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Frank Lasee

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Frank G. Lasee
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 3, 2011 – December 29, 2017
Preceded byAlan Lasee
Succeeded byCaleb Frostman
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 5, 2009
Preceded byDale Bolle
Succeeded byTed Zigmunt
Personal details
Born (1961-12-11) December 11, 1961 (age 62)
Oceanside, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Kirsten F. Schneider
    ​
    ​
    (div. 2001)​
  • Amy Joy Savaglio
Children3 with Kirsten Schneider
3 stepdaughters
1 child out of marriage
Residences
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Green Bay
OccupationSalesman, politician

Frank G. Lasee (born December 11, 1961) is an American businessman and Republican politician from Brown County, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate for seven years, representing Wisconsin's 1st Senate district from 2011 to 2018. He also served 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1995 to 2009, and ran unsuccessfully for United States House of Representatives in 2016.

After losing the 2016 election, he worked two years as administrator of the Division of Worker's Compensation in the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, in the last two years of the administration of Governor Scott Walker. He subsequently was hired as president of the Heartland Institute, but was fired a year later in the midst of financial difficulties at that organization.

Early life and career

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Born in Oceanside, California, to a Marine Corps officer stationed at Camp Pendleton on December 11, 1961, and subsequently raised in Green Bay and De Pere, Lasee graduated in 1986 from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay with a major in history.[1][2][3] He is married and the father of six daughters.[4]

Prior to his election to the State Assembly in 1994, Lasee was the Ledgeview Town Board Chair from 1993 to 1997, and was a telemarketing supervisor for an insurance company.[3][5]

Political career

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State Assembly

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Lasee was a member of the State Assembly who dissented on many issues, including state budgets.[6] He was called an advocate of taxpayers, limited spending and an opponent of tax increases.[7][8] He was elected seven times.[9]

Some of his most notable proposals included the Taxpayer Protection Act and a Taxpayers Bill of Rights.[10][11]

A 2006 proposal was the "Taxpayer Protection Act". The TPA proposed to tie governments revenue to inflation, population, personal income growth etc.[10]

Lasee lost his bid for an eighth term representing the 2nd Assembly District to Democrat Ted Zigmunt on November 4, 2008.[12] Lasee blamed his defeat on the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers' union, claiming they spent $250,000 on campaign ads.[13]

State Senate

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Frank's older cousin, Alan Lasee, announced his retirement from the Wisconsin Legislature on January 11, 2010. Frank Lasee competed with Democrat Monk Elmer for his cousin's old seat in the 2010 campaign, ultimately prevailing by twenty percentage points.[14]

In June 2014, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board alleging that Lasee was living outside of his district. The Party contended that while Lasee listed a town of Ledgeview address on his candidacy papers, he was actually living with his wife and children in Racine, which is outside of the 1st Senate District. The Government Accountability Board ultimately ruled to allow Lasee to stay on the ballot and leave the issue up to the voters.[15][16][17]

Frank Lasee was challenged by Democrat Dean DeBroux in the general election, and prevailed by over twenty percentage points.[18]

In the Senate a notable bill proposed by Lasee included the Consumer’s Choice in Auto Insurance Act, which lowered the cost of insurance by eliminating the stacking clause.[19]

Committee assignments

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Senate Standing Committees
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  • Committee on Financial Institutions and Rural Issues
  • Committee on Insurance and Housing (Chair)
  • Committee on State and Federal Relations and Information Technology
  • Committee on Transportation and Elections
Joint Committees
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  • Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions (Co-Chair)
  • Joint Legislative Council
  • Governor's Commission on Waste, Fraud and Abuse[20]

Congressional campaigns

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2012 U.S. Senate election

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Main article: 2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

In September 2011, he announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.[21][22] On January 29, 2012, he announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race.[23]

2016 U.S. House of Representatives election

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Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin § District 8

On February 14, 2016, Lasee announced he would run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Reid Ribble.[24] He lost to eventual general election winner Mike Gallagher in the primary.[25][26]

Post-legislative career

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On December 29, 2017, Lasee resigned from the Senate to become administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Worker's Compensation Division.[27]

In 2019, Lasee became president of The Heartland Institute, an American conservative and libertarian public policy think tank. He was removed in March 2020, with the organization facing financial issues.[28][29]

Personal life and family

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Frank Lasee is a first cousin of Alan Lasee, who served 34 years in the Wisconsin Senate, also representing Wisconsin's 1st Senate district.

Frank Lasee's first wife was Kirsten F. Schneider. They had three daughters together before divorcing in 2001.[30] He subsequently married Amy Joy Larsen (née Savaglio), of Racine, and became stepfather to her three daughters as well. Frank Lasee is also the father of another daughter with a former girlfriend, Kari Manteufel. This child was the subject of a decade-long child support and paternity battle beginning in 2005.[31]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Senate (2010, 2014)

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Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2010 [14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee 43,415 60.04
Democratic Monk Elmer 28,800 39.83
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Senate 1st District election, 2014 [18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee 47,438 61.59
Democratic Dean DeBroux 29,555 38.37
Republican hold

Wisconsin Assembly (2002–2008)

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Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2002 [32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 10,920 62.53
Democratic Dan Katers 6,524 37.36
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2004 [33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 21,848 99.36
Independent Write-in 141 0.64
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2006 [34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 15,347 89.30
Independent Write-in 1,839 10.70
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Assembly 2nd District election, 2008 [12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ted Zigmunt 16,008 52.12
Republican Frank Lasee (incumbent) 14,687 47.82
Democratic gain from Republican

U.S. House (2016)

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Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2016 Primary[35] Sep. 9 Mike Gallagher Republican 40,322 74.46% Frank Lasee Rep. 10,705 19.77% 54,152 29,617
Terry McNulty Rep. 3,109 5.74%
General[36] Nov. 8 Mike Gallagher Republican 227,892 62.65% Tom Nelson Dem. 135,682 37.30% 363,780 92,210

References

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  1. ^ "Alumni: UW-Green Bay alums doing a capitol job," Inside, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay feature and news magazine, November 2005.
  2. ^ "Frank Lasee Biography" at Wisconsin State Legislature web site
  3. ^ a b [1] at Wisconsin Historical Society
  4. ^ "District Information - Wisconsin State Legislature". Legis.wisconsin.gov. 1961-12-11. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  5. ^ Assembly members, part 1 in 2003-2004 Legislative Directory at Madison.com
  6. ^ "Frank Lasee to vote not" Herald Times Reporter, October 22, 2007.
  7. ^ Lasee proposes another version of TPA Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine by Bob Hague, Wisconsin Radio Network, April 26, 2006
  8. ^ "'Hold the line' on budget, lawmakers told" Herald Times Reporter, October 18, 2007
  9. ^ Rep. Frank Lasee talks about his political choices by Warren Bluhm, Green Bay Press Gazette, October 14, 2007.
  10. ^ a b Taxpayer Protection Act Archived 2007-11-29 at the Wayback Machine presentation, April 11, 2006 with Frank Lasee and Jim Perry
  11. ^ Wisconsin Needs a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights by Frank Lasee, Budget & Tax News, The Heartland Institute, February 1, 2004
  12. ^ a b "2008 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "Lasee denounces teachers union after loss". Green Bay Press-Gazette. November 5, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "2010 General Election - State Senate - County-by-County Canvass" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  15. ^ Journal Sentinel Staff (June 6, 2014). "Democrats contend Frank Lasee doesn't live in his district". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  16. ^ Associated Press (June 7, 2014). "Democrats say GOP senator lives outside district". Sheboygan Press. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  17. ^ Beckett, Andrew (June 10, 2014). "GAB rules on ballot challenges". Wisconsin Radio Network. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Statewide Summary Election Results for All Offices 11-14-2014" (PDF). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  19. ^ "Wisconsin's new auto insurance law eases coverage levels - NewsoftheNorth.Net, Northwoods News". Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  20. ^ "District Information - Wisconsin State Legislature". Legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  21. ^ "Lasee says he's 'quite likely' to run for Senate". Fox11online.com. 2011-09-01. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  22. ^ Walker, Don. "Frank Lasee plans to run for U.S. Senate". JSOnline. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  23. ^ "Lasee ends US Senate campaign". Wrn.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  24. ^ "State Sen. Frank Lasee will run for Congress". wbay.com. February 14, 2016. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  25. ^ "Mike Gallagher Wins GOP Primary In Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District". Wisconsin Public Radio. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  26. ^ "Mike Gallagher wins 8th Congressional District". Press Gazette Media. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  27. ^ "GOP lawmakers Frank Lasee and Keith Ripp resign to take jobs in Gov. Scott Walker's administration". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Associated Press. December 29, 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  28. ^ Kaufman, Alexander C. (March