Paul Alfonsi

Paul R. Alfonsi was born of Corsican parents{{cite web | url=https://ohms.wisconsinhistory.org/oral-history/render.php?cachefile=WSA0332.xml | title=Interview with Paul R. Alfonsi, May 27, 1981 }} in the town of Pence, in Iron County, Wisconsin, on February 13, 1908. He graduated from high school in nearby Hurley, Wisconsin, and went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Whitewater State College (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), in 1928. After graduating, he taught school for several years, and was also employed as a school principal.{{Cite web|url= https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS4768 |title= Alfonsi, Paul R. 1908 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |date= 8 August 2017 |accessdate= August 2, 2023 }}

File:Assemblyman Paul R. Alfonsi 1933.jpg

In 1932, Alfonsi made his first run the Wisconsin State Assembly, running on the Republican Party ticket. He prevailed in a five-person Republican primary, running as a member of the progressive faction.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-news-assembly-primary/129425671/ |title= Five in Race for Assembly |newspaper= Iron County News |date= August 13, 1932 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} He went on to win the general election with 44% of the vote in a three candidate race, with one of his primary opponents running as an independent Republican in the general.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WPG6E4D5P7OSQ82 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1933 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |year= 1931 |editor-last1= Witte |editor-first1= Edwin E. |editor-last2= Kelly |editor-first2= Alice |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AWPG6E4D5P7OSQ82/full/ALOI3VLIR3YJLP8A 545], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AWPG6E4D5P7OSQ82/full/AOEYL5ECNL437782 553] |access-date= July 29, 2023 }}

During the 1933 session of the Legislature, the split between the progressive and conservative factions of the Republican Party of Wisconsin finally became a formal schism, with the Wisconsin Progressive Party forming in the spring of 1934. Alfonsi attended the convention which organized the new party and then formed the Iron County Progressive Party, which immediately made him their chairman.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rhinelander-daily-news-progressive-p/129431317/ |title= Progressives to Make Fight in Northland |newspaper= The Rhinelander Daily News |date= May 21, 1934 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} He ran for re-election in 1934 on the Wisconsin Progressive ticket and prevailed over Democratic and Republican opponents.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/PK3IJRHBGDIWA8L |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |year= 1935 |editor-last1= Ohm|editor-first1= Howard F. |editor-last2= Bryhan |editor-first2= Leone G. |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/APK3IJRHBGDIWA8L/full/AEQQEIVUP7OBMS8C 557], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/APK3IJRHBGDIWA8L/full/AFRA4OAFK3FNDT8T 626] |access-date= August 4, 2023 }} Alfonsi was re-elected two more terms as a Progressive in 1936 and 1938, and was chosen as speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1937 legislative session.

In 1940, rather than running for a fifth term in the Assembly, Alfonsi decided to seek the Progressive nomination for Governor of Wisconsin in the 1940 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. Alfonsi was ultimately one of five progressives seeking the nomination, and finished a distant fourth in the September primary.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/GPUOJWPI5SXM38W |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1942 |year= 1942 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Ohm|editor-first1= Howard F. |editor-last2= Bryhan |editor-first2= Leone G. |chapter= Parties and Elections |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AGPUOJWPI5SXM38W/full/AQM4H77HCRYVLG8X 578] |access-date= August 4, 2023 }}

While serving in the Assembly, Alfonsi had also been elected to chairman of the town of Pence and a member of the Iron County board of supervisors, and continued in these offices after leaving the Assembly in 1941. By 1942, Alfonsi had soured on the viability of the Progressive Party as an independent 3rd party and ran for United States House of Representatives in the Republican Party primary.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-news-alfonsi-as-republican/129436232/ |title= Alfonsi Makes Announcement of Candidacy |newspaper= Iron County News |date= May 8, 1942 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} In another five-person primary, Alfonsi came in fourth again.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/5MPC2C75NJZEK8Z |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1944 |year= 1944 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Ohm|editor-first1= Howard F. |editor-last2= Bryhan |editor-first2= Leone G. |chapter= Parties and Elections |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A5MPC2C75NJZEK8Z/full/ARKEYFODYRTGAH8F 511] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }}

Less than a year after the 1942 primary, Alfonsi enlisted for service in the United States Army due to the United States entrance into {{nowrap|World War II.}} Over the previous few years, Alfonsi had also studied law at the University of Wisconsin and in the offices of Richard C. Trembath, but did not complete his legal education after his war service.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-alfonsi-us-army/129437498/ |title= Paul Alfonsi is Private in Army |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= July 27, 1943 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com }} After serving at several domestic bases through 1943 and 1944, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned as a public relations officer at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin in the summer of 1945.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-news-alfonsi-fort-mccoy/129437838/ |title= Lt. Paul Alfonsi Assumes New Post at Camp McCoy |newspaper= Iron County News |date= July 20, 1945 |page= 4 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

