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Robert Cowles

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Robert Cowles
Cowles robert.jpg
Wisconsin State Senate District 2
Incumbent
In office
1987 - Present
Term ends
January 2, 2017
Years in position 26
PartyRepublican
Compensation
Base salary$49,943/year
Per diem$88/day
Elections and appointments
Last electionNovember 6, 2012
First elected2010
Next electionNovember 8, 2016
Term limitsN/A
Prior offices
Assembly Member, Wisconsin State Assembly
1983 - 1987
Education
Bachelor'sUniversity of Wisconsin, Green Bay, 1975
Personal
Birthday07/31/1950
Place of birthGreen Bay, WI
ReligionEpiscopalian
Websites
Office website
www.CandidateVerification.org

Contents

Robert Cowles (b. July 31, 1950) is a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate. He has represented District 2 since 1987. In 1983, Cowles was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. He served as a Representative until 1987, when he won the special election for Wisconsin Senator

Robert Cowles graduated from the University of Green Bay in 1975. He then worked for a communications construction company as the director of the company's alternative energy division.

Cowles is part of the Investment Committee for DaneVest Tech Fund Advisors, LLC.[1] [2] [3].

Cowles currently lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He survived a recall election in 2011.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Cowles served on the following committees:

Wisconsin Committee Assignments, 2013
• Energy, Consumer Protection, and Government Reform, Chair
• State and Federal Relations, Vice Chair
• Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs
• Information Policy and Technology
• Joint Legislative Audit, Co-chair

2011-2012

At the beginning of the 2011 legislative session, Cowles served on the following committees:

2009-2010

At the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, Cowles served on the following committees:

Elections

2012

Cowles ran unopposed for re-election in the 2012 election for Wisconsin State Senate, District 2.[4] Cowles was unopposed in the August 14th primary election and the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[5]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 2, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark.jpgRobert Cowles Incumbent 98.5% 64,192
     - Scattering 1.5% 951
Total Votes 65,143

2011 recall

Seal of Wisconsin.svg.png
2011 Wisconsin Senate Recalls
Senators Facing Recall
Robert Cowles • Alberta Darling • Sheila Harsdorf • Dave Hansen • Jim Holperin • Randy Hopper • Dan Kapanke • Luther Olsen • Robert Wirch
Other Recall Information
Recalls by Year • Recall Law in Wisconsin • Recall laws in other states • Recalls in Wisconsin • 2011 Scott Walker Budget Repair Bill • Protests over Budget Repair Bill • Wisconsin Government Accountability Board • Recall timeline • Election Results
See also: Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011) and Robert Cowles recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2011)

A 2011 recall attempt against Cowles failed, with Cowles defeating Nancy Nusbaum (D) on August 9.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin began a recall campaign targeting Cowles and 7 of his Republican colleagues in the Wisconsin State Senate in March 2011.[6],[7]

About 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed on April 28, 2011. This was the ninth set of signatures filed in the sixteen different state senate recalls that were attempted in Wisconsin.[8] Challenges to the petition were reviewed by the board on May 31.[9] At the meeting the GAB rejected most of the challenges, giving the go ahead for a recall election.[10] The Board officially certified the recall against Cowles on June 3, effectively setting the election for July 12. Since there was more than one opposing candidate a primary occurred on July 12, with the recall on August 9.

Opponents

Former Brown County board member Rich Langan announced on May 10 that he would run against Cowles in a recall election.[11] However, Langan dropped out days later.[12] Nancy Nusbaum replaced Langan, officially announcing her campaign on May 16. She was also a former member of the Brown County Board.[13] Nusbaum defeated Otto Junkermann in the Democratic primary on July 12. Junkermann was the "protest candidate". Junkermann, when asked if he was a "spoiler candidate," replied, “I don’t know how I could avoid being considered that.” Nusbaum called the move "a mockery of the democratic process," and "a sign of desperation."[14]

July 12 Democratic primary[15]
Candidates Votes Percent
Nancy Nusbaum Approveda 14,197 65.04%
Otto Junkermann 7,578 34.72%
Scattering 54 0.25%
  • Mert Summers Note: Summers filed nomination papers with sufficient signatures but did not file final papers to be on the ballot.[16]

Cowles defeated Nusbaum in the August 9 recall.

