Mark Neumann

Not to be confused with Mark Neuman.

Mark Neumann
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Peter Barca
Succeeded by	Paul Ryan
Personal details
Born	February 27, 1954 (1954-02-27) (age 57) East Troy, Wisconsin
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sue Neumann
Children	Tricia Neumann Andrew Neumann Matthew Neumann
Residence	Nashotah, Wisconsin
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Occupation	Home builder
Religion	Lutheran

Mark W. Neumann (born February 27, 1954, East Troy, Wisconsin) is a businessman and politician. He represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district from 1995 to 1999. In 2010, Neumann lost a bid to become the Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin. Neumann is currently a candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin to succeed Herb Kohl who is retiring.^[1]

Early life, education, and early career

Neumann was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, the son of Stella and Kurt, and one of five children. 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, Neumann briefly attended General Motors Institute (now Kettering University)^[2]

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 also did additional post-graduate work at the University of Wisconsin.^[3]

After college, Neumann relocated to Milton, WI where he began his career teaching Mathematics at Milton High School and Milton College, before the campus closed in 1982.^[4][5] In 1986, Neumann started his first company in his basement, building homes in the Milton and Janesville, WI.^[5] By 1991, Neumann's company was listed as one of the fastest growing companies in America by the magazine Inc..^[5]

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.

1992 Wisconsin 1st Congressional District Election [6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Les Aspin (incumbent)	147,495	58%
	Republican	Mark Neumann	104,352	41%

1993 special election

Shortly after defeating Neumann, Aspin was appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense by President Bill Clinton in 1993.^[7] 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%.^[8]

1993 Wisconsin 1st Congressional District Special Election [9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Peter Barca	55,605	49.9%
	Republican	Mark Neumann	54,930	49.3%

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 54 Republican pick-up seats during the Republican Revolution.

1994 Wisconsin 1st Congressional District Election [10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark Neumann	83,937	49.4%
	Democratic	Peter Barca (incumbent)	82,817	48.8%
	Libertarian	Edward Kozak	3,085	1.8%

1996

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

1996 Wisconsin 1st Congressional District Election [11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark Neumann (Incumbent)	118,408	50.9%
	Democratic	Lydia Spottswood	114,148	49.1%

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.

Committee assignments

Congressman Neumann served on the following committees and subcommittees:^[12]

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Veterans Administration
  • Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on the Budget

In September 1995, Neumann failed in his efforts on an amendment requiring congressional approval of troop deployment to Bosnia. Then, on September 29, he voted to defeat the $243 billion military appropriation, along with other freshman Members, because it didn't contain his own amendment.^[13] As punishment for his vote, Bob Livingston removed him from the committee.^[13] This was brief, and Neumann was eventually reassigned to the committee.^[14] 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."^[15][16]

1998 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 1998

In September 1997, Neumann announced his candidacy for the United States Senate against Russell 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 their own 'soft money' on his behalf.^[17][18] Feingold defeated Neumann by a slim 2% margin in the election. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Neumann had a 30,000 vote margin outside Milwaukee County, but was overwhelmed by a 68,000 vote margin in Milwaukee County.^[19]

Wisconsin U.S. Senate Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Russ Feingold	890,059	50.55
	Republican	Mark Neumann	852,272	48.40
	U.S. Taxpayers	Robert R. Raymond	7,942	0.45
	Libertarian	Tom Ender	5,591	0.32
	Independent	Eugene Hem	4,266	0.24
		Write-In Votes	706	0.04
Majority			37,787	2.15
Turnout			1,760,836
	Democratic hold

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.

2010 gubernatorial election

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2010

Neumann told the Wisconsin State Journal on April 23, 2009 that he intended to run for governor in 2010,^[20] and on July 1, 2009, Neumann officially declared his candidacy.^[21] In 2010 Neumann stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, and claimed that he wanted to focus on jobs and economic development.^[22] 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.

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2012

Neumann has announced his candidacy for the Senate seat of retiring senator Herb Kohl.^[23] On October 6, 2011, it was announced that he had raised $300,000 during the first month of the campaign.^[24]

References

1. ^ Republican Neumann announces Senate run WBAY-TV August 29, 2011. Accessed August 29, 2011
2. ^ CNN Election Profile of Mark Neumann
3. ^ Congressional Biography of Mark Neumann
4. ^ Milton College Preservation Society
5. ^ ^{a b c} Mark Neumann Biography
6. ^ 1992 Election Results: Wisconsin' 1st Congressional District
7. ^ Les Aspen Congressional Biography
8. ^ Roll Call: Off-Year Specials Often Provide No Tea Leaves
9. ^ 1993 Special Election Results: Wisconsin' 1st Congressional District
10. ^ 1994 Election Results: Wisconsin' 1st Congressional District
11. ^ 1996 Election Results: Wisconsin' 1st Congressional District
12. ^ Wisconsin Blue Book
13. ^ ^{a b} Carney, Timothy (2011-04-03) GOP anti-appropriators break up the spending party, Washington Examiner
14. ^ Freshman Challenge G.O.P. Elders
15. ^ http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/93247004.html
16. ^ Goldberg, Jeffrey (November 3, 1996). "Adventures of a Republican Revolutionary". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/03/magazine/adventures-of-a-republican-revolutionary.html. 
17. ^ Online NewsHour: Political Wrap - October 30, 1998
18. ^ "INFOBEAT> News - Morning Coffee Edition @ 11/04/98". Scout.wisc.edu. http://scout.wisc.edu/Projects/PastProjects/net-news/98-11/98-11-04/0002.html. Retrieved 2010-09-04. 
19. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
20. ^ Neumann To Run
21. ^ Steve Schultze, "Neumann to make GOP gubernatorial bid official." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, June 30, 2009. http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/49538502.html
22. ^ http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0811/Neumann_Gay_lifestyle_unacceptable.html
23. ^ http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/128586418.html
24. ^ http://dc.wispolitics.com/2011/10/neumann-raises-300000-in-one-month.html

External links

• Mark Neumann for U.S. Senate official campaign site
• Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org (2004 Senate race)

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Peter W. Barca	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district 1995–1999	Succeeded by Paul Ryan

Persondata
Name	Neumann, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 27, 1954
Place of birth	East Troy, Wisconsin
Date of death
Place of death