimately elected governor in the general election.[citation needed]

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[24]
Republican Scott Walker 362,913 58.65%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 239,022 38.62%
Republican Scott S. Paterick 16,646 2.69%
Write-ins 321 0.14%
Total votes '618,828' '100.0%'

2012 U.S. Senate election

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Main article: 2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

In August 2011, Neumann announced his candidacy for the Senate seat of retiring senator Herb Kohl.[25] On October 6, 2011, it was announced that he had raised $300,000 during the first month of the campaign.[26] After receiving endorsements from conservative groups such as the Club for Growth and Americans For Prosperity, Neumann split the Tea Party vote with millionaire businessman Eric Hovde. Neumann came in third place, taking 23% of the vote.

Wisconsin U.S. Senatorial Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election[27]
Republican Tommy Thompson 197,928 33.99%
Republican Eric Hovde 179,557 30.83%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 132,786 22.28%
Republican Jeff Fitzgerald 71,871 12.34%
Write-ins 244 0.04%
Total votes '582,386' '100.0%'

References

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  1. ^ "Candidate Profile from Congressional Quarterly". Cnn.tv. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  2. ^ "Congressional Biography of Mark Neumann". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  3. ^ "Milton College Preservation Society". Miltoncollege.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  4. ^ a b "biography at official website". Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Congressman confesses Christian convictions". Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. January 1995. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 897, 899, 916, 918. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  7. ^ "Les Aspin Congressional Biography". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  8. ^ Gonzales, Nathan L.; Kurtz, Josh (March 31, 2009). "Off-Year Specials Often Provide No Tea Leaves". Roll Call. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  9. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 897, 916. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  10. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 878, 881. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  11. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 3". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Carney, Timothy (2011-04-03) GOP anti-appropriators break up the spending party Archived 2011-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, Washington Examiner
  13. ^ Gray, Jerry (October 21, 1995). "Freshman Challenge G.O.P. Elders". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  14. ^ Bice, Daniel (May 9, 2010). "Neumann avoids giving a straight answer on gay issues". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  15. ^ Goldberg, Jeffrey (November 3, 1996). "Adventures of a Republican Revolutionary". The New York Times.
  16. ^ "Wisconsin Blue Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  17. ^ "Online NewsHour: Political Wrap: Feingold vs. Neumann". PBS. October 30, 1998. Archived from the original on 2000-03-05. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  18. ^ "INFOBEAT> News – Morning Coffee Edition". Scout.wisc.edu. November 4, 1998. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  19. ^ "GOP edges into Democratic region". Archived from the original on August 15, 2003. Retrieved 2005-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. August 3, 2003.
  20. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 897, 899, 916, 918. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  21. ^ "Neumann To Run". Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Wisconsin State Journal. April 24, 2009.
  22. ^ Steve Schultze, "Neumann to make GOP gubernatorial bid official." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, June 30, 2009.
  23. ^ Catanese, David (August 30, 2011). "Neumann: Gay lifestyle "unacceptable"". Politico. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  24. ^ FINAL Sept. 14, 2010 Fall Partisan Primary Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. 2010-09-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  25. ^ Walker, Don (August 29, 2011). "Neumann says he'll run for Kohl's U.S. Senate seat". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  26. ^ "DC Wrap: Neumann raises $300,000 in one month". WisPolitics. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  27. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. 2012-08-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
(Class 3)
1998 		Succeeded by
Tim Michels
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district
1995–1999 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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