Kerry Kincaid
Encyclopedia
Kerry J. Kincaid is a Democratic
politician and the current President
of the non-partisan Eau Claire City Council
, which is among the most powerful positions in city government after the City Manager
. The office of president was established in 1948 as a result of the revision of the Eau Claire City Government. She has been endorsed by the Progressive Majority
Political action committee
.
to try living in a smaller city while remaining close to her family in Minneapolis. Her first job was as an Registered nurse
at Luther Hospital
. She also worked as a substitute teacher in the Eau Claire area and as a librarian at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
McIntyre Library. She is a graduate of UW-Eau Claire with a degree in Political Science
and holds a Master's degree
in Library science
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Board of Supervisors, serving from 1992 to 1995. A few years later she applied to serve as a commissioner on the Eau Claire County Housing Authority
. She was appointed by the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
and served for 10 years, from 1998 to 2008. She was appointed to the Eau Claire Plan Commission
by the Eau Claire City Council
, serving from 2000 to 2004. In 2004 she ran for an At-large
seat on the City Council
. She was elected Vice president
in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, She was elected to serve as council President
, an office she currently holds.
approved a smoking ban in the city and community reaction was mixed. The council voted seven to four to approve an ordinance that would ban smoking in all public places in the city. Council members on both sides of the issue were adamant about their opinions and talked about the ordinance for an hour and a half before voting. Vice president Kincaid said she wished they had more time and voted against the ordinance.
rejected the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
' rezoning request by a vote of 5 to 6. Because of a protest petition, approval for the project would have required a super majority vote -- or a "yes" from 9 of the 11 council members. "Not putting the jail in this place is an idea that will suck the life right out of the west bank," President Kincaid said before voting 'yes' for the project.
elections at the Eau Claire County Courthouse. Joining Kincaid in pushing for passage of the Impartial Justice Bill were Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Barbara Lawton
and Eau Claire County Circuit court
Chief Judge
Benjamin Proctor.
of the Eau Claire City Council
, she serves as a member of the following committees:
. Their 4 sons are graduates of the Eau Claire Area School District
completing higher degrees. Kincaid and her husband have provided support through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation for a new program to connect UW-Eau Claire pre-med students and area physicians. The Kincaids are the founders of the "Kincaid Pre-Med Scholarship Fund" and the "Kerry Kincaid Fund for Political Science."
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...
politician and the current President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the non-partisan Eau Claire City Council
Eau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
, which is among the most powerful positions in city government after the City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
. The office of president was established in 1948 as a result of the revision of the Eau Claire City Government. She has been endorsed by the Progressive Majority
Progressive Majority
Progressive Majority is an American political group that recruits, trains, and elects progressive politicians to state and local offices. It was founded in 1999 by leaders from organized labor, members of Congress, and progressive donors as a multi-issue political action committee to enhance the...
Political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
.
Early Life and Education
Kincaid was born on November 12, 1952 in the State of Minnesota. Her father worked in the City street department for 30 years and also owned a lawn care business. Her mother taught school in a one-room school house in rural Minnesota, before having a family. As a young adult Kincaid moved to Eau Claire, WisconsinEau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
to try living in a smaller city while remaining close to her family in Minneapolis. Her first job was as an Registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
at Luther Hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. She also worked as a substitute teacher in the Eau Claire area and as a librarian at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire is a public liberal arts university located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and has an annual enrollment of more than 10,000 students...
McIntyre Library. She is a graduate of UW-Eau Claire with a degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and holds a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Library science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Public Office
Kincaid was first elected to the Town of WashingtonEau Claire County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population estimate was 98,736. Its county seat is Eau Claire....
Board of Supervisors, serving from 1992 to 1995. A few years later she applied to serve as a commissioner on the Eau Claire County Housing Authority
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population estimate was 98,736. Its county seat is Eau Claire....
. She was appointed by the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
The Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors is the non-partisan 29-member governing board of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Members of the board of supervisors are elected by district and the chairperson and vice-chair positions are elected from within members of the board.-Board meetings:The board...
and served for 10 years, from 1998 to 2008. She was appointed to the Eau Claire Plan Commission
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
by the Eau Claire City Council
Eau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
, serving from 2000 to 2004. In 2004 she ran for an At-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
seat on the City Council
Eau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
. She was elected Vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, She was elected to serve as council President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, an office she currently holds.
City-wide Smoking Ban
On March 24, 2008, the city councilEau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
approved a smoking ban in the city and community reaction was mixed. The council voted seven to four to approve an ordinance that would ban smoking in all public places in the city. Council members on both sides of the issue were adamant about their opinions and talked about the ordinance for an hour and a half before voting. Vice president Kincaid said she wished they had more time and voted against the ordinance.
Eau Claire Jail Expansion
In June of 2009, after years of planning and years of protests, the Eau Claire City CouncilEau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
rejected the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
The Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors is the non-partisan 29-member governing board of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Members of the board of supervisors are elected by district and the chairperson and vice-chair positions are elected from within members of the board.-Board meetings:The board...
' rezoning request by a vote of 5 to 6. Because of a protest petition, approval for the project would have required a super majority vote -- or a "yes" from 9 of the 11 council members. "Not putting the jail in this place is an idea that will suck the life right out of the west bank," President Kincaid said before voting 'yes' for the project.
Impartial Justice Bill
In October of 2009, Kincaid called for the elimination of special interest money in Wisconsin Supreme CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:...
elections at the Eau Claire County Courthouse. Joining Kincaid in pushing for passage of the Impartial Justice Bill were 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...
Barbara Lawton
Barbara Lawton
Barbara Lawton is an American politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin and member of the Democratic Party. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. She became the first woman elected to the position in 2002, as the running mate of former Democratic Governor Jim Doyle...
and Eau Claire County Circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
Benjamin Proctor.
Committee Assignments
In addition to her duties as PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Eau Claire City Council
Eau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the non-partisan 11-member governing council of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Members of the City council are elected at-large and by district.- Members :...
, she serves as a member of the following committees:
- Economic Policy Advisory CommitteeEconomic policyEconomic policy refers to the actions that governments take in the economic field. It covers the systems for setting interest rates and government budget as well as the labor market, national ownership, and many other areas of government interventions into the economy.Such policies are often...
- Chairperson - Advisory Committee on Appointments - Chairperson
- Affirmative Action CommitteeAffirmative actionAffirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
- Plan Commission
- Downtown Eau Claire, Inc.Water Street, Eau ClaireWater Street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin is a business district positioned along the Chippewa River, serving both the historic districts of Eau Claire as well as University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire students. Although it hosts many restaurants and shops, Water Street is best-known for its large number...
Personal
Kincaid, currently 57, is married with 4 grown children. Her husband, Daniel, is a physician with a practice in CardiologyCardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
. Their 4 sons are graduates of the Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
completing higher degrees. Kincaid and her husband have provided support through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation for a new program to connect UW-Eau Claire pre-med students and area physicians. The Kincaids are the founders of the "Kincaid Pre-Med Scholarship Fund" and the "Kerry Kincaid Fund for Political Science."