Frank Koehn
Encyclopedia
Francis K. Koehn is a prominent activist and politician in Northern Wisconsin
. He is most notable for being the first Green Party
candidate to be elected to office in the United States
when he was elected Bayfield County supervisor on the Lake Superior Greens ticket in 1986. Koehn's 12 years on the Board of Supervisors (1986–1998) is one of the longest tenures in elected office for any Green Party member, and the second longest among Wisconsin Greens (Dave Conley 22 years). Koehn has also been active in environmental, treaty rights and human rights causes including opposition to the Crandon
and White Pine mines, support of Ojibwe treaty rights
, and support for the proposed Seventh-Generation Amendment
to the US Constitution. Koehn has paid particular efforts to preserving Lake Superior
. In many of these causes, Koehn worked closely with Walter Bresette
. He is considered a founding member of the Wisconsin Green Party
and remains active in it. Koehn was also a schoolteacher in the South Shore Schools
in Port Wing, Wisconsin
until recently. He currently lives in Herbster, Wisconsin
.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He is most notable for being the first Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate to be elected to office in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was elected Bayfield County supervisor on the Lake Superior Greens ticket in 1986. Koehn's 12 years on the Board of Supervisors (1986–1998) is one of the longest tenures in elected office for any Green Party member, and the second longest among Wisconsin Greens (Dave Conley 22 years). Koehn has also been active in environmental, treaty rights and human rights causes including opposition to the Crandon
Crandon mine
The proposed Crandon mine in Northeastern Wisconsin, USA near the town of Crandon and the Mole Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Forest County was the site of multi-decade political and regulatory battle between environmentalists, American Indian tribes, sportfishing groups, and the State of Wisconsin and...
and White Pine mines, support of Ojibwe treaty rights
Treaty rights
Treaty rights are certain rights that were reserved by Indian tribes when they signed treaties with the United States government. By signing treaties, tribes traded vast amounts of their land and resources in exchange for reserved areas of land and things like protection , health care, education,...
, and support for the proposed Seventh-Generation Amendment
Common Property Amendment
The Common Property Amendment, also known as the Seventh Generation Amendment, is a proposal to amend the United States Constitution to define common property and to ensure such property remains under government control for public use and enjoyment by people of the future.Under the theory behind...
to the US Constitution. Koehn has paid particular efforts to preserving Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. In many of these causes, Koehn worked closely with Walter Bresette
Walter Bresette
Walter Bresette was a prominent Ojibwe activist, politician, and author most notable for work on environmental issues and Ojibwe treaty rights in Northern Wisconsin and the Lake Superior region...
. He is considered a founding member of the Wisconsin Green Party
Wisconsin Green Party
The Wisconsin Green Party is an active member of the Green Party of the United States. In 2006, the party helped place antiwar initiatives on the ballots in 32 towns . WIGP member Ben Manski is a former co-chair of the Green National Committee.The WIGP emerged in the late 1980s when several...
and remains active in it. Koehn was also a schoolteacher in the South Shore Schools
South Shore School District
South Shore School District is located in Port Wing, Wisconsin and serves students in grades Pre-K through 12. It is located on School Road and Washington Avenue...
in Port Wing, Wisconsin
Port Wing, Wisconsin
Port Wing is an unincorporated census-designated place in the Town of Port Wing, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on Wisconsin Highway 13, 30 miles west of Bayfield. The Flagg River enters Lake Superior at Port Wing's harbor...
until recently. He currently lives in Herbster, Wisconsin
Herbster, Wisconsin
Herbster is an unincorporated census-designated place in the Town of Clover in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States, located on the south shore of Lake Superior. Herbster is seven miles east of Port Wing and eight miles west of Cornucopia on Wisconsin Highway 13, the main route through the...
.
See also
- Wisconsin Walleye WarWisconsin Walleye WarCivil unrest erupted in Wisconsin after U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb handed down a ruling on August 21, 1987 that affirmed the treaty right of six Ojibwe or Chippewa tribal governments to regulate their members' hunting and fishing outside of the reservation boundaries, based on the...
- Crandon mineCrandon mineThe proposed Crandon mine in Northeastern Wisconsin, USA near the town of Crandon and the Mole Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Forest County was the site of multi-decade political and regulatory battle between environmentalists, American Indian tribes, sportfishing groups, and the State of Wisconsin and...
- Walter BresetteWalter BresetteWalter Bresette was a prominent Ojibwe activist, politician, and author most notable for work on environmental issues and Ojibwe treaty rights in Northern Wisconsin and the Lake Superior region...
- Wisconsin Green PartyWisconsin Green PartyThe Wisconsin Green Party is an active member of the Green Party of the United States. In 2006, the party helped place antiwar initiatives on the ballots in 32 towns . WIGP member Ben Manski is a former co-chair of the Green National Committee.The WIGP emerged in the late 1980s when several...