Marcel Dandeneau
{{short description|20th century American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Marcel Dandeneau
|image =
|office = Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin State Assembly
| term_start = January 3, 1979
| term_end = January 5, 1981
| predecessor = Everett E. Bolle
| successor = David Kedrowski
|state1 = Wisconsin
|state_assembly1 = Wisconsin
|district1 = 63rd
| term_start1 = January 6, 1975
| term_end1 = January 3, 1979
| predecessor1 = Henry Rohner
| successor1 = E. James Ladwig
|office2 = Chairman of the Caledonia Town Board
| term_start2 = 1992
| term_end2 = 1995
|office3 = Member of the Caledonia Town Board
| term_start3 = 1990
| term_end3 = 1992
| term_start4 = 1971
| term_end4 = 1977
|party = Democratic
|birth_date = {{birth date |1931|6|28}}
|birth_place = Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2017|2|9|1931|6|28}}
|death_place = Caledonia, Wisconsin, U.S.
|restingplace =
|spouse = Shirley Leach
|children = 6
|alma_mater = Dominican College of Racine {{small|BA, MS}}
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Army}}
| serviceyears = 1951–1955
| battles = Korean War
}}
Marcel Dandeneau (June 28, 1931{{spaced ndash}}February 9, 2017) was an American educator and Democratic Party politician. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing northern Racine County, and served as chief clerk of the Assembly during the 1979–1980 term. He also held local offices in Caledonia, Wisconsin.
Biography
Born in Racine, Wisconsin, he was the eldest of six children born to Albert and Justine (née Breland) Dandeneau, both French Canadian immigrants.
Dandeneau graduated from St. Catherine's High School in Racine, Wisconsin. He served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1955. Dandeneau then received his bachelor's and master's degree from Dominican College of Racine and worked as a full-time teacher from 1960 through 1989, first at Sturtevant Grade School, then at Mitchell Junior High, where he taught English, History, and Science. He continued to work as a substitute teacher after his retirement in 1989.{{cite news|title=Officials Indicted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2520848/marcel_dandeneau_born_1931/|newspaper=Manitowoc Herald Times|date=December 19, 1975|page=14|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 31, 2015 }} {{Open access}}
He served on the board of supervisors for the town of Caledonia, Wisconsin from 1971 through 1977. From 1975 to 1979, Dandeneau served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He then served as chief clerk of the Wisconsin Assembly from 1979 to 1981.'Wisconsin Blue Book 1975,' Biographical Sketch of Marcel Dandeneau, pg. 63'Wisconsin Blue Book 1979-1980,' Biographical Sketch of Marcel Dandeneau, pg. 88
In 1975, Dandeneau was charged with misconduct in office, a felony, and violating state campaign laws in connection with unreported campaign contributions and vested interest in granting a liquor license. He was convicted of misdemeanor violation of campaign finance laws. Paid $500 fine and $10 court costs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.docslides.com/tawny-fly/informational-from-the-legislative|title = Informational from the Legislative Memorandum Reference Bureau Informational Memorandum Revised December WISCONSIN LEGISLATORS CHARGED WITH CRIMES AND VIOLATIONS OF ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS - PDF document download}}
He was charged in 1976 with felony misconduct in public office. Case dismissed.{{cite news|title=Judge Clears Dandeneau |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2520880/marcel_dandeneau_born_1931/|newspaper=Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter|date=July 21, 1976|page=30|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 31, 2015 }} {{Open access}}
Dandeneau was re-elected to the Caledonia board of supervisors in 1990 and was chairman of the town board from 1992 to 1995. For the last 27 years of his life, Dandeneau held a monthly breakfast meeting for Racine politicians and businessmen to discuss the issues of the day.{{cite web|url= https://journaltimes.com/news/local/longtime-democratic-activist-local-politician-marcel-dandeneau-dies/article_08d5eb2b-e294-5f19-a58c-ff898d748508.html|title= Longtime Democratic activist, local politician Marcel Dandeneau dies |last=Schaaf|first=Mark |publisher= Racine Journal Times|date= 2017-02-11|access-date= 2019-02-23}}
Dandeneau died from cancer at his home in Caledonia, Wisconsin.[https://www.racinecountyeye.com/obituary-marcel-dandeneau/ Obituary: Marcel Dandeneau Served His Country and Community]
Electoral history
=Wisconsin Assembly (1974, 1976, 1978)=
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 63rd District Election, 1974 }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, September 10, 1974
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau
|votes = 2,357
|percentage = 46.48%
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = John Siefert
|votes = 2,161
