James R. Lewis (legislator)
Encyclopedia
James R. Lewis is a former Republican
member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
.
, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Moody Bible Institute
; worked as a salesman and on religious films for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
; married; and became active in the organizations Citizens for Decency Through Law and Christian Business Men's Committee
(of which he was a regional director). As of 1972–1974 he lived in the Town of Barton
in Washington County.
, Fond du Lac
, and Washington counties) in 1972 with 9341 votes, to 7939 for Democrat
Lehman Eichstadt. In 1974 he almost lost a challenge in the Republican primary
to Mary Panzer
(daughter of Frank E. Panzer
, a former state senator
from this area), receiving 1830 votes to her 1749; but won the general election by a more comfortable margin. He saw no challenge in the 1976 primary and was reelected easily. In 1978 he was re-elected without opposition.
scientist Myron Muckerheide (formerly with NASA
) to create a laser gun "designed to blind people", and to sell it to Guatemala
n colonel
Federico Fuentes in order to raise funds to build a laetrile factory in South America (Lewis had been a prominent Wisconsin advocate for the legalization and manufacture of laetrile). Muckerheide contacted the FBI, the laser was never built, and in 1979 Lewis pled guilty to perjury
for lying to a federal grand jury
investigating the scheme. Lewis, whose office was decorated with plaques with slogans such as "Virtue" and "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?", tearfully apologized, saying he "...made a very, very serious mistake and I regret that very much." Fellow Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus declined to request a presidential pardon for Lewis, although he was quoted as saying the six-month sentence was too harsh.
Under the relevant provisions of Wisconsin law, Lewis was removed from office. In the subsequent special election, Mary Panzer
was elected to take his place.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
.
Background
He attended Rufus King High SchoolRufus King High School
Rufus King International School--High School Campus, or Rufus King, is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school has been consecutively ranked the top public high school in the state of Wisconsin by...
, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
; worked as a salesman and on religious films for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...
; married; and became active in the organizations Citizens for Decency Through Law and Christian Business Men's Committee
Christian Business Men's Committee
Christian Business Men's Committee is an international evangelical Christian mission organization to reach out to businessmen. CBMC began in United States in 1930. There are 18,000 members in 700 teams in the US. Internationally CBMC has its branch in 70 countries with over 50,000 members....
(of which he was a regional director). As of 1972–1974 he lived in the Town of Barton
Barton, Wisconsin
Barton is a town in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,546 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Young America is located in the town.-Geography:...
in Washington County.
Legislative service
He was elected to represent the newly created 53rd Assembly District (portions of DodgeDodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 88,759. Its county seat is Juneau.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 97,296. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The United States Census Bureau's Fond du Lac Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Fond du Lac County. The county name is French for "bottom of the...
, and Washington counties) in 1972 with 9341 votes, to 7939 for Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Lehman Eichstadt. In 1974 he almost lost a challenge in the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to Mary Panzer
Mary Panzer
Mary E. Panzer is a Wisconsin banker and Republican politician, daughter of former state senator Frank E. Panzer.Born in Waupun, Wisconsin, Panzer was educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, after which she was a banker and worked in the Wisconsin State Legislature.In 1980, Panzer...
(daughter of Frank E. Panzer
Frank E. Panzer
Frank E. Panzer was a Wisconsin farmer, schoolteacher, and politician who was elected as a Republican legislator, as a Progressive, and then again as a Republican.- Background :...
, a former state senator
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
from this area), receiving 1830 votes to her 1749; but won the general election by a more comfortable margin. He saw no challenge in the 1976 primary and was reelected easily. In 1978 he was re-elected without opposition.
Conviction and removal from office
Lewis became part of a group who attempted to persuade laserLaser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
scientist Myron Muckerheide (formerly with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
) to create a laser gun "designed to blind people", and to sell it to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Federico Fuentes in order to raise funds to build a laetrile factory in South America (Lewis had been a prominent Wisconsin advocate for the legalization and manufacture of laetrile). Muckerheide contacted the FBI, the laser was never built, and in 1979 Lewis pled guilty to perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
for lying to a federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
investigating the scheme. Lewis, whose office was decorated with plaques with slogans such as "Virtue" and "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?", tearfully apologized, saying he "...made a very, very serious mistake and I regret that very much." Fellow Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus declined to request a presidential pardon for Lewis, although he was quoted as saying the six-month sentence was too harsh.
Under the relevant provisions of Wisconsin law, Lewis was removed from office. In the subsequent special election, Mary Panzer
Mary Panzer
Mary E. Panzer is a Wisconsin banker and Republican politician, daughter of former state senator Frank E. Panzer.Born in Waupun, Wisconsin, Panzer was educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, after which she was a banker and worked in the Wisconsin State Legislature.In 1980, Panzer...
was elected to take his place.