Tony Earl
{{short description|American politician (1936–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tony Earl
| image = Anthony Earl (Wisconsin Governor).jpg
| caption = Earl in {{ca.}} 1983
| order = 41st Governor of Wisconsin
| lieutenant = James Flynn
| term_start = January 3, 1983
| term_end = January 5, 1987
| predecessor = Lee Dreyfus
| successor = Tommy Thompson
| office1 = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
| governor1 = Patrick Lucey
Martin J. Schreiber
Lee S. Dreyfus
| term_start1 = December 15, 1975
| term_end1 = November 1, 1980
| predecessor1 = Lester P. Voigt
| successor1 = Carroll Besadny
| title2 = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration
| governor2 = Patrick Lucey
| term_start2 = January 6, 1975
| term_end2 = December 15, 1975
| predecessor2 = Joe Nusbaum
| successor2 = Robert Dunn
| office3 = Member of the Wisconsin Assembly
| term_start3 = January 1, 1973
| term_end3 = January 6, 1975
| predecessor3 = Constituency established
| successor3 = Edward F. McClain
| constituency3 = 85th district
| term_start4 = October 14, 1969
| term_end4 = January 1, 1973
| predecessor4 = Dave Obey
| successor4 = Constituency abolished
| constituency4 = Marathon 2nd district
| birth_name = Anthony Scully Earl
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|04|12}}
| birth_place = St. Ignace, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|02|23|1936|04|12}}
| death_place = Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| spouse = {{ubl
| {{marriage|Sheila Coyle|1962|2003|end=div}}
| {{marriage|Jane Nemke|2011}}
}}
| children = 4
| education = Michigan State University (BA)
University of Chicago (JD)
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy|23px}}
| serviceyears =
| battles =
| rank =
}}
Anthony Scully Earl (April 12, 1936 – February 23, 2023) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as the 41st governor of Wisconsin from 1983 until 1987.{{cite web |url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/doug_moe/doug-moe-former-governor-new-wife-are-giddy/article_1852eb82-5d00-11e1-97ed-001871e3ce6c.html |title=Doug Moe: Former governor, new wife are 'giddy' |author=Doug Moe |date=February 22, 2012 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |accessdate=February 22, 2012}} Prior to his election as governor, he served as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration and secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the administration of Governor Patrick Lucey. He also served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Marathon County.
Early life and career
Earl was born in St. Ignace, Michigan, the son of Ethlynne Julia (Scully) and Russell K. Earl.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqRmAAAAMAAJ&q=Ethlynne+Julia+(Scully)+Earl | title=Who's Who in the Midwest 2005 | date=June 2004 | isbn=9780837907345 | last1=Who | first1=Marquis Who's | publisher=Marquis Who's Who, LLC }} He graduated from Michigan State University in 1958 and earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago.{{cite news |title=Tony Earl, Wisconsin's 41st governor who championed the environment, equal rights, dies at age 86 |url=https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/23/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-dies-at-age-86-after-suffering-stroke/69924369007/ |first=Bill |last=Glauber |access-date=February 23, 2023 |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=February 23, 2023}} After four years in the U.S. Navy, including two years as a legal officer, Earl made his way to Wisconsin in 1965. He was the district attorney of Marathon County, Wisconsin from 1965 to 1966, and the city attorney of Wausau, Wisconsin from 1966 to 1969. That year, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, filling the seat vacated by David Obey, who was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives.
