Joel Kleefisch
Encyclopedia
Joel Kleefisch is a Wisconsin
politician and former television reporter. His wife, Rebecca Kleefisch
, is also in state politics as the current Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
.
Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin
, Kleefisch graduated from Waukesha North High School
in 1989 before attending Pepperdine University
. He received a B.A.
from that institution in 1993.
While in school, Kleefisch worked as a news researcher for KCBS-TV
in Los Angeles
. Upon graduation, he worked as a reporter for WREX-TV
in Rockford, Illinois
. Kleefisch then was hired by WISN-TV
as an assignment desk person and part-time reporter in 1994 before becoming a full-time general assignment reporter, where he worked until entering politics. As a reporter at WISN-TV, he CNN
to discuss the trial of Mark Chmura
. He won an award for "Best investigative report or series" from the Milwaukee Press Club
in 1999 for a piece about date rape drug
s. Rebecca was also a reporter and anchor for WISN and the two would marry in 1999, shortly after she moved to that station from Rockford, Illinois
.
Kleefisch was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He represents Oconomowoc
and surrounding areas. In 2009, he co-sponsored legislation to increase the penalties in Wisconsin for driving under the influence
.
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...
politician and former television reporter. His wife, Rebecca Kleefisch
Rebecca Kleefisch
Rebecca Kleefisch is a former television news anchor, turned American politician, and is currently serving as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin...
, is also in state politics as the current Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
The Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the order of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the Governor of Wisconsin...
.
Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, Kleefisch graduated from Waukesha North High School
Waukesha North High School
Waukesha North High School is a high school in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and part of the Waukesha School District. It officially opened its doors at mid-semester during the 1974-'75 school year, the northside students transferring from Waukesha South High School to North.The school has been recognized...
in 1989 before attending Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
. He received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from that institution in 1993.
While in school, Kleefisch worked as a news researcher for KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, channel 2, is an owned-and-operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles, California. KCBS-TV shares its offices and studio facilities with sister station KCAL-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Upon graduation, he worked as a reporter for WREX-TV
WREX-TV
WREX, channel 13, is the NBC television affiliate serving the Rockford, Illinois area. It is the market's only full-powered VHF station and is Rockford's second oldest television station. Its studios and transmitter are located at Auburn and Winnebago Roads, west of Rockford and north of...
in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. Kleefisch then was hired by WISN-TV
WISN-TV
WISN-TV, virtual channel 12.1 , is a television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin serving as an affiliate of the ABC television network. Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin and parts of northeastern Illinois, including Racine, Kenosha, Sheboygan and Waukesha...
as an assignment desk person and part-time reporter in 1994 before becoming a full-time general assignment reporter, where he worked until entering politics. As a reporter at WISN-TV, he CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
to discuss the trial of Mark Chmura
Mark Chmura
Mark William Chmura , is a former American football tight end, who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers .-Biography:Chmura was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States.-College:...
. He won an award for "Best investigative report or series" from the Milwaukee Press Club
Milwaukee Press Club
The Milwaukee Press Club, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the oldest continuously operating press club in North America. The club comprises journalists and others in the media in the Milwaukee area, as well as journalism educators, public relations and marketing professionals, students, and members of...
in 1999 for a piece about date rape drug
Date rape drug
A date rape drug is any drug that can be used to assist in the execution of a sexual assault, such as date rape. Drugs used to facilitate rape may have sedative, hypnotic, dissociative, and/or amnesiac effects, and can be added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge.The act of adding...
s. Rebecca was also a reporter and anchor for WISN and the two would marry in 1999, shortly after she moved to that station from Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
.
Kleefisch was elected to 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....
in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He represents Oconomowoc
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The name was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk, the Potawatomi term for "waterfall." The population was 12,382 at the 2000 census. The city is partially adjacent to the Town of Oconomowoc and near the Village of Oconomowoc...
and surrounding areas. In 2009, he co-sponsored legislation to increase the penalties in Wisconsin for driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
.