In 1946, as his service in the Army was coming to an end, Alfonsi announced he would run again for state office, seeking the Republican nomination for State Treasurer of Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-alfonsi-treasure/129438715/ |title= Paul Alfonsi Seek Treasurer Post |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= May 11, 1946 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} However, Alfonsi arrived half an hour late to file his candidacy paperwork, and was therefore ruled ineligible for the election. Alfonsi attested that he was unaware of the new 5pm deadline—the deadline had previously been midnight.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-miner-statewide-candidates/129438960/ |title= Eight run for Governor; Alfonsi Fails on Deadline |newspaper= Iron County Miner |date= June 7, 1946 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} After being disqualified, Alfonsi went to work as campaign manager for the gubernatorial campaign of Ralph M. Immell, who made a surprisingly strong run in the Republican primary against incumbent Governor Walter Samuel Goodland.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-miner-primary-election/129439257/ |title= Big Vote Here in Iron County: Shea, Lafave, Darin, Kopacz, Raineri Win |newspaper= Iron County Miner |date= August 16, 1946 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

After the 1946 elections, Alfonsi was appointed a public relations officer for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, and served in that role until the fall of 1847. Subsequently, Alfonsi returned to teaching, residing at Minocqua, Wisconsin, and worked as principal of Minocqua High School.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-politics-news/129441468/ |title= Government and Politics |first= John |last= Wyngaard |newspaper= Green Bay Press-Gazette |date= May 6, 1949 |page= 4 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

In 1950, Alfonsi attempted another return to politics, launching a primary challenge against incumbent Republican state representative Clarence W. Gilley in the Florence–Forest–Oneida district.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-alfonsi-for-asse/129442219/ |title= Paul Alfonsi Seeks Seat in Assembly |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= June 15, 1950 |page= 9 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} During the primary, Gilley used a 1940s report of the House Un-American Activities Committee to accuse Alfonsi of having associated with communists. At issue was Alfonsi's involvement with the Wisconsin Conference in Social Legislation in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Wisconsin Conference in Social Legislation was established by labor groups, but was later found to have also received money from communist sources.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rhinelander-daily-news-alfonsi-accus/129442445/ |title= Advertisement: Report to Voters |author= Gilley for Assemblyman |newspaper= The Rhinelander Daily News |date= September 6, 1950 |page= 3 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} Alfonsi narrowly lost the primary, receiving 48% of the vote.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/7UFC4I5EZMQLN8H |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952 |year= 1952 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L. |chapter= Parties and Elections |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A7UFC4I5EZMQLN8H/full/A3UU5HADMLLKD686 681] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }} Alfonsi resumed his teaching career, and remained principal at Minocqua for several more years, resigning ultimately in 1955.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-alfonsi-resigns/129443034/ |title= Principal Resigns |newspaper= La Crosse Tribune |date= April 11, 1955 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

In 1956, he announced his intention to run for Wisconsin Senate in the 12th Senate district, but ultimately did not enter the race.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-miner-alfonsi-state-senate/129443395/ |title= Paul Alfonsi to Seek State Senate Post |newspaper= Iron County Miner |date= May 4, 1956 |page= 9 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/2BH4FP76N6HMK8V |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1958 |year= 1958 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L. |chapter= Parties and Elections |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A2BH4FP76N6HMK8V/full/AVM77ANS4BVWZ48C 671] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }}

Alfonsi finally succeeded in returning to office in 1958. He announced his candidacy to run for Assembly again in June 1958.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/iron-county-miner-alfonsi-for-assembly/129443756/ |title= Paul Alfonsi to Seek GOP Assembly Nomination |newspaper= Iron County Miner |date= June 13, 1958 |page= 10 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} Since the 1954 redistricting, his new home of Minocqua was in the same Assembly district as his native Iron County. He narrowly prevailed in the primary, unseating the incumbent Republican Marvin E. Dillman, and went on to win the general election with 52% of the vote. He defeated Democratic candidate Henry J. Berquist, another former member of the Wisconsin Progressive Party.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/LRZ6UQ3SNASLD9C |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960 |year= 1960 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L. |chapter= State Party Platforms and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ALRZ6UQ3SNASLD9C/full/AM4QT536VEIAYY8C 661], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ALRZ6UQ3SNASLD9C/full/A5SL4IG6DUHQEV8J 698] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }} He was elected to two more terms in this Assembly district before the court-ordered redistricting of 1964, carried out by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/5BZZBS2FDP3LV8O |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1962 |year= 1962 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Theobald |editor-first2= H. Rupert |chapter= Wisconsin Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A5BZZBS2FDP3LV8O/full/AO3Q53FDMBKGPE9B 795], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A5BZZBS2FDP3LV8O/full/AWA5I7U5MFBHUC8D 867] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }}{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/XF6R5VAIXPXFS8Y |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1964 |year= 1964 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AXF6R5VAIXPXFS8Y/full/AZXND6DKUP2K6T8E 721], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AXF6R5VAIXPXFS8Y/full/ALJR6OGP3XIEOB85 765] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }}

Following redistricting, Alfonsi won three more terms in his new Assembly district, then comprising Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties.{{Cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/NICGVB65P4ZNO8M |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 |year= 1966 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ANICGVB65P4ZNO8M/full/ABGHLAX6VMHTJB85 741], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ANICGVB65P4ZNO8M/full/AYSSC46ZEGX6658C 756] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }}{{Cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/W5GGNB5NK26Z38S |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1968 |year= 1968 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AW5GGNB5NK26Z38S/full/ASWOATG44T6QM38V 713], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AW5GGNB5NK26Z38S/full/AU4UASJRXHUQY78L 725] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }}

He was chosen as majority leader for the 1963–1964 session. After Republicans lost the majority in the 1964 election, the former speaker Robert Haase took over the office of minority leader, but resigned in October 1965 to become state insurance commissioner. The caucus then selected Alfonsi to resume the post as floor leader.{{cite report|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2021_2022/ |title= State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 |year= 2021 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |isbn= 978-1-7333817-1-0 |editor1-last= Barish |editor1-first= Lawrence S. |editor2-last= Lemanski |editor2-first= Lynn |chapter-url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2021_2022/160_historical_lists.pdf |chapter= Historical Lists |page= 469 |access-date= August 4, 2023 }}

During the 1965–1966 legislative term, an investigation was initiated in Dane County to look into allegations of violations of the state lobbying law. Ultimately, in June 1966, the investigation resulted in an indictment against Alfonsi and another Republic state representative, Willis J. Hutnik, for receiving bribes.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-alfonsi-indicted/129449509/ |title= Alfonsi and Hutnik Face Bribery Counts |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= June 23, 1966 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} Less than a month later, Alfonsi was convicted by a Dane County jury on charges that he accepted about $100 of travel and lodging expenses associated with official appearances. The Governor, Republican Warren P. Knowles, immediately denounced the verdict, stating that accepting such expenses was common in the Legislature and Congress.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-knowles-accepted-expen/129449775/ |title= Governor Hits Alfonsi Jury Verdict |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= July 11, 1966 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Alfonsi was forced to leave office, but immediately appealed the conviction, ultimately winning a reprieve from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in January 1967, on the grounds that he lacked the corrupt intent required by the statute.{{cite court|url= https://cite.case.law/wis-2d/33/469/ |litigants= State v. Alfonsi |court= Wisconsin Supreme Court |date= January 10, 1967 |vol= 33 |reporter= Wis. 2d |opinion= 469 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }} In the meantime, Alfonsi was elected to another term while waiting for the Supreme Court decision, but was only allowed to return to office after the conviction was overturned.

Following the Supreme Court decision, Dane County district attorney James Boll initiated another investigation into the Alfonsi case, and announced in July 1967 that he would re-try the bribery case.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-alfonsi-retrial-invest/129451013/ |title= James Boll's Report of the John Doe Probe |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= July 24, 1967 |page= 32 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} Republicans in the state generally dismissed the cases as politically-motivated scheme orchestrated by state attorney general Bronson La Follette. The case was eventually transferred to Grant County, where Alfonsi was finally acquitted. La Follette attempted to appeal that verdict to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, on grounds of flawed jury instructions, but was unsuccessful.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-alfonsi-acquitted/129451824/ |title= State May Appeal Alfonsi's Acquittal |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= April 13, 1968 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Following his acquittal, Alfonsi was elected to his tenth and final term in 1968.{{Cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/63MVAJVDHMHFW9E |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1970 |year= 1970 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A63MVAJVDHMHFW9E/full/A6YRSE7PQXJYLI87 804], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A63MVAJVDHMHFW9E/full/A7E6IU2KL56CQ68B 818] |accessdate= August 4, 2023 }} He was chosen to serve again as Republican majority leader for the 1969–1970 legislative term. There was speculation in 1970 that he would run for lieutenant governor in 1970, but Alfonsi announced his intention to retire from public office in May of that year.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-politics-news/129452268/ |title= Inside the Capitol |first1= John |last1= Wyngaard |first2= Tim |last2= Wyngaard |newspaper= Green Bay Press-Gazette |date= May 10, 1970 |page= 7 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

After leaving office, Alfonsi served for several years as a lobbyist in Madison, moving his primary residence to the nearby city of Middleton, Wisconsin.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-phil-alfonsi/129452561/ |title= Another Alfonsi Trying to Make Political Mark |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= May 8, 1976 |page= 19 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Alfonsi died at the University Hospital in Madison on November 22, 1989.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-alfonsi-obit/129453047/ |title= Ex-Lawmaker Alfonsi dies |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= November 23, 1989 |page= 18 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Paul Alfonsi was married twice. He married his first wife, Irene Bresadola, in August 1928 in Gogebic County, Michigan. They were married for 20 years before Alfonsi sued for divorce in 1948. At the time, he charged mental cruelty. Almost immediately, Alfonsi married Geraldine Mae Plante in Reno, Nevada. Alfonsi had one daughter with his first wife and three children with his second wife.{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-alfonsi-divorce/129441220/ |title= Paul R. Alfonsi Sues for Divorce |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= January 5, 1948 |page= 5 |accessdate= August 4, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} His second marriage lasted through his death.

His only son, Philip Alfonsi, also became involved in politics and was an aide to state senator Reuben La Fave. He ran for Assembly in 1976, but was not elected.

{{Election box begin no change| title= Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1940 }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Progressive Primary, September 17, 1940

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Wisconsin Progressive Party

|candidate = Orland Steen Loomis

|votes = 50,699

|percentage = 33.05%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Wisconsin Progressive Party

|candidate = Harold E. Stafford

|votes = 41,311

|percentage = 26.93%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Wisconsin Progressive Party

|candidate = Philip E. Nelson

|votes = 24,485

|percentage = 15.96%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Wisconsin Progressive Party

|candidate = Paul R. Alfonsi

|votes = 22,531

|percentage = 14.69%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Wisconsin Progressive Party

|candidate = Henry Gunderson

|votes = 14,372

|percentage = 9.37%

}}

{{Election box plurality no change|

|votes = 9,388

|percentage = 6.12%

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 153,398

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title= Wisconsin's 10th Congressional District Election, 1942 }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Republican Primary, September 15, 1942

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Alvin O'Konski

|votes = 10,916

|percentage = 41.11%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Andrew Borg

|votes = 5,728

|percentage = 21.57%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Lyndon Emerich

|votes = 5,096

|percentage = 19.19%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Paul R. Alfonsi

|votes = 3,017

|percentage = 11.36%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dwight Kenyon

|votes = 1,795

|percentage = 6.76%

}}

{{Election box plurality no change|

|votes = 5,188

|percentage = 19.54%

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 26,552

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title= Wisconsin Assembly, Florence–Forest–Oneida District Election, 1950 }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Republican Primary, September 19, 1950

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Clarence W. Gilley (incumbent)

|votes = 2,410

|percentage = 51.67%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Paul R. Alfonsi

|votes = 2,254

|percentage = 48.33%

}}

{{Election box plurality no change|

|votes = 156

|percentage = 3.34%

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 4,664

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}

{{s-bef|before = John Benson }}

{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the Iron–Vilas district}} |years= January 2, 1933{{spnd}}January 6, 1941 }}

{{s-aft|after = John P. Varda }}

{{s-bef|before = Marvin E. Dillman }}

{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the Iron–Oneida–Vilas district}} |years= January 5, 1959{{spnd}}January 4, 1965 }}

{{s-non|reason = District abolished }}

|-

{{s-non|reason = District created }}

{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the Forest–Oneida–Vilas district}} |years= January 4, 1965{{spnd}}January 4, 1971 }}

{{s-aft|after = Ellsworth K. Gaulke }}

{{s-bef|before = Jorge W. Carow }}

{{s-ttl|title = Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly |years= January 4, 1937{{spnd}}January 2, 1939 }}

{{s-aft|after = Vernon Wallace Thomson }}

{{s-bef|before = Robert Haase }}

{{s-ttl|title = Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly |years= January 7, 1963{{spnd}}January 4, 1965 }}

{{s-aft|after = Frank Nikolay}}

{{s-bef|before = Robert Haase }}

{{s-ttl|title = Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly |years= October 4, 1965{{spnd}}January 2, 1967 }}

{{s-aft|after = Robert T. Huber }}

{{s-bef|before = J. Curtis McKay }}

{{s-ttl|title = Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly |years= January 6, 1969{{spnd}}January 4, 1971 }}

{{s-aft|after = Norman C. Anderson }}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfonsi, Paul}}

Category:1908 births

Category:1989 deaths

Category:People from Iron County, Wisconsin

Category:University of Wisconsin–Whitewater alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Category:Speakers of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Category:Wisconsin Progressives (1924)

Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature