Mark Neumann

{{short description|American businessman and politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{for multi|the American politician in Alaska|Mark Neuman|other people|Mark Newman (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|birthname=

|caption = Neumann in 2009

|image= Mark Neumann (3903635753) (3x4a).jpg

|state= Wisconsin

|district= 1st

|party= Republican

|term_start= January 3, 1995

|term_end= January 3, 1999

|preceded= Peter Barca

|succeeded= Paul Ryan

|birth_name=Mark William Neumann

|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1954|02|27}}

|residence=Nashotah, Wisconsin, U.S.

|birth_place= East Troy, Wisconsin, U.S.

|nationality= American

|alma_mater= University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (BS)
University of Wisconsin–River Falls (MS)

|death_date=

|spouse= Sue Neumann

|children= Tricia, Andrew, Matthew

|occupation= Home builder}}

Mark William Neumann (born February 27, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. He represented {{ushr|Wisconsin|1|}} for two terms, from 1995 to 1999. In 2010, Neumann unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor. In 2012, Neumann ran for the U.S. senate seat held by retiring Democratic senator Herb Kohl, placing third in the Republican primary.

Early life, education, and early career

Neumann was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, one of five siblings. His parents were Stella and Kurt Neumann. His father was an electrical engineer for General Motors and his mother was an executive assistant. Neumann graduated from East Troy High School in 1972. After high school, he briefly attended General Motors Institute (now Kettering University).{{cite web |url=http://cnn.tv/ELECTION/1998/states/WI/S/mark.neumann.html |title=Candidate Profile from Congressional Quarterly |publisher=Cnn.tv |access-date=2012-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929080612/http://cnn.tv/ELECTION/1998/states/WI/S/mark.neumann.html |archive-date=2011-09-29 |url-status=dead }} In 1973, Neumann married Sue Link, his high school sweetheart, whom he met in Sunday school in the 4th grade. That same year, Neumann enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where he graduated with honors in 1975, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. After graduating from Whitewater, Neumann moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where he taught mathematics at River Falls High School while attending the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, earning a Masters of Science in Supervision and Instructional Leadership. Neumann did additional post-graduate work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000054 |title=Congressional Biography of Mark Neumann |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2012-06-09}}

After college, Neumann relocated to Milton, Wisconsin, where he began his career teaching Mathematics at Milton High School and Milton College before the campus closed in 1982.{{cite web |url=http://www.miltoncollege.org/index.htm |title=Milton College Preservation Society |publisher=Miltoncollege.org |access-date=2012-06-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206235315/http://www.miltoncollege.org/index.htm |archive-date=2012-02-06 }}{{cite web|url=http://markforgov.com/candidate/biography |title=biography at official website |access-date=2010-01-20 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922052032/http://markforgov.com/candidate/biography |archive-date=September 22, 2009 }} Neumann is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.{{cite web|title=Congressman confesses Christian convictions|url=http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/january-1995/congressman-confesses-christian-convictions|publisher=Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod|access-date=June 9, 2012|date=January 1995}}

He started his first company in 1986 in his basement, building homes in the Milton and Janesville, Wisconsin areas. By 1991, Neumann's company was listed as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine.

U.S. House of Representatives

=Elections=

;1992

Neumann decided to run for the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992. He faced Congressman Les Aspin and lost 58% to 41%, while spending $700,000.

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Election, 1992{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1993 |title= State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |access-date= 2019-04-06 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 897, 899, 916, 918}}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| Primary Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Les Aspin (incumbent)

|votes = 32,815

|percentage = 62.24%

|change =

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 16,547

|percentage = 31.38%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Kenneth Elmer

|votes = 3,364

|percentage = 6.38%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 52,726

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Les Aspin (incumbent)

|votes = 147,495

|percentage = 57.56%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 104,352

|percentage = 40.72%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = John Graf

|votes = 4,391

|percentage = 1.71%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 256,238

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

;1993 special election

Shortly after defeating Neumann, Aspin was appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense by President Bill Clinton in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000224 |title=Les Aspin Congressional Biography |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2012-06-09}} Just months after being defeated by over 17%, Neumann entered the special election to fill the seat vacated by Aspin. Neumann lost narrowly to his opponent, Peter Barca by only 675 votes; 49.3% to Barca's 49.9%.{{cite news|last1=Gonzales |first1=Nathan L. |last2=Kurtz |first2=Josh |url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_111/politics/33657-1.html |title=Off-Year Specials Often Provide No Tea Leaves |newspaper=Roll Call |date=March 31, 2009 |access-date=2012-06-09}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Special Election, 1993}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| Primary Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Peter W. Barca

|votes = 31,073

|percentage = 31.03%

|change =

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 28,115

|percentage = 28.08%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Jeffrey A. Neubauer

|votes = 21,610

|percentage = 21.58%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Wayne W. Wood

|votes = 8,254

|percentage = 8.24%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Charles W. Coleman

|votes = 7,567

|percentage = 7.56%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Jeffrey C. Thomas

|votes = 1,814

|percentage = 1.81%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Samuel Platts

|votes = 1,094

|percentage = 1.09%

|change =

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Edward J. Kozak

|votes = 613

|percentage = 0.61%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 100,140

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Peter W. Barca

|votes = 55,605

|percentage = 49.90%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 54,930

|percentage = 49.29%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Edward J. Kozak

|votes = 375

|percentage = 0.34%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Gary W. Thompson

|votes = 327

|percentage = 0.34%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Karl Huebner

|votes = 203

|percentage = 0.34%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 111,440

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

;1994

After losing in both 1992 and 1993, Neumann once again entered the race for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. After losing to Peter Barca by 675 votes in the previous year, Neumann defeated Barca by 1,120 votes, becoming the first Republican to hold that seat since 1971. Neumann's victory was one of 52 Republican pick-up seats during the Republican Revolution.

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Election, 1994{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1995 |title= State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |access-date= 2019-04-06 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 897, 916 }}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 83,937

|percentage = 49.42%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Peter W. Barca (incumbent)

|votes = 82,817

|percentage = 48.76%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Edward J. Kozak

|votes = 3,085

|percentage = 1.82%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 169,839

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

;1996

Neumann won re-election by 4,260 votes in a close 1996 race against Lydia Spottswood.

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin 1st District Election, 1996{{cite report |chapter-url=http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1997 |title=State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |access-date= 2019-04-06 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 878, 881 |chapter-format=PDF }}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann (incumbent)

|votes = 118,408

|percentage = 50.92%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Lydia Spottswood

|votes = 114,148

|percentage = 49.08%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 232,556

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

=Tenure=

Neumann was sworn into the 104th United States Congress on January 3, 1995, when the Republican Party gained control of both houses for the first time since the 1950s. Neumann was assigned to the Appropriations committee, being the only freshman appointed to the committee that year. While on the committee, Neumann wrote his own version of the budget, which would produce a balanced budget by 1999. Neumann voted present in the election for Speaker of the House in 1997, instead of voting for Newt Gingrich.{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1997/roll003.xml#P |title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 3|website=Clerk.house.gov|access-date=July 22, 2022}}

In September 1995, Neumann introduced an amendment requiring congressional approval of troop deployment to Bosnia which failed to pass. Then, on September 29, he voted to defeat the $243 billion military appropriation, along with other freshman Members, because it did not contain his amendment.Carney, Timothy (2011-04-03) [http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/04/gop-anti-appropriators-break-spending-party GOP anti-appropriators break up the spending party] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405062449/http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/04/gop-anti-appropriators-break-spending-party |date=2011-04-05 }}, Washington Examiner As punishment for his vote, Bob Livingston removed him from the committee. This was brief, and Neumann was eventually reassigned to the committee.{{cite news|last=Gray |first=Jerry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/21/us/freshman-challenge-gop-elders.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Freshman Challenge G.O.P. Elders |work=The New York Times |date=October 21, 1995 |access-date=2012-06-09}}

Neumann has been critical of LGBT rights in the past. In 1996, he commented to the New York Times that "if I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn't be permitted, but nobody's electing me God".{{cite news|last=Bice |first=Daniel |url=http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/93247004.html |title=Neumann avoids giving a straight answer on gay issues |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |date=May 9, 2010 |access-date=2012-06-09}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/03/magazine/adventures-of-a-republican-revolutionary.html|work=The New York Times|first=Jeffrey|last=Goldberg|title=Adventures of a Republican Revolutionary|date=November 3, 1996}}

=Committee assignments=

Congressman Neumann served on the following committees and subcommittees:{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/97bb/ch1a.pdf |title=Wisconsin Blue Book |access-date=2012-06-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418224035/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/97bb/ch1a.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-18 }}

