Gerald Whitburn
{{short description|American government official}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gerald Whitburn
| office = Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts
| governor = William F. Weld
| term_start = November 1994
| term_end = June 30, 1996
| predecessor = Charlie Baker
| successor = Joseph Gallant
| order1 = 7th
| title1 = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services
| governor1 = Tommy Thompson
| term_start1 = January 1991
| term_end1 = November 1994
| predecessor1 = Patricia A. Goodrich
| successor1 = Richard Loring (acting)
Joseph Leean (confirmed)
| order2 = 7th
| title2 = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations
| governor2 = Tommy Thompson
| term_start2 = June 1989
| term_end2 = January 1991
| predecessor2 = John T. Coughlin
| successor2 = Carol Skornicka
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|28|1972|12|18}}
| birth_place = Marenisco, Michigan, U.S.
| residence = Wausau, Wisconsin
| spouse = {{marriage|Charmaine M. Heise|1969}}
| education = University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh (BA)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (MA)
}}
Gerald "Jerry" Whitburn (born 1945) is a retired American businessman and government official. He served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations and later Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services under Governor Tommy Thompson, and subsequently served as Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts for Governor Bill Weld. He is best known for his work implementing welfare-to-work programs in the 1990s.
Early life and education
Whitburn was born in Wakefield (Marenisco), Michigan, but moved with his family to Merrill, Wisconsin, as a child. He was graduated from Merrill High School and went on to earn bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 1966. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and earned his master's degree in political science in 1968.
Career
While working on his master's degree in Madison, Whitburn became involved in Republican Party politics on the 1966 re-election campaign of Governor Warren P. Knowles. He subsequently worked on the Governor's staff in Madison and worked on his second re-election in 1968. After earning his master's degree, Whitburn moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as an aide to John Chafee, who was then United States Secretary of the Navy in the Nixon administration. In 1972, Chafee resigned to seek election to the United States Senate from Rhode Island, and hired Whitburn as his campaign director.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87572369/whitburn-for-chafee/ |title= Merrill native heads campaign for Chafee |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= May 25, 1972 |page= 25 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} Chafee ultimately lost the election to Democrat Claiborne Pell.
Following the defeat, Whitburn returned to Merrill, Wisconsin, and went to work at his father's Ford dealership as a partner, Whitburn Motor Co.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87572603/whitburn-ford/ |title= Gerald Whitburn joins Ford dealership |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= December 18, 1972 |page= 31 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} While in Merrill, he became active with the legislative committee of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce in lobbying the Wisconsin Legislature. He also remained active in Wisconsin electoral politics, working on the unsuccessful 1978 gubernatorial campaign of Congressman Bob Kasten, and then joining Kasten's winning campaign for United States Senate in 1980.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87573191/whitburn-for-kasten/ |title= Kasten assistant plans to maintain local ties |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= November 28, 1980 |page= 23 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}
After his election, Kasten appointed Whitburn as executive assistant on his Senate staff in Washington, D.C., where he served for the next six years.
Following the election of Tommy Thompson as Governor of Wisconsin in 1986, Whitburn returned to Wisconsin to accept an appointment as deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87573735/thompson-appointees/ |title= Thompson won't cut transit aid |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= December 6, 1986 |page= 4 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} In 1989, Thompson named Whitburn to the cabinet position of Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87573967/whitburn-labor/ |title= Whitburn is ready to set sail at DILHR |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= June 25, 1989 |page= 1 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }} Whitburn was appointed to replace John Coughlin, whose term at the agency was derided by state officials of both parties.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87574325/whitburn-dilhr/ |title= DILHR chief tries to outrun agency's past press |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= September 17, 1989 |page= 19 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} Less than two years later, Whitburn was appointed Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87574449/whitburn-hss/ |title= Gerald Whitburn named HSS head |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= December 8, 1990 |page= 1 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}
As Secretary of Health and Social Services, Whitburn earned recognition for his experiments in Workfare programs as the Wisconsin Legislature voted to drop out of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program by 1999. In the Fall of 1994, Whitburn agreed to bring his experience to a new state as Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts, under Republican governor Bill Weld.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87574992/whitburn-to-mass/ |title= Welfare-overhaul expert joining Weld's Cabinet |newspaper= The Berkshire Eagle |date= November 11, 1994 |page= 1 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87575154/whitburn-tanf/ |title= Welfare official has soft voice, iron will |newspaper= The Boston Globe |date= January 9, 1995 |page= 13 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}
Whitburn was able to implement some welfare-to-work programs in Massachusetts, but became a controversial figure in Weld's administration.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87578349/whitburn-returns-to-merrill/ |title= Whitburn takes job with Church Mutual |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= June 1, 1996 |page= 3 |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} He resigned in June 1996 to accept a job at the Church Mutual Insurance Company in Merrill, Wisconsin.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87577986/whitburn-resigns/ |title= Human services chief leaving post |newspaper= The Boston Globe |date= June 1, 1996 |last1= Wong |first1= Doris Sue |last2= Phillips |first2= Frank |accessdate= October 22, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} He later became chief executive officer and chairman of the Church Mutual Insurance Company and retired in 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2020/01/23/uw-regent-gerald-whitburn-resigns-effective-immediately/4559274002/ |title='Nothing lasts forever, nor should it.' Longtime UW Regent Gerald Whitburn resigns |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date= January 23, 2020 |last=Shastri |first=Devi |access-date= October 22, 2021 |language=en-US}}
In 2011, Whitburn was appointed to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents by Governor Scott Walker. He remained for nine years, resigning in 2020.{{Cite web|last=admin|date=1994-11-21|title=Whitburn Tapped To Head HHS|url=https://masslawyersweekly.com/1994/11/21/whitburn-tapped-to-head-hhs/|access-date=2021-02-07|website=Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly|language=en-US}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before = John T. Coughlin }}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations |years= June 1989{{spaced ndash}}January 1991 }}
{{s-aft|after = Carol Skornicka }}
{{s-bef|before = Patricia A. Goodrich }}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services |years= January 1991{{spaced ndash}}November 1994 }}
{{s-aft|after = Richard Loring (acting)
Joseph Leean (confirmed)}}
{{s-bef|before = Charlie Baker }}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts |years= November 1994{{spaced ndash}}June 30, 1996 }}
{{s-aft|after = Joseph Gallant }}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitburn, Gerald}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American business executives
Category:People from Gogebic County, Michigan
Category:People from Merrill, Wisconsin
Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
Category:University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh alumni
Category:State cabinet secretaries of Wisconsin
Category:Massachusetts Secretaries of Health and Human Services
Category:Employees of the United States Senate
Category:Wisconsin Republicans
Category:Massachusetts Republicans