Tom Nelson
Encyclopedia
Tom Nelson is a Democratic
politician from Kaukana
, Wisconsin
and the County Executive
of Outagamie County
, having taken office on April 19, 2011.
in 1994, earned a B.A. from Carleton College
in 1998, and an M.P.A. from Princeton
in 2004.
representing the 5th Assembly District (northeastern Outagamie County and the Town of Maple Grove
) from 2005 - 2011. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2004, defeating Republican
incumbent Becky Weber
15,014 to 14,249; and was assigned to the standing committee
s on health
, insurance
, rural development
and transportation.
He was re-elected twice, and was elected Assembly Majority Leader in 2008.
, rather than seek re-election to the Assembly. On September 14, he won the Democratic nomination in a four-way race, winning an absolute majority (52%) over state senator Spencer Coggs
(21%) and two others. Nelson and running mate Tom Barrett
(who ran as a ticket) were defeated in the 2010 general election
by Rebecca Kleefisch
and Scott Walker
. His assembly seat was taken by Republican Jim Steineke
.
for county executive
of Outagamie County, by roughly 52% - 48%. Voight blamed the political unrest stemming from Scott Walker's policy drive
to eliminate public workers' collective bargaining
powers, saying "The labor movement has not only energized the Democratic Party base but a lot of the independents."
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 from Kaukana
Kaukauna, Wisconsin
Kaukauna is a city in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States, on the Fox River, approximately 100 miles north of Milwaukee, with a population of 12,983. It is a part of the Appleton, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin Combined...
, 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...
and the County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Outagamie County
Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Outagamie is a county in the northeast region of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its county seat is Appleton. As of the 2009 census estimate, its population was 177,155....
, having taken office on April 19, 2011.
Background
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 3, 1976, Nelson graduated from Little Chute High SchoolLittle Chute High School
Little Chute High School is the public high school for Little Chute, Wisconsin. The school has approximately 600 students....
in 1994, earned a B.A. from Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
in 1998, and an M.P.A. from Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 2004.
Legislative service
Nelson is a former member of the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin 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....
representing the 5th Assembly District (northeastern Outagamie County and the Town of Maple Grove
Maple Grove, Wisconsin
Maple Grove is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Maple Grove, Barron County, Wisconsin, a town*Maple Grove, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, a town*Maple Grove , Wisconsin, in Manitowoc County, an unincorporated community...
) from 2005 - 2011. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2004, defeating 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...
incumbent Becky Weber
Becky Weber
Becky Weber is a American Republican politician from Wisconsin.- Background :Born in Green Bay, Weber graduated from Bay Port High School in 1972; attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College; the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; and the University of Oklahoma Retail Lending School...
15,014 to 14,249; and was assigned to the standing committee
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
s on health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
, rural development
Rural development
Rural development in general denotes economic development and community development actions and initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-urban neighbourhoods, remote villages and the countryside...
and transportation.
He was re-elected twice, and was elected Assembly Majority Leader in 2008.
Run for Lieutenant Governor
In 2010, Nelson announced that he was running for the position of Lieutenant Governor of WisconsinLieutenant 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...
, rather than seek re-election to the Assembly. On September 14, he won the Democratic nomination in a four-way race, winning an absolute majority (52%) over state senator Spencer Coggs
Spencer Coggs
G. Spencer Coggs is a Democratic Party of Wisconsin member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 6th district since 2003.-Early life, education and career:...
(21%) and two others. Nelson and running mate Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett
Thomas Barrett, or Thomas Barrett may refer to:*Tom Barrett , former player for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox*Tom Barrett , businessman who founded Glendale, California...
(who ran as a ticket) were defeated in the 2010 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
by 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...
and Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
. His assembly seat was taken by Republican Jim Steineke
Jim Steineke
Jim Steineke is a Wisconsin real estate agent and Republican politician.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Steineke attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee...
.
County executive
On April 5, 2011, Nelson defeated former Republican State Treasurer of Wisconsin Jack VoightJack Voight
Jack C. Voight is a Wisconsin insurance agent and a former State Treasurer of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Republican Party....
for county executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Outagamie County, by roughly 52% - 48%. Voight blamed the political unrest stemming from Scott Walker's policy drive
2011 Wisconsin protests
The 2011 Wisconsin protests were a series of demonstrations in the state of Wisconsin in the United States beginning in February involving at its zenith as many as 100,000 protestors opposing the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill. Subsequently, anti-tax activists and other conservatives, including tea...
to eliminate public workers' collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
powers, saying "The labor movement has not only energized the Democratic Party base but a lot of the independents."
External links
- Follow the Money - Tom Nelson
- Campaign 2008 campaign contributions at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign