Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Jeff Wood (Wisconsin)
Jeffrey Wood (b. September 12, 1969) was an Independent member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 67th District from 2003-2010.
Wood served in the United Sates Navy/United States Naval Reserve from 1986-1994, and has worked as a local government reporter and small business owner.
He is a member of the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau, and a former member of the Libertarian Party of the Chippewa Valley.[1]
Wood did not be seek re-election to District 67 in 2010.[2]
Committee assignments
Representative Wood serves on the following committees for the 2008-2009 session:
- Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs Committee
- Rural Economic Development Committee
- Ways and Means Committee
Elections
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010
Wood did not seek re-election in 2010.
Sponsored legislation
Legislation sponsored in 2009 included:
- AB-136 Trespassing liability exemption under set conditions for assessor and staff making an assessment; certain civil liability immunity for owner and notice provisions; municipal assessor must publish a notice prior to revaluation of property
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Noteworthy events
DWI arrests
- See also: Politicians convicted of DUI
Censure by the Wisconsin State Assembly (2010)
On April 21, 2010, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted 73-24 to censure Wood for the three operating while intoxicated offenses he had committed since December 2008.[3] On April 19, 2010, he was sentenced to serve 45 days in jail and fined over $1,600. [4]
The censure followed a vote to expel Wood from the state Assembly. The vote was brought to the floor by Republican Rep. Stephen Nass. He argued that censuring Wood demonstrated “the Assembly’s lack of interest in getting tough on drunk driving,” and that Wood needed to be held accountable for a myriad of poor decisions.[3][5] Democratic Rep. Mary Hubler, who chaired the committee considering Wood’s expulsion, argued that the Assembly should not remove Wood from office because such a decision is a local issue, that voters hold the power to recall him, and that it is wrong to expel Wood before all of the charges are resolved. The Assembly voted 49-48 not to expel Wood.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]
Disciplinary hearing
Wood received a disciplinary hearing before the Assembly ethics panel on March 3, 2010. He had been arrested 3 times since December 2008 for driving under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs. Wood has said that he wouldn't run for another term in fall 2010.[6]
At the hearing, Wood admitted to being guilty of drunken driving but not of the charges of driving under the influence of drugs. Wood's attorney argued that House members did not have the authority to force Wood out of office. Wood reached a plea deal which had him pleading guilty to third-offense drunken-driving charges, in exchange for dropping the drug-related charges.[7]
Ethics committee deadlocks
On March 23, the ethics committee did not offer any recommendation for Wood. Committee members were deadlocked with all three Democrats voting to support the resolution to reprimand Wood and all three Republicans backing expulsion.[8]
Sentenced
On April 19, Wood was sentenced to 45 days in jail and fined over $1,600. His plea deal was accepted and he began his jail time immediately. Additionally, his driver's license was revoked for four years and three months, and for two years afterward he would have to have a breathalyzer ignition lock in his car.[9].
Wood was sentenced to 60 days in jail on October 13, 2010, for a fourth drunk driving offense in Marathon County. In addition to jail time, Wood was placed on two years' probation and was fined $1,500[10].
On December 2, 2010, Wood pleaded not guilty to a felony count of driving under the influence. Wood faced trial for his fifth offense in Monroe County[11][12]. A fifth offense for drunken driving is treated as a felony in Wisconsin[11].
Released
Wood served 32 days in the Chippewa County jail and was released early for good behavior on May 28.[13]
External links
- Wisconsin Assembly - Representative Jeffrey Wood
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2004
- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign profile
- Representative Wood's Freedom Speaks profile
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Assemblyman Wood
- ↑ Weau.com, "UPDATE: Dashcam video expected next week in Wood's arrest," October 23, 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ‘’Republican Eagle,’’ “Assembly censures Rep. Jeff Wood,” accessed November 1, 2023
- ↑ ‘’Wisconsin Radio Network,’’ “Jail Time for Jeff Wood,” accessed November 9, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 ‘’Wisconsin Radio Network,’’ “Censure for Wood, not expulsion,” accessed November 1, 2023
- ↑ WTAQ, "Wood Expulsion Hearing Delayed Until March 3rd," February 16, 2010
- ↑ Journal Sentinel, "Wood admits to drunken driving while fighting to stay in the Assembly," March 3, 2010
- ↑ Wis Politics, "Quorum Call: Committee splits on resolutions to expel, reprimand Wood," March 24, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Radio Network, "Jail Time for Jeff Wood," April 19, 2010
- ↑ WSAW "State Rep. Jeff Wood Sentenced for 2009 OWI Charge," October 13, 2010
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 WSAW "Jeff Wood Heads to Trial in Monroe County," December 3, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Drunk Driving Penalties"
- ↑ WQOW, "State Rep. Jeff Wood released from jail," May 28, 2010
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Wisconsin State Assembly District 67 2002–2010 |
Succeeded by Tom Larson (R) |