In 1974, Earl left the Assembly to run for Wisconsin Attorney General, but was defeated in the primary by Bronson La Follette. Upon his defeat, then-Gov. Patrick Lucey named Earl secretary of the Department of Administration. Later, Earl became Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) where his list of accomplishments include addressing the State's surface water pollution.{{cite news|url = https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/former-gov-tony-earl-a-champion-for-equality-and-conservation-dies-at-86/article_3d553784-72b8-5366-89c9-f539f2c04238.html|title = Former Gov. Tony Earl, a champion for equality and conservation, dies at 86|newspaper = Wisconsin State Journal|date = February 23, 2023|accessdate = February 23, 2023|last = Schmidt|first = Mitchell}}
Governor of Wisconsin
In 1982, Earl ran for governor when Lee S. Dreyfus unexpectedly declined to run for re-election, and soon the Wisconsin Democratic Party's hopes of reclaiming the governor's mansion became very real. As head of the state Department of Natural Resources, Earl was well-received as a staunch defender of the environment and a problem-solver. Earl used that reputation to defeat former Acting Governor Martin J. Schreiber (1977–79) in the Democratic primary for governor. Earl went on to defeat the Republican candidate, Terry Jodok Kohler, in a landslide victory.
However, Earl's tenure as governor was a challenge from the start. By the time he took office, Wisconsin was marred by a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion and a 12% unemployment rate. Earl signed legislation making the 5% sales tax permanent and also added a 10% surtax on state income tax which was later reduced. Once the state was fiscally sound, Earl passed initiatives improving the environment, education, and equal opportunity. Earl appointed Doris Hanson, the State's first female to hold the office of secretary of the Department of Administration and Howard Fuller, the first African-American appointed to a cabinet position heading the Department of Employee Relations. Due to disagreements over healthcare reform, prison staffing, wage freezes, and other matters, Earl's relations with state labor Unions soured and made his tenure as governor all the more complicated.
After restoring the state following one of the worst economic predicaments in state history, Governor Earl was ousted after one term. State Assembly Minority Leader Tommy Thompson, a Republican, staunchly opposed Earl's policies and was elected in 1986 to the first of four consecutive terms. Earl Bricker wrote an essay, "goodbye to Wisconsin Governor Tony Earl" bemoaning that Tommy Thompson had defeated Earl in the 1986 election, and that his "pro-family" stance may have given him wider demographic appeal than Earl's defense of gay and lesbian rights.
Post-gubernatorial career
Earl served on the governing board of "Common Cause Wisconsin" from 1995 until 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.gmtoday.com/milwaukeetoday/editorials/wigderson/2007/wigderson_07272006.asp |title=Opinions: James Wigderson |author=JAMES WIGDERSON|date=July 27, 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527080019/http://www.gmtoday.com/milwaukeetoday/editorials/wigderson/2007/wigderson_07272006.asp|archivedate=May 27, 2011|url-status=dead |accessdate=September 14, 2008}} a non-partisan, non-profit citizen's lobby affiliated with national Common Cause. In 1990, Earl was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board and served until 1996. CC/WI promotes campaign finance reform, ethics and lobby reform, open meetings laws, voting rights, non-partisan redistricting, and other issues concerning the promotion and maintenance of accountable government. Earl also served on the board of the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation for many years until 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.mott.org/recentnews/news/2008/ABA.aspx|title=Two Mott grantees honored by American Bar Association|author=ANN RICHARDS|date=September 2, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014165717/http://www.mott.org/recentnews/news/2008/ABA.aspx|archivedate=October 14, 2008|accessdate=September 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}
In July 2004, Earl was recognized at the 12th Annual Outreach Awards for his acknowledgment of the needs of the gay and lesbian community during his term in office; he received the organization's Political Courage Award. He served on the board of directors of the American Transmission Company which assumed ownership, operation, planning, maintenance, and monitoring of all the electrical transmission assets formerly owned by a number of Wisconsin utility companies, cooperatives, and municipal utilities. He was a past partner in one of the largest law firms (more than 400 lawyers) in Wisconsin, Quarles and Brady.{{cite web|url=http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/about/board/board_minutes_110206.pdf|title=Madison Public Library Board Meeting Minutes|accessdate=September 14, 2008}}
The Peshtigo River State Forest in Marinette and Oconto counties has been renamed Governor Earl Peshtigo State Forest according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. September 25, 2019, as reported in the Appleton Post-Crescent on September 26, 2019.
Personal life and death
Tony Earl married Sheila Rose Coyle of Chicago, in the summer of 1962. They met while he was a student at the University of Chicago Law School.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119545006/tony-earl-wedding/ |title= Other Engagement News |newspaper= Chicago Tribune |date= July 4, 1962 |page= 26 |accessdate= February 23, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} They had four daughters together, and were married for more than 30 years before separating in 1995. Their divorce was finalized in 2003.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119545157/tony-earl-separation/ |title= Sheila Earl files for separation |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= July 25, 1995 |page= 3 |accessdate= February 23, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} In 2011, Earl married Jane Nemke.{{cite news|url= https://www.wiscnews.com/news/state-and-regional/gov-tony-earl-through-the-years/collection_6e9f9467-6f05-5318-837a-7d7b5137ed34.html |title= Gov. Tony Earl through the years |date= February 22, 2023 |work= WiscNews.com |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }}
Earl had a stroke on February 19, 2023, and died four days later, on February 23, at the UW Health University Hospital, 48 days short of his 87th birthday.
Electoral history
=Wisconsin Assembly, Marathon 2nd district (1969, 1970)=
{{Election box begin| title= 1969 Wisconsin Assembly Marathon 2nd District special election{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/63MVAJVDHMHFW9E |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1970 |year= 1970 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |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/AGCNHKIR6MW4JF8L 820] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Special Election, October 7, 1969
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Anthony S. Earl
|votes = 4,716
|percentage = 54.30%
|change =-3.75%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Dorthea J. Baguhn|votes=3,969|percentage=45.70%|change=}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 747
|percentage = 8.60%
|change = -7.49%
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 8,685
|percentage = 100.0%
|change = -52.62%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title= 1970 Wisconsin Assembly Marathon 2nd District election{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/4QZIH6JIJYFLR8R |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1971 |year= 1971 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |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/A4QZIH6JIJYFLR8R/full/AUG5YRXVXHW2XM87 320] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 1970
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Anthony S. Earl (incumbent)
|votes = 11,182
|percentage = 70.85%
|change = +16.55%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Thomas L. Miler|votes=4,601|percentage=29.15%|change=}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 6,581
|percentage = 41.70%
|change =+33.10%
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 15,783
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =+81.73%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Wisconsin Assembly, 85th district (1972)=
{{Election box begin| title= 1972 Wisconsin Assembly 85th District election{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/ZKQZSCWLXXUFN8R |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1973 |year= 1973 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |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/AZKQZSCWLXXUFN8R/full/AWXZ54YOQNA7QM8V 828] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 7, 1972
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Anthony S. Earl
|votes = 14,432
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 14,432
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box new seat win
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Wisconsin Attorney General (1974)=
{{Election box begin| title= 1974 Wisconsin Attorney General Election{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/K4UW47RO2T4A38E |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1975 |year= 1975 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |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/AK4UW47RO2T4A38E/full/AJU6MIV5LVP66D8K 798] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Party Primary, September 10, 1974
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Bronson La Follette
|votes = 132,538
|percentage = 40.85%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Anthony S. Earl|votes=106,041|percentage=32.69%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Thomas M. Jacobson|votes=50,678|percentage=15.62%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Gerald D. Lorge|votes=35,165|percentage=10.84%|change=}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 324,422
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Wisconsin Governor (1982, 1986)=
{{Election box begin| title= Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1982{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/ZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983–1984 |year= 1983 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |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/AZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X/full/AGQKWXMAYPPHHA8T 876], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AZJZ7PTZ7WFUWF8X/full/AOFGN7YKZ3G2CR8R 900] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Party Primary, September 14, 1982
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Anthony S. Earl
|votes = 268,857
|percentage = 45.87%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Martin J. Schreiber
|votes = 245,952
|percentage = 41.96%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = James B. Wood
|votes = 71,282
|percentage = 12.16%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 586,091
|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 = Anthony S. Earl
& James T. Flynn
|votes = 896,872
|percentage = 56.75%
|change = +11.86%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Terry J. Kohler
& Russell A. Olson
|votes = 662,738
|percentage = 41.94%
|change =-12.43%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Larry Smiley
& Gerald Shidell
|votes = 9,734
|percentage = 0.62%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = James P. Wickstrom
& Diana K. Simonson
|votes = 7,721
|percentage = 0.49%
|change =+0.07%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = Peter Seidman
& Margo Storsteen
|votes = 3,025
|percentage = 0.19%
|change =+0.09%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party =
|candidate = Scattering
|votes = 254
|percentage = 0.02%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 234,134
|percentage = 14.82%
|change =+5.34%
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 1,580,344
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =+5.29%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
|swing = 24.29%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title= 1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/KW3XV2DGSUDCO8L |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1987–1988 |year= 1983 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Barish |editor-first2= Lawrence S. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKW3XV2DGSUDCO8L/full/AI7XV3UJH7SUKD85 874], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKW3XV2DGSUDCO8L/full/AXEPJBR7FA5MHD8W 896] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Party Primary, September 9, 1986
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Anthony S. Earl (incumbent)
|votes = 215,183
|percentage = 80.30%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Edmond Hou-Seye|votes=52,784|percentage=19.70%|change=}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 267,967
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 4, 1986
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Tommy Thompson
& Scott McCallum
|votes = 805,090
|percentage = 52.74%
|change = +10.80%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Anthony S. Earl (incumbent)
& Sharon Metz|votes=705,578|percentage=46.22%|change=-10.53%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labor–Farm Party of Wisconsin|candidate=Kathryn A. Christensen
& John Ervin Bergum|votes=10,323|percentage=0.68%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Darold E. Wall
& Irma L. Lotts|votes=3,913|percentage=0.26%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Sanford Knapp
& Verdell Hallingstad|votes=1,668|percentage=0.11%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=|candidate=Scattering|votes=1|percentage=0.00%|change=}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 99,512
|percentage = 6.52%
|change =-8.30%
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 1,526,573
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =-3.40%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
|swing = 21.33%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=U.S. Senate (1988)=
{{Election box begin| title= 1988 United States Senate election in Wisconsin{{Cite report|chapter-url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/GWSZSEDPAWDVC84 |title= State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1989–1990 |year= 1989 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last2= Theobald |editor-first2= H. Rupert |editor-last1= Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AGWSZSEDPAWDVC84/full/A2Y5DPKEZG23RX8W 904] |accessdate= February 23, 2023 }} }}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Party Primary, September 13, 1988
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Herb Kohl
|votes = 249,226
|percentage = 46.78%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Anthony S. Earl|votes=203,479|percentage=38.19%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Edward R. Garvey|votes=55,225|percentage=10.37%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Douglas La Follette|votes=19,819|percentage=3.72%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Edmond Hou-Seye|votes=5,040|percentage=0.95%|change=}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 532,789
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110521205136/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=4fc7ae3effb81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD Biography] from the National Governors Association
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=David Obey}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Marathon 2nd district|years=1969–1973}}
{{s-non|reason=District abolished}}
|-
{{s-non|reason=District created}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 85th district|years=1973–1975}}
{{s-aft|after=Edward F. McClain}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Martin J. Schreiber}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin|years=1982, 1986}}
{{s-aft|after=Thomas A. Loftus}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Lee S. Dreyfus}}
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Wisconsin|years=1983–1987}}
{{s-aft|after=Tommy Thompson}}
{{s-end}}
{{Governors of Wisconsin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earl, Tony}}
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:20th-century American naval officers
Category:Candidates in the 1974 United States elections
Category:Candidates in the 1988 United States elections
Category:Democratic Party governors of Wisconsin
Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Category:Michigan State University alumni
Category:Military personnel from Michigan