Warren Braun
{{short description|20th century American politician}}
{{infobox officeholder
|name = Warren Braun
|state = Wisconsin
|state_senate = Wisconsin
|district = 11th
| term_start = December 8, 1976
| term_end = January 3, 1983
| predecessor = Wayne F. Whittow
| successor = J. Mac Davis
|party = Democratic
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|6|12}}
|birth_place = Eden, Wisconsin, U.S.
|residence = Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
|spouse = Sharon
|children = 3
|alma_mater = {{unbulleted list
| University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (M.S.)
}}
|allegiance = United States
|branch = United States Army
U.S. Army Reserve
|rank =
|serviceyears = 1957–1963
}}
Warren Daniel Braun (born June 12, 1934) is a retired American educator, Catholic deacon, and Democratic politician. He served six years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1977–1983) representing the west side of the city of Milwaukee, and was a member of the Milwaukee Common Council and the Milwaukee School Board.
Early life and career
Braun was born in Eden, in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and graduated from St. Mary Springs High School in Fond du Lac.{{cite web|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS5703 |title=Braun, Warren D. 1934 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |date=8 August 2017 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 }} He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1956. After earning his degree, Braun became a history teacher and football coach at Milwaukee's Pius XI High School. He also served in the United States Army Reserve from 1957 through 1963. In the late 1960s, Braun continued his own education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and earned his master's degree in history in 1970. He subsequently attended Marquette University Law School but did not finish.
Political career
In 1968, Braun ran successfully for a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council from Milwaukee's 16th ward.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87086777/braun-alderman/ |title= Braun resigns as Pius head coach |newspaper= Kenosha News |date= April 4, 1968 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }} He was re-elected several times. He was noteworthy on the common council as the first white alderman in Milwaukee to vote in favor of an open housing ordinance for the city.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87087186/open-housing-milwaukee/ |title= Impact of Milwaukee's open housing law is minor |newspaper= Kenosha News |date= February 19, 1969 |page= 17 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}
In 1976, incumbent Wisconsin state senator Wayne F. Whittow, who represented Milwaukee's west side district—then the 11th State Senate district—resigned in the middle of his term after his election as Milwaukee city treasurer.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87087831/political-news/ |title= Lineup trouble in both camps |newspaper= La Crosse Tribune |date= February 9, 1976 |page= 5 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }}{{cite journal |url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1975/related/journals/senate/19760505.pdf |title= Wednesday, May 5, 1976 |journal= State of Wisconsin Senate Journal |volume= 82nd Regular Session |date= May 5, 1976 |page= 2249 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 }} A special election was called for November 1976 to fill the vacancy for the remaining two years of the term, and Braun decided to enter the race.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87088368/braun-for-senate/ |title= Braun to seek senate seat |newspaper= The Reporter |date= April 22, 1976 |page= 2 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} In the November general election, Braun received 80% of the vote in the heavily Democratic district{{cite report|url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1977 |title= The State of Wisconsin 1977 Blue Book |year= 1977 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1977/reference/wi.wibluebk1977.i0016.pdf |chapter= Elections |page= 910 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 }} and took the oath of office on December 8, 1976.{{cite journal|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1975/related/journals/senate/19770103.pdf |title= Monday, January 3, 1977 |journal= State of Wisconsin Senate Journal |volume= 82nd Regular Session |date= January 3, 1977 |page= 2545 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 }}
He was re-elected in 1978 without opposition. In 1982, the Wisconsin Legislature failed to pass a redistricting act and, as a result, a lawsuit led to redistricting being carried out by a panel of federal judges. Braun's Senate district was dismembered, and he instead chose to enter the Democratic primary for a vacancy in Wisconsin's 5th congressional district. Braun came in 4th in a field of ten candidates in the primary, taking 14% of the vote.{{cite report|url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1983 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book |year= 1983 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1983/reference/wi.wibluebk1983.i0016.pdf |chapter= Elections |page= 883 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 }}
Later years
Following the end of his Senate term, Braun was employed as director of the social ministry department of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and served on several state boards and commissions.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87092904/braun-archdiocese/ |title= People First |newspaper= The Post-Crescent |first= Arlen |last= Boardman |date= March 15, 1985 |page= 13 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }} Under Governor Tony Earl, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice in 1983, and to a special legislative committee for studying pregnancy options in 1985.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87093273/earl-board-appointees/ |title= Earl names state board choices |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= July 17, 1983 |page= 7 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87093103/pregnancy-options-commission/ |title= Form prgenancy options panel |newspaper= The Post-Crescent |date= February 17, 1985 |page= 12 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}
Through his role with the Archdiocese, he remained active in state politics, pushing for progressive reform of the state property tax, and writing to the Governor to request that the Wisconsin National Guard not be utilized in support of the Contras in Nicaragua.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87093945/churches-property-tax/ |title= Interfaith church task force creates its own property tax commission |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= August 10, 1987 |first= Matt |last= Pommer |page= 7 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87093744/earl-nicaragua/ |title= Earl: Guard to C. America if... |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= July 1, 1986 |page= 6 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} He was subsequently elected to the Milwaukee School Board.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87094267/milwaukee-bus-cameras/ |title= Milwaukee schools eye bus cameras |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= August 25, 1999 |page= 3 |accessdate= October 14, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }}
Electoral history
=Wisconsin Senate (1976, 1978)=
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District Election, 1976}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 2, 1976
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Warren D. Braun
|votes = 34,192
|percentage = 80.29%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Branko Terzic
|votes = 8,396
|percentage = 19.71%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 25,796
|percentage = 60.57%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 42,588
|percentage = 100.0%
|change = +136.77%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=U.S. House of Representatives (1982)=
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District Election, 1982}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 14, 1982
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jim Moody
|votes = 17,073
|percentage = 18.52%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Frederick P. Kessler
|votes = 15,804
|percentage = 17.14%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Orville E. Pitts
|votes = 15,264
|percentage = 16.55%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Warren D. Braun
|votes = 13,320
|percentage = 14.45%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Marty Aronson
|votes = 11,799
|percentage = 12.80%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin D. O'Connor
|votes = 10,368
|percentage = 11.24%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Karen Lamb
|votes = 3,814
|percentage = 4.14%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Harout O. Sanasarian
|votes = 2,812
|percentage = 3.05%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Roman R. Blenski
|votes = 1,409
|percentage = 1.53%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = John Werner
|votes = 539
|percentage = 0.58%
|change =
}}
{{Election box plurality
|votes = 1,269
|percentage = 1.38%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 92,202
|percentage = 100.0%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braun, Warren}}
Category:Politicians from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Category:Politicians from Milwaukee
Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators
Category:Wisconsin city council members
Category:Military personnel from Milwaukee
Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:Marquette University alumni
Category:University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni
Category:Marquette University Law School alumni