Joel Kleefisch
{{Short description|American politician (born 1971)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Joel Kleefisch
| image = Rep. Kleefisch in committee (3347255630) (3x4b).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Kleefisch in 2008
| state = Wisconsin
| state_assembly = Wisconsin
| district = 38th
| term_start = January 3, 2005
| term_end = January 7, 2019
| predecessor = Steven Foti{{cite web |url=http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/lupdate/2004/u040409.htm |title= University of Wisconsin System|website=www.uwsa.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119144235/http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/lupdate/2004/u040409.htm |archive-date=November 19, 2008}}
| successor = Barbara Dittrich
| office1 = Second Gentleman of Wisconsin
| governor1 = Scott Walker
| term_label1 = In role
| term_start1 = January 3, 2011
| term_end1 = January 7, 2019
| predecessor1 = Cal Lawton
| successor1 = Vacant
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|8}}
| birth_place = Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S.
| spouse = Rebecca Reed
| children = 2
| party = Republican
| residence = Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S.
| education = Pepperdine University (BA)
}}
Joel M. Kleefisch ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|eɪ|f|ɪ|ʃ}} {{Respell|KLAY|fish}};{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgOBpk3T5lo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/LgOBpk3T5lo |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Joel Kleefisch - All American Association of Home Inspectors|website=YouTube |accessdate=10 November 2020}}{{cbignore}} born June 8, 1971) is a former American politician and a former television reporter who now works as a lobbyist.{{Cite web | url=https://www.aaahi.org/InspectorAssociation/Bios | title=We KNOW inspections - ATI Academy }} He served fourteen years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing parts of Waukesha, Jefferson, and eastern Dane counties.'The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010. Biographical sketch of Joel Kleefisch, p. 45 His wife, Rebecca Kleefisch, was the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.
Early life and education
Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Kleefisch graduated from Waukesha North High School in 1989. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Pepperdine University in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://vote-wi.org/Intro.aspx?State=WI&Id=WIKleefischJoel|title=Joel Kleefisch, Currently Elected State Representative District 38, Wisconsin|publisher=Vote-la.org|date= |accessdate=3 June 2012}}
Career
Kleefisch worked as a news researcher for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles during the summer of 1992. Upon graduation from Pepperdine he worked as a reporter for WREX-TV in Rockford, Illinois from 1993 to 1994.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/52014 |title=Assembly Member Joel Kleefisch - Biography - Project Vote Smart|publisher=Votesmart.org|accessdate=3 June 2012}} Kleefisch then was hired by WISN-TV to work the assignment desk and as a part-time reporter in 1994, before becoming a full-time general assignment reporter, where he worked until entering politics. As a reporter at WISN-TV, he appeared on CNN to discuss the trial of Mark Chmura.{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0102/02/bp.00.html|title=CNN Transcript - Burden of Proof: Mark Chmura On Trial: Former Pro Football Player Accused of Sexually Assaulting 17-Year-Old Babysitter - February 2, 2001|publisher=Transcripts.cnn.com|date=2 February 2001|accessdate=3 June 2012}} He won an award for "Best investigative report or series" from the Milwaukee Press Club in 1999 for a piece about date rape drugs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milwaukeepressclub.org/honors/|title=Contest & Honors presented by The Milwaukee Press Club|publisher=Milwaukeepressclub.org|accessdate=3 June 2012}}
Kleefisch was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. He represented Oconomowoc and surrounding areas of western Waukesha County, northern Jefferson County, and eastern Dane County. In 2009 he co-sponsored legislation to increase the penalties in Wisconsin for driving under the influence.{{cite web|url=http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/author_index/assembly/A_Kleefisch_Joel|title=Wisconsin Legislature: Kleefisch, Rep. Joel M.(38th A.Dist.; Rep.)|publisher=Nxt.legis.state.wi.us|accessdate=3 June 2012}}
Kleefisch did not seek re-election in 2018 and was succeeded by Barbara Dittrich.{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/joel-kleefisch-latest-republican-lawmaker-to-not-seek-re-election/article_47fbdefe-8617-5165-b7a1-4aaa000b7379.html |title= Joel Kleefisch latest Republican lawmaker to not seek re-election |date= April 17, 2018 |accessdate= June 13, 2019 |last= Beck|first=Molly|publisher= Wisconsin State Journal }}
Personal life
Kleefisch met his wife when she was also a reporter and anchor for WISN. They married in 1999 after she moved to the station from Rockford, Illinois.{{Cite web|url=http://walker.wi.gov/category.asp?linkcatid=3549&linkid=1710&locid=177|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110108005145/http://walker.wi.gov/category.asp?linkcatid=3549&linkid=1710&locid=177|archive-date = 2011-01-08|title = Official site of Governor Tony Evers}} The couple have two children.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- [http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/iteam/140096183.html "Rep. Joel Kleefisch allegedly caught voting for absent member", Feb. 22, 2012]
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Category:Journalists from Wisconsin
Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Category:People from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Category:Politicians from Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Category:Politicians from Waukesha, Wisconsin
Category:American evangelicals
Category:Pepperdine University alumni