Theodore Kanavas
Theodore Kanavas (April 29, 1961) was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate. He represented District 33 from 2001 to 2011. He died on July 3, 2017.[1]
In 1990, then Governor Tommy G. Thompson appointed Kanavas to the Department of Administration to take on the task of redistricting Wisconsin’s political boundaries, working closely with Governor Thompson and former Department of Administration Secretary James Klauser. In 1999, Kanavas was elected to the Elmbrook School Board and served a three-year term.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Kanavas spent 12 years in the software industry and continues to work in the field as a senior enterprise executive with a Brookfield-based software company HarrisData. In the 1990s, Kanavas and two friends from California co-founded Premier Software Technologies, which was sold to Active Software.
Kanavas graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983 with a major in political science. He served as an aide for Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner. Kanavas attended Elmbrook Public Schools, and Brookfield East High School.[2][3]
Issue positions
Sen. Kanavas' goals and issue positions, according to his website:[4]
- Greater access to broadband services
- Supports business growth; specifically, investments in new Wisconsin technology companies, tax credits, and the elimination of "burdensome regulations"
- Supports reduced taxes
Committee assignments
Sen. Kanavas served on these legislative committees:[5]
- Economic Development Committee, Wisconsin Senate
- Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief, and Revenue Committee, Wisconsin Senate
- Rural Issues, Biofuels, and Information Technology Committee, Wisconsin Senate
- Veterans and Military Affairs, Biotechnology, and Financial Institutions Committee, Wisconsin Senate
- Legislative Council Select Committee on Clean Energy
Elections
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010
Senator Kanavas did not seek re-election in 2010.[6][7]
2006
On November 7, 2006, Theodore Kanavas won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 33.[8]
Theodore Kanavas raised $182,884 for his campaign, while Andrew Stiffler raised $1,480.[9]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 33 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Theodore Kanavas (R)
|
48,241 | |||
| Andrew Stiffler | 23,413 | |||
Legislation
Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Sen. Kanavas:[10] 2005-SB 58-SB 58 would have protected manufacturers from lawsuits where individuals misuse, alter or modify a product that it was not intended for; and would have limited joint and several liability to the manufacturers' proportionate share of the damage award. SB 58 passed both houses, but was vetoed by Governor Doyle.
2005-SB 70-SB 70 would have allowed expert testimony that is based on sufficient facts and not frivolous claims, similar to standards used in other states and in the federal court system. SB 70 passed both houses of the Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Doyle.
2005-SB 402-The Legislature passed SB 402 that would require plaintiffs to prove the product that harmed them was manufactured by a specific defendant. This legislation was necessary to reverse a 2005 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that allowed an individual to sue a group of manufacturers who made similar products even if it cannot be proven a specific manufacturer caused harm. Governor Doyle vetoed SB 402.
2005-SB 483-A bill that would prohibit taxaition of internet and other broadband deployment services, this bill passed both houses of the legislature and was signed into law by Governor James E. Doyle.
2005-SB 563 relating to providing tax incentives for the furtherance of the film industry in Wisconsin. This bill sponsored by Kanavas was insturmental in paving the way for top film stars like Johnny Depp film the movie Public Enemies and many others to come to Wisconsin.
2009-SB 52-A bill to give tax credit to businesses that sponsor college tuition.[11]
2009-SJR 36-A resolution to require secret ballots for union elections[12]
2009-AB 127-A bill to limit the budget[13]
Past and current endorsements
- Wisconsin Right to Life
- Wisconsin Pro-Life Committie PAC
- Wisconsin Grocers Association
Campaign finance summary
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External links
- Sen. Kanavas' Wisconsin Senate website
- Project Vote Smart profile
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008
- Kanavas on Facebook
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Kanavas was a life long resident of Brookfield, Wisconsin. He was married and had three children.[2]
Footnotes
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ted Kanavas, former Wisconsin state senator, dies at 56," July 3, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Project Vote Smart -Sen. Kanavas
- ↑ Senate website biography
- ↑ Biography
- ↑ Committees
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Politics Blog: Sen. Judy Robson to retire," January 27, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates Registered by Office, 2010," July 13, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2006 General election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money 2006
- ↑ Legislation
- ↑ Bill 52
- ↑ Resolution 36
- ↑ Bill 127
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Wisconsin State Senate District 33 2001–2011 |
Succeeded by Rich Zipperer (R) |
