Charles Chvala

Born in Merrill, Wisconsin, Chvala's family moved to Madison where he attended La Follette High School, and served as a student member of the Madison School Board.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87757972/la-follette-50-years/ |title= La Follette alumni celebrate 50 years |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= July 18, 2013 |last= Anderson |first= Andrea |page= 3 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978 and the same year earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.{{cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS6354 |title= Chvala, Chuck 1954 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }}

Both of Chvala's parents were teachers in the Madison School District, and famously led a strike in the 1970s. His parents' involvement with the teachers' union was a springboard for his entrance into politics. He made his first run for Wisconsin State Assembly in 1978, relying on union support in the Democratic primary.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87759819/37th-assembly-primary/ |title= 37th Assembly District has lively race |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= September 8, 1978 |first= Liz |last= Crusan |page= 3 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} He ultimately fell 174 votes short of David Travis, another first time candidate who would also go on to become a Democratic caucus leader in the 1990s.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1979 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book |year= 1979 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1979/reference/wi.wibluebk1979.i0016.pdf |chapter= Elections |pages= 906, 925 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }}

Between 1978 and 1982, Chvala worked as a lawyer and legislative consultant in Madison. His clients included the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association and the Citizens Utility Board. He also served the boards of the non-profit organizations Vets House and The Attic.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87760668/98th-assembly-primary/ |title= Five Democrats in 98th Assembly primary |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= September 2, 1982 |page= 6 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Following the court-ordered redistricting of 1982, Chvala ran in the newly drawn 98th Assembly district. Due to the drastic redistricting, there was no incumbent in the district. Chvala prevailed over a field of five Democrats in the primary, and went on to receive 70% of the vote in the general election.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1983 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book |year= 1983 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1983/reference/wi.wibluebk1983.i0016.pdf |chapter= Elections |pages= 892, 912 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }}

In 1983, the Legislature passed another redistricting plan, superseding the court-ordered plan. Chvala chose to run for Wisconsin State Senate in 1984, in the redrawn 16th Senate district, which now stretched from Madison's east side through eastern Dane County, western Rock County, and across Green County. This time, Chvala faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, but had a more competitive general election, receiving 54% of the vote over Republican Thomas L. Storm.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1985 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book |year= 1985 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1985/reference/wi.wibluebk1985.i0016.pdf |chapter= Elections |pages= 903, 921 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }} He was subsequently re-elected four times, serving until 2005.

{{main|1994 Wisconsin gubernatorial election}}

In 1994, Chvala sought to challenge incumbent Republican Governor Tommy Thompson. Chvala faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, but lost to Thompson in a landslide, receiving only 31% of the statewide vote.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1995 |title= State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book |year= 1995 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last= Barish |editor-first= Lawrence S. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1995/reference/wi.wibluebk1995.i0017.pdf |chapter= Elections |pages= 891, 912 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }}

From 1995 to 2002 he led Senate Democrats during a time of razor-thin, one-vote party balances, leading to flips between Democratic and Republican leadership control in the event of legislative vacancies or intra-term seats changing hands due to special elections. Control of the legislature flipped four times during Chvala's tenure as Democratic caucus leader, twice due to intra-term special elections, and twice due to general election victories.[https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2000/06/05/newscolumn1.html Democrats set targets for more Senate seats, by Pete Millard, Milwaukee Business Journal, June 4, 2000, retrieved June 23, 2020]

In the fall of 2002, Chvala and other legislative leaders were caught in a scandal arising from the use of state legislative staffers and resources for political campaign duties. He was charged with 20 felony counts, including extortion, misconduct in public office, and filing false election reports. He pleaded guilty to two counts, and was sentenced to nine months in jail with two years of probation.[https://www.wicourts.gov/html/ca/03/03-0442.htm Court of Appeals of Wisconsin-Published Opinion-Case 03-0442 CR-State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Charles Chvala, Defendant-Appellant]

While on probation, Chvala became involved in the real estate market in collaboration with his daughter, who was a licensed broker. His law license, which had been suspended following his guilty plea, was reinstated in 2008, enabling him to resume his legal practice.{{cite news|url= https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/32511319.html |title= Chvala gets his law license back |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date= September 19, 2008 |last= Walters |first= Steven |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }} He also serves as a regular contributor to The Insiders, a political commentary series in Wisconsin.[https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/wisopinion-com-the-insiders-suggest-changes-following-protests-against-police-brutality-racism/ Wispolitics.com, June 12, 2020, retrieved June 16, 2020][https://www.explorelawyers.com/attorney/chvala-law-office-588483-madison ExploreLawyers.com, retrieved June 16, 2020][http://propertydrive.com/directory/agent-display.asp?agentID=1976 PropertyDrive.com, retrieved June 16, 2020]