August 9 Recall - District 2[17]
Candidates Votes Percent
Robert Cowles (R) Green check mark.jpg 27,037 57.44%
Nancy Nusbaum (D) 19,974 42.43%
Scattering 62 .13%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Robert Cowles won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 2. He ran unopposed. [18]

Robert Cowles raised $14,234 for his campaign. [19]

Wisconsin State Senate, District 2 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark.jpg Robert Cowles (R) 60,507

Legislation

Cowles has authored and sponsored multiple bills, the most recent of which involve budget process reform, the prohibition of text-messaging while driving, access of employment records for law enforcement candidates, and state budget transparency.[20][21].

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

According to records available as of May 17, 2011, Cowles raised $400 during 2010, a year he was not up for election. Listed below is the top contributor.[22]

Donor Amount
Todd Timmerman $400

2008

Various health professionals and general businesses people are at the top of the list for Sen. Cowles's 2008 campaign contributions. Most of his contributions come from various individuals contributing $100-$300. The top 2008 contributor was Mike Wickman. The Wisconsin Republican Party was the top contributor in 2004.[23][24]

Donor Amount
Mike Wickman $1,000

Contact

Senator Cowles's email address is: Sen.Cowles@legis.state.wi.us

Recent news

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Robert Cowles News Feed


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External links

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References

  1. ↑ Project Vote Smart - Senator Cowles
  2. ↑ Biography for Robert Cowles from the WI Legislature
  3. ↑ Cowles on DaneVest Tech Fund Advisors
  4. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board "2012 Candidate List
  5. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board "2012 Candidate List
  6. ↑ "Recall the Republican 8" website
  7. ↑ AOL News, "Wisconsin Election Recall Reality Check", February 23, 2011
  8. ↑ ABC 2 WBAY, "Democrats Turn in 26,000 Signatures to Recall Senator Cowles", April 28, 2011
  9. ↑ Talking Points Memo, "Wis. Elections Staff Recommend Recalls Against Three GOPers," May 20, 2011
  10. ↑ 620 WTMJ, "GAB clears way for Cowles recall election," May 31, 2011
  11. ↑ WFRV-TV, "Wis. GOP senator has Dem challenger for recall," May 10, 2011
  12. ↑ WBAY, "Rich Langan Out for Recall Bid Against Sen. Cowles... Nancy Nusbaum In?," May 16, 2011
  13. ↑ FOX 11, "Nusbaum to challenge Cowles in recall," May 16, 2011
  14. ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Former GOP lawmaker to run as Democrat in Cowles' recall race," June 8, 2011
  15. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board "July 12 primary election results District 2," Accessed August 11, 2011
  16. ↑ WisPolitics, "WisDems: Dems to end placeholder candidacies in recall elections," June 17, 2011
  17. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "District 2 Recall Election Results," accessed August 19, 2011
  18. ↑ Wisconsin State Election Results
  19. ↑ Follow the Money 2008
  20. ↑ 2009 bills authored by Robert Cowles, WI Legislature
  21. ↑ Bills sponsored by Robert Cowles, State Surge
  22. ↑ 2010 contributors to Robert Cowles
  23. ↑ Robert Cowles on Follow the Money.org
  24. ↑ Robert Cowles 2008 contributors, WI Democracy Campaign
Political offices
Preceded by
' 		Wisconsin State Senate District 2
1987–present 		Succeeded by
NA
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Wisconsin State Senate
Senate President: Michael G. Ellis (R) • Senate Majority Leader: Scott Fitzgerald (R) • Senate Minority Leader: Chris Larson (D)
Democratic (15) • Republican (18) • Wisconsin Senate • Wisconsin State Assembly
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