|percentage = 42.61%
|change = }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Henry Rohner (incumbent)
|votes = 553
|percentage = 10.91%
|change = }}
{{Election box total
|votes = 5,071
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 5, 1974
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau
|votes = 6,613
|percentage = 57.58%
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Henry Rohner (incumbent)
|votes = 4,872
|percentage = 42.42%
|change = }}
{{Election box total
|votes = 11,485
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 63rd District Election, 1976 }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, September 14, 1976
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau (incumbent)
|votes = 2,294
|percentage = 34.79%
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Robert N. Miller
|votes = 1,993
|percentage = 30.23%
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Daniel J. Nielsen
|votes = 1,702
|percentage = 25.82%
|change = }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Herman V. Nelson
|votes = 598
|percentage = 9.07%
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = American Party (1969)
|candidate = Eleanor Both
|votes = 6
|percentage = 0.09%
|change = }}
{{Election box total
|votes = 6,593
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 2, 1976
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau (incumbent)
|votes = 12,657
|percentage = 62.14%
|change = +4.56%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Herman V. Nelson
|votes = 7,711
|percentage = 37.86%
|change = }}
{{Election box total
|votes = 20,368
|percentage = 100.0%
|change = +77.34%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 63rd District Election, 1978 }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, September 12, 1978
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau (incumbent)
|votes = 4,189
|percentage = 77.10%
|change = }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = E. James Ladwig
|votes = 1,244
|percentage = 22.90%
|change = }}
{{Election box total
|votes = 5,433
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 7, 1978
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = E. James Ladwig
|votes = 8,242
|percentage = 53.31%
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau (incumbent)
|votes = 7,219
|percentage = 46.69%
|change = -15.45%}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 11,485
|percentage = 100.0%
|change = -24.09%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=United States Senate (1982)=
{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate Election in Wisconsin, 1982{{cite report|chapter-url=http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1983 |title=The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|location= Madison, Wisconsin|year= 1983 |editor1-last= Theobald |editor1-first= H. Rupert |editor2-last= Robbins |editor2-first= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 881, 903 |access-date= January 12, 2020 }}}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, September 14, 1982
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = William Proxmire (incumbent)
|votes = 467,214
|percentage = 57.39%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Scott McCallum
|votes = 182,043
|percentage = 22.36%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Paul Thomas Brewer
|votes = 86,728
|percentage = 10.65%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Marcel Dandeneau
|votes = 75,258
|percentage = 9.24%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = George Liljenfeldt
|votes = 1,421
|percentage = 0.17%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Sanford G. Knapp
|votes = 1,397
|percentage = 0.17%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 814,061
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 2, 1982
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = William Proxmire (incumbent)
|votes = 983311
|percentage = 63.65%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Scott McCallum
|votes = 527,355
|percentage = 34.14%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labor-Farm Party of Wisconsin
|candidate = William Osborne Hart
|votes = 21,807
|percentage = 1.41%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = George Liljenfeldt
|votes = 7,947
|percentage = 0.51%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Sanford G. Knapp
|votes = 4,463
|percentage = 0.29%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 1,544,883
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dandeneau, Marcel}}
Category:Politicians from Racine, Wisconsin
Category:People from Caledonia, Wisconsin
Category:Dominican College of Racine alumni
Category:Educators from Wisconsin
Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin
Category:Wisconsin city council members
Category:Mayors of places in Wisconsin
Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War
Category:American people of French-Canadian descent
Category:Catholic politicians from Wisconsin