Chvala married Tracyjean Rebenstorff in June 1978.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87765728/marriage-of-rcbenstorff-ch-vala/ |title= Rebenstorff-Chvala |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= March 12, 1978 |page= 78 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} They had two children together before divorcing in 1988.{{Cite web|url= https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=1988FA001963&countyNo=13&index=0 |title= Dane County Case Number 1988FA001963 Charles J Chvala Vs Tracyjean E Chvala |website= Wisconsin Circuit Court Access |date= December 30, 1988 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 }}

Chvala subsequently married Barbara Worcester, a Senate legislative staffer, in 1991.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87765923/chvala-worcester/ |title= Good times |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= July 21, 1991 |page= 15 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} Worcester continued her career in government after Chvala's resignation and served for many years as chief of staff to Democratic Senate leader Russ Decker. She now works as deputy chief of staff to Governor Tony Evers.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87766400/evers-cabinet-and-staff/ |title= Evers' Cabinet |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= January 6, 2019 |last1= Sommerhauser |first1= Mark |last2= Vetterkind |first2= Riley |page= A8 |accessdate= October 25, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 37th District Election, 1978{{cite report|title= State of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book |year= 1979 |publisher= State of Wisconsin |location=Madison, Wisconsin |editor1-last= Theobald |editor1-first= H. Rupert |editor2-last= Robbins |editor2-first= Patricia V. |author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |chapter= Vote for Representatives to the Assembly by District, page 906}}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 12, 1978

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = David M. Travis

|votes = 2,043

|percentage = 31.61%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Charles J. Chvala

|votes = 1,869

|percentage = 28.92%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Harold F. Klubertanz

|votes = 1,624

|percentage = 25.13%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = S. Michael Shivers

|votes = 564

|percentage = 8.73%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Jeanne M. Tabbutt

|votes = 363

|percentage = 5.61%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 6,463

|percentage = 100%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 98th District Election, 1982{{cite report|chapter-url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn&id=WI.WIBlueBk1983&entity=WI.WIBlueBk1983.p0906&isize=XL&q1=chvala |title= State of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book |year= 1983 |publisher= State of Wisconsin |location=Madison, Wisconsin |editor1-last= Theobald |editor1-first= H. Rupert |editor2-last= Robbins |editor2-first= Patricia V. |author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |chapter= Vote for Representatives to the Assembly by District, pages 892, 912 |access-date= June 17, 2020}}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 14, 1982

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Charles J. Chvala

|votes = 3,579

|percentage = 42.93%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Norman A. Cummings

|votes = 1,497

|percentage = 17.96%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Rita Wlodarczyk

|votes = 1,367

|percentage = 16.4%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Jane Hoepker

|votes = 1,181

|percentage = 14.17%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Judson Knoll

|votes = 712

|percentage = 8.54%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 8336

|percentage = 100%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 1982

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Charles J. Chvala

|votes = 11,338

|percentage = 69.9%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Robert T. Stanek

|votes = 4,881

|percentage = 30.09%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 16,219

|percentage = 100%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1994}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 1994

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Tommy Thompson (incumbent)
& Scott McCallum (incumbent)

|votes = 1,051,326

|percentage = 67.26%

|change = +9.08%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles Chvala
& Dorothy K. Dean

|votes = 482,850

|percentage = 30.89%

|change = -10.89%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = David S. Harmon
& Kevin J. Robinson

|votes = 11,639

|percentage = 0.74%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = US Taxpayers Party

|candidate = Edward J. Frami
& Michael J. O'Hare

|votes = 9,188

|percentage = 0.59%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Michael J. Mangan

|votes = 8,150

|percentage = 0.52%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 682

|percentage = 0.04%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 568,476

|percentage = 36.35%

|change = +19.97%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 1,563,153

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = +13.34%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist|3}}

• {{CongLinks |votesmart= 3438}}
• {{C-SPAN|37278}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin|years=1994}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate|years=1995–1996}}

{{s-aft|rows=3|after=Michael Ellis}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate|years=1996–1998}}

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{{s-aft|after=Russ Decker
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{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chvala, Charles J.}}

Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Merrill, Wisconsin

Category:Wisconsin lawyers

Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni

Category:University of Wisconsin Law School alumni

Category:School board members in Wisconsin

Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators

Category:Wisconsin politicians convicted of crimes

Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature

Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature