part eff. 12-1-97
part eff. 3-1-98
part eff. 1-1-98
part eff. 3-1-98
part eff. 5-1-98
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Communications
September 25, 1997
Republican Leadership
Wisconsin State Assembly
State Capitol Building
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Leadership Members:
I recently accepted a new assignment in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The new position will be a most interesting challenge.
My replacement has not been decided. Please continue to support my Deputy Sergeant Steve Kelly and Executive Assistant Anne Tonnon who have supported me, and have made the Sergeant at Arms staff a professional organization.
I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for our association and your cooperation during my term as Sergeant at Arms. I hope and trust your future will be blessed with good health and filled with much happiness.
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Thanks again for this fine honor to serve the Legislature.
Sincerely,
John A. Scocos
Assembly Sergeant at Arms
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SPECIAL GUESTS
Representative Kunicki and former Representative Brancel escorted former Sergeant-at-Arms John Scocos to the podium, where they presented him with gifts and addressed the members from the rostrum.
Representatives Foti and Linton escorted former Assembly Speaker and Representative Ben Brancel to the podium, where they presented him with gifts and addressed the members from the rostrum.
Representative Coggs asked unanimous consent that his leave of absence be lifted. Granted.
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Communications
October 30, 1997
Stephen J. Freese
Speaker Pro Tempore
Room 115 West, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Representative Freese:
As you are aware, I have accepted a position in the Governor's Cabinet as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The position necessitates that I resign my current position as State Representative and Speaker of the Assembly. Therefore, Please allow this letter to serve as my official notice of resignation from the Wisconsin State Assembly. I am resigning my post as Speaker and, concurrently as State Representative effective Sunday, November 2 at 5:00 p.m.
I have enjoyed my 11 years in state service, particularly the last 11 months as Speaker. Thank you for your time and fellowship during my tenure.
Sincerely,
Ben Brancel
Assembly Speaker
42nd Assembly District
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November 3, 1997
Charles Sanders
Assembly Chief Clerk
402 Main Street
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Charlie:
I have just received notice of Ben Brancel's resignation as speaker of the assembly.
As speaker pro tempore of the assembly, under Assembly Rule
3(2), I may now exercise all the powers and shall carry out all the duties of the speaker.
I am hereby notifying you, as Assembly Chief Clerk, that I am scheduling an election to fill the vacancy of speaker of the assembly for November 4, 1997 at 10:01 a.m. Under Assembly Rule
1, a midterm vacancy in such an office shall be filled by an election scheduled by the acting speaker as a special order of business. I am requesting that this special order of business be placed on the calendar for November 4.
Sincerely,
Stephen J. Freese
Acting Speaker
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SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
AT 10:01 A.M. ON
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
ELECTION OF SPEAKER
Representative Owens nominated Representative Jensen for the position of Speaker of the Assembly.
Representative Murat nominated Representative Schneider for the position of Speaker of the Assembly.
There being no further nominations, the chair declared nominations closed.
The clerk called the roll.
The result follows:
For Representative Jensen - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Brandemuehl, Dobyns, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Harsdorf, Hoven, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, M. Lehman, Lorge, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Porter, Powers, Schafer, Seratti, Skindrud, Sykora, Underheim, Urban, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wieckert and Zukowski - 51.
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For Representative Schneider - Representatives Baldwin, Baumgart, Black, Bock, Boyle, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dueholm, Gronemus, Hanson, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Huber, Hubler, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, Kunicki, La Fave, J. Lehman, Linton, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Notestein, Plale, Plouff, R. Potter, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schneider, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Travis, Turner, Vander Loop, Wasserman, Williams, Wood, L. Young, R. Young and Ziegelbauer - 47.
Absent or not voting - None.
Representative Jensen was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Representatives Albers and Hanson escorted Representative Jensen to the rostrum.
The oath of office was administered by Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge J. Mac Davis.
Speaker Jensen in the chair.
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REMARKS BY THE SPEAKER
"Thank you very much for the faith you have shown in me by electing me Speaker. This is a great responsibility and a rare privilege. For in the century and a half we have been a state, only seventy men have been elected Speaker, and only three of those have reached this post by a special election. (In fact, Governor Thompson reminded me the other day that the job of Speaker of the Assembly was the one job he always wanted in government but never achieved. I naturally suggested we trade jobs but he naturally said no.)
