Scott Gunderson
Encyclopedia
Scott L. Gunderson is a Wisconsin
farmer, state legislator, and former small business
owner.
, Gunderson graduated from Waterford Union High School
in 1974. He owns a farm in the Town of Norway
, and from 1980-2007 operated Gundy's Sport, a company in Wind Lake
which sold guns and other hunting and fishing supplies and equipment. He is a Lutheran
; and is married to Lisa Gunderson. They have three children: Joshua, Hannah, and Rebecca.
Town Board. In 1994, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
as a Republican
from the 83rd Assembly district; he has been re-elected ever since. He was a member of the Administrative Rules, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources committees; and serves on the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council (1996–present) and Wisconsin State Fair
Park board (2000–2011). In January 2011, Gunderson resigned from the Assemblt to become the executive assistant in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
handguns. In 2005, he refused to turn over a draft of concealed carry legislation on the grounds that draft bills are confidential, even though he had previously shown the draft to lobbyists for the National Rifle Association
to solicit their feedback. The state Ethics Board ruled in 2006 that Gunderson as owner of Gundy's Sport didn't have enough of a financial interest in gun-related proposals to have a conflict. He said his store would not directly benefit from the legislation, and had sold fewer than 50 guns in the prior year.
opponent filed a charge that Gunderson did not live in the 83rd Assembly District, which he was elected to represent, and that he was violating election laws by voting in the Village of Waterford
. Gunderson acknowledged that his farm and farmhouse is in the 63rd District; but points out that he has an apartment in Waterford, which has been his official address and voting residence for some time. When his Norway farm home was redistricted out of the 83rd district, he had told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
that he would be moving to a new home inside the district. The Racine County District Attorney
refused to file charges, and Gunderson was re-elected despite the challenge.
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...
farmer, state legislator, and former small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
owner.
Background
Born in Burlington, WisconsinBurlington, Wisconsin
Burlington is a city in Racine and Walworth counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, with the majority of the city located in Racine County. The population was 10,421 at the 2009 census.-History:...
, Gunderson graduated from Waterford Union High School
Waterford Union High School
Waterford Union High School, more commonly known as Waterford High School, is a public high school located in Waterford, Racine County, Wisconsin...
in 1974. He owns a farm in the Town of Norway
Norway, Wisconsin
Norway is a town in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,600 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Wind Lake, Wisconsin is in the town of Norway...
, and from 1980-2007 operated Gundy's Sport, a company in Wind Lake
Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Wind Lake is a census-designated place in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,342 at the 2010 census. Wind Lake is in the town of Norway.-Geography:Wind Lake is located at ....
which sold guns and other hunting and fishing supplies and equipment. He is a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
; and is married to Lisa Gunderson. They have three children: Joshua, Hannah, and Rebecca.
Political career
From 1991-1995, Gunderson served on the WaterfordWaterford (town), Wisconsin
Waterford is a town in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,938 at the 2000 census. The Village of Waterford is located partially within the town.-Geography:...
Town Board. In 1994, he 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....
as a Republican
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...
from the 83rd Assembly district; he has been re-elected ever since. He was a member of the Administrative Rules, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources committees; and serves on the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council (1996–present) and Wisconsin State Fair
Wisconsin State Fair
The Wisconsin State Fair is an annual event held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The modern fair takes place in August and lasts 11 days.-History:...
Park board (2000–2011). In January 2011, Gunderson resigned from the Assemblt to become the executive assistant in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Ethics accusation
Gunderson has sponsored bills to lower the hunting age in Wisconsin to eight and to allow people to carry concealedConcealed carry
Concealed carry, or CCW , refers to the practice of carrying a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in proximity.-In Canada:...
handguns. In 2005, he refused to turn over a draft of concealed carry legislation on the grounds that draft bills are confidential, even though he had previously shown the draft to lobbyists for the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
to solicit their feedback. The state Ethics Board ruled in 2006 that Gunderson as owner of Gundy's Sport didn't have enough of a financial interest in gun-related proposals to have a conflict. He said his store would not directly benefit from the legislation, and had sold fewer than 50 guns in the prior year.
Residency dispute
In 2006, Gunderson's DemocraticDemocratic 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...
opponent filed a charge that Gunderson did not live in the 83rd Assembly District, which he was elected to represent, and that he was violating election laws by voting in the Village of Waterford
Waterford, Wisconsin
Waterford is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,048 at the 2000 census. The village is located mostly within the Town of Waterford...
. Gunderson acknowledged that his farm and farmhouse is in the 63rd District; but points out that he has an apartment in Waterford, which has been his official address and voting residence for some time. When his Norway farm home was redistricted out of the 83rd district, he had told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, the largest newspaper in Wisconsin and is distributed widely throughout the state...
that he would be moving to a new home inside the district. The Racine County District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
refused to file charges, and Gunderson was re-elected despite the challenge.
External links
- https://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=3494Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
profile of Gunderson] - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. "Campaign 2008: Big Money Contributors and PAC and Political Committee Contributions to: Scott Gunderson (R) - Assembly District 83: Contributors of $100 or more: January 1, 2007 through August 25, 2008