Rich Zipperer
Rich Zipperer is a former member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, appointed by Gov. Scott Walker (R) in March 2018.[1]
Zipperer served as chief of staff for Gov. Scott Walker (R) from August 2015 to March 2018.[2][1]
He was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 33 from 2011 until August 5, 2012. He was first elected to the Senate in 2010, after representing District 98 in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2007-2010.
Career
The following briefly outlines Zipperer's career. To see more about his work in the Wisconsin State Legislature and his electoral history, see below.
Early career
An attorney from Reedsville, Wis., Zipperer began his career in politics as the district director and deputy chief of staff to Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and as an aide to Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) in Washington, D.C.[3]
Wisconsin State Legislature
Zipperer was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2007 and was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2011. He resigned his seat effective August 5, 2012, in order to become Gov. Scott Walker's deputy chief of staff and senior legal counsel.[4] Upon departing the legislature, Zipperer said, "In my nearly six years in the Legislature, I have been proud to advance reforms to balance our state's budget, eliminate wasteful spending, and bring jobs back to our state. Even with these victories, much more remains to be done, and I am honored that Governor Walker has asked me to help him lead those efforts."[5]
Scott Walker chief of staff
In August 2015, Walker promoted Zipperer to chief of staff after former chief of staff Eric Schutt resigned to spend more time with his family.[6] During his time as chief of staff, Zipperer was involved in vetting and interviewing those being considered to fill a vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.[7]
Zipperer resigned his position effective March 26, 2018, to serve as a member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Gov. Walker appointed former Chief of Staff Eric Schutt to take over the position.[1]
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Rich Zipperer as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[8]
- Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
- Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[8]
Political career
Wisconsin Public Service Commission (2018-2019)
Zipperer served as a member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission from March 26, 2018 to 2019. He was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker (R).[1]
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Zipperer served on these committees:
- Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs, Vice Chair
- Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology
- Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations, Chair
- Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties, Co-Chair
- State and Federal Relations and Information Technology
- Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Zipperer served on these committees:
- Energy and Utilities Committee
- Jobs, the Economy and Small Business Committee
- Judiciary and Ethics Committee
- Tax Exemptions Committee, Wisconsin State Legislature
- Special Committee on High-Risk Juvenile Offenders
Legislation
2011 unemployment bill
Zipperer was one of three Republican state senators, including Mary Lazich and Glenn Grothman, who voted no on the Wisconsin State Senate's version of an unemployment bill in July 2011.
The bill, which could eliminate a newly instituted one-week waiting period on the receipt of unemployment benefits, passed in the Senate with a vote of 30-3. State officials said the one-week waiting period is a crucial part of the effort to root out fraud, but the bill works to eliminate it.
Democratic Senator Robert Jauch called the one-week waiting period “a 55 million dollar highway robbery of workers."[9]
After the initial Senate vote, the Assembly voted 81-16 to retain the one-week waiting period.[10] The Senate then moved to agree with the Assembly along party lines, with a 19-14 vote, retaining the one-week waiting period.[11]
Sponsored
Legislation sponsored in 2009 includes:[12]
- AB-168 Biennial budget bill preparation and consideration revisions re state agency request for earmark or nonfiscal policy item prohibited, state agency budget modification report by DOA Secretary, earmark transparency report by LFB, JCF executive sessions and documents on legislature's Web site
- AB-263 Restraining order and injunction violations: court may order person to submit to GPS tracking by Corr.Dept in certain cases; surcharge and penalties for tampering with device
Rich was the lead sponsor on Assembly Bill 739 in 2008 in which would make all earmarks go public before debate and also prohibit air dropping of earmarks in conference committee. AB 739 passed, but it was killed in the Wisconsin State Senate Rules Committee.
Elections
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010
Zipperer was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate District 33. Zipperer did not run for re-election to Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010. He ran for an open seat in Wisconsin State Senate District 33, vacated by Theodore Kanavas, who did not run for re-election. He defeated his opponent Tim Dietrich in the September 14, 2010,primary. He was unopposed in the general election on November 2, 2010.[13] [14][15]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 33 (2010) General Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
 Rich Zipperer (R)
|
62,732 | 99.5% | ||
| Wisconsin Senate, District 33 Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Rich Zipperer (R)
|
24,107 | 73.74% | ||
| Tim Dietrich (R) | 8,562 | 26.19% | ||
Campaign themes
2010
On his official campaign site Zipperer states a number of his positions, including:[16]
- Taxes - "High taxes in Wisconsin are driving away jobs, causing our seniors to move out of state, and making it even more difficult for families to make ends meet. In the Assembly, I am working for tax relief, authoring one of the few tax cuts to become law in the last budget."
- Government Spending - "Weeding out bureaucratic waste and red tape to get government off of the backs of small businesses and individuals will be one of my most important goals."
- Education - "I am a strong advocate of giving greater control of education to parents and teachers, and having less mandates from Washington and Madison. Milwaukee’s school choice program is one way to give parents and children options they need."
- 2nd Amendment - "As a hunter, sportsman, and strong defender of the right of individuals to protect themselves, I will oppose efforts by those who would trample on our constitutionally protected rights to keep and bear arms."
- Big Government Mandates - "We don't need the state government to act as a nanny for us all. I will work in the Assembly to promote individual freedom and stop the seemingly endless march toward more and more government regulation of our daily lives."
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.
See also
| Wisconsin | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
- Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- Rich Zipperer's official campaign website
- Rich Zipperer on Facebook
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wisconsin State Journal, "Scott Walker names new PSC commissioner, chief of staff," March 14, 2018
- ↑ Office of Gov. Scott Walker, "Governor Scott Walker Announces Administrative Staff Promotions," August 21, 2015
- ↑ The Brillion News, "Reedsville Man Named Walker's Chief of Staff," August 21, 2015
- ↑ WisPolitics, "Zipperer resigning Senate seat to join Walker's staff," July 18, 2012
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Walker names legislator as new deputy chief of staff," July 18, 2012
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Scott Walker's chief of staff leaving governor's office," August 21, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "5 finalists named for Supreme Court vacancy," June 16, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ "Amended Unemployment Bill Could Hamper Fraud Detection Efforts," MacIver News Service, July 20, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, "Wisconsin Legislative Spotlight: The Week of August 1, 2011," November 19, 2012
- ↑ The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "Senate leaves in place one-week wait for jobless benefits," August 1, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature - Bills sponsored by Rich Zipperer
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates Registered by Office, 2010 Partisan Primary - 09/14/2010," July 13, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Rich Zipperer Issues (dead link)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ellen Nowak |
Wisconsin Public Service Commission 2018–2019 |
Succeeded by Rebecca Cameron Valcq |
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