David Ward (Wisconsin politician)

David Ward
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 37th district
In office
January 4, 1993 – August 2, 2006
Preceded byRandall J. Radtke
Succeeded byAndy Jorgensen
Personal details
Born (1953-04-29) April 29, 1953 (age 71)
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJean
Children1
ResidenceOakland, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Platteville (B.S.)
OccupationDairy farmer, politician, lobbyist

David W. Ward (born April 29, 1953) is a retired American dairy farmer, lobbyist, and Republican politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1993 through 2006, representing the western half of Jefferson County, and was a dairy lobbyist for Wisconsin's Cooperative Network until 2019.

Biography

Born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, Ward was raised on his family's dairy farm, first established at that location in 1844.[1] He graduated from Fort Atkinson High School and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.[2] After college, Ward returned to his family farm and applied some of what he had learned to the improvement of their dairy cattle herd, and the business status of their farm.[1] Ward became active in the Jefferson County Farm Bureau, and eventually became its president. From 1987 through 1992, he was also a member of the board of directors of the Jefferson County Farmco Cooperative.[3]

Through his involvement with the Farm Bureau, Ward became interested in politics, and, in 1992, ran for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 37th Assembly district. The district had previously been represented by Republican Randall J. Radtke, who was not seeking eighth term in the Assembly. He faced no opponent in the Republican primary, and went on to win 55% of the vote over Democrat Jane Marr in the 1992 general election.[4] He was subsequently re-elected six times and resigned before the end of his seventh term, in August 2006.[5]

Following his resignation, Ward became a lobbyist on dairy issues for Cooperative Network—a trade association representing the interests of cooperatives and their producer-members—and later became overall director of government relations for the network.[3] He also became a part-time educator, teaching agricultural policy at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.[1]

In 2018 and 2019, he served on the Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0, which worked to develop recommendations to help Wisconsin retain its status as a dairy leader.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1992–2004)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1992[4] General November 3 David Ward Republican 12,963 55.16% Jane Marr Dem. 10,538 44.84% 23,501 2,425
1994[6] General November 8 David Ward (inc.) Republican 8,897 61.88% Jeff Pieterick Dem. 5,480 38.12% 14,377 3,417
1996[7] General November 5 David Ward (inc.) Republican 13,104 61.58% Scott Waller Dem. 8,176 38.42% 21,280 4,928
1998[8] General November 3 David Ward (inc.) Republican 12,686 100.0% 12,686 12,686
2000[9] General November 7 David Ward (inc.) Republican 14,867 57.63% Steven J. Nass Dem. 10,913 42.30% 25,799 3,954
2002[10] General November 5 David Ward (inc.) Republican 11,528 62.53% Donald Scott Waller Dem. 6,896 37.40% 18,437 4,632
2004[11] General November 2 David Ward (inc.) Republican 17,403 59.80% Gary R. Rattmann Dem. 11,677 40.13% 29,101 5,726

References

  1. ^ a b c d Grooms, Lynn (July 29, 2019). "Multi-faceted career leads to dairy, business, legislature, students". Agri-View. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ward, David W. 1953". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "David Ward Bio". Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  4. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 904, 922. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature Spotlight - The Week of August 14, 2006". Wisconsin Legislature. Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  6. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 904, 922. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 900, 903. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  8. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (1999). "Elections" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 880, 883. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  9. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. p. 22. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 23. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  11. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 23. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 37th district
January 4, 1993 – August 2, 2006 		Succeeded by