1998 U.S. Senate election

In September 1997, Neumann announced his candidacy for the United States Senate against incumbent Russ Feingold. Both candidates had similar views on the budget surplus, although Neumann was for banning partial-birth abortion while Feingold was against a ban. Both candidates limited themselves to $3.8 million in campaign spending ($1 for every citizen of Wisconsin), although outside groups spent more than $2 million on Neumann; Feingold refused to have outside groups spend on his behalf.{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/shields%26gigot/october98/sg_10-30.html |title=Online NewsHour: Political Wrap: Feingold vs. Neumann |publisher=PBS |date=October 30, 1998 |access-date=2012-06-09 |archive-date=2000-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000305162627/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/shields%26gigot/october98/sg_10-30.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://scout.wisc.edu/Projects/PastProjects/net-news/98-11/98-11-04/0002.html|title=INFOBEAT> News – Morning Coffee Edition|publisher=Scout.wisc.edu|date=November 4, 1998|access-date=September 4, 2010}} Feingold defeated Neumann by 37,787 votes in the election, 51% to 48%. Neumann had a 68,000-vote deficit in Milwaukee County.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/159797.asp |title=GOP edges into Democratic region |access-date=2005-02-04 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030815083510/http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug03/159797.asp |archive-date=August 15, 2003 }} Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. August 3, 2003.

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin U.S. Senatorial Election, 1998{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1999 |title= State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |access-date= 2019-04-06 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 897, 899, 916, 918}}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Russ Feingold (incumbent)

|votes = 890,059

|percentage = 50.55%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 852,272

|percentage = 48.40%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = US Taxpayers Party

|candidate = Robert R. Raymond

|votes = 7,942

|percentage = 0.45%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Tom Ender

|votes = 5,591

|percentage = 0.32%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Eugene A. Hem

|votes = 4,266

|percentage = 0.24%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Write-ins

|votes = 706

|percentage = 0.04%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 1,760,836

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

Post-congressional career

Neumann stayed out of the 2004 Senate campaign, instead supporting former Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow, who did not run. Despite speculation that Neumann might run against Senator Herb Kohl or Governor Jim Doyle, he did not choose to seek elective office during the 2006 election cycle. He had considered a run for governor, but did not enter the race in deference to Scott Walker, who withdrew in favor of former Congressman Mark Green. {{Citation needed|date=June 2012}}

=2010 gubernatorial election=

Neumann told the Wisconsin State Journal on April 23, 2009 that he intended to run for governor in 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/latest/448355 |title=Neumann To Run |access-date=2009-04-24 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426171456/http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/latest/448355 |archive-date=April 26, 2009 }} Wisconsin State Journal. April 24, 2009. and on July 1, 2009, Neumann officially declared his candidacy.Steve Schultze, [http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/49538502.html "Neumann to make GOP gubernatorial bid official."] Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, June 30, 2009.

In 2010 Neumann stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, and claimed that he wanted to focus on jobs and economic development.{{cite news|last=Catanese |first=David |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0811/Neumann_Gay_lifestyle_unacceptable.html |title=Neumann: Gay lifestyle "unacceptable" |newspaper=Politico |date=August 30, 2011 |access-date=2012-06-09}}

Neumann was defeated 59% to 39% in the September 14, 2010, primary by opponent Scott Walker. Walker was ultimately elected governor in the general election.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 2010}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| Primary Election{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/electionsuat.wi.gov/files/2010%20Fall%20Primary%20summary%20post%20recount.pdf |title= FINAL Sept. 14, 2010 Fall Partisan Primary Results Summary |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission|date=2010-09-04| access-date= 2019-04-06 |page= 1}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Scott Walker

|votes = 362,913

|percentage = 58.65%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Mark W. Neumann

|votes = 239,022

|percentage = 38.62%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Scott S. Paterick

|votes = 16,646

|percentage = 2.69%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Write-ins

|votes = 321

|percentage = 0.14%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 618,828

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

=2012 U.S. Senate election=

In August 2011, Neumann announced his candidacy for the Senate seat of retiring senator Herb Kohl.{{cite web|last=Walker |first=Don |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/128586418.html |title=Neumann says he'll run for Kohl's U.S. Senate seat |publisher=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=2012-06-09}} On October 6, 2011, it was announced that he had raised $300,000 during the first month of the campaign.{{cite web |url=http://dc.wispolitics.com/2011/10/neumann-raises-300000-in-one-month.html |title=DC Wrap: Neumann raises $300,000 in one month |publisher=WisPolitics |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2012-06-09 |archive-date=2012-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330073306/http://dc.wispolitics.com/2011/10/neumann-raises-300000-in-one-month.html |url-status=dead }}

After receiving endorsements from conservative groups such as the Club for Growth and Americans For Prosperity, Neumann split the Tea Party vote with millionaire businessman Eric Hovde. Neumann came in third place, taking 23% of the vote.

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin U.S. Senatorial Election, 2012}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| Primary Election{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/electionsuat.wi.gov/files/Percentage%20Results_8.14.12%20primary.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission|date=2012-08-14| access-date= 2019-04-06 |page= 1}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Tommy Thompson

|votes = 197,928

|percentage = 33.99%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Eric Hovde

|votes = 179,557

|percentage = 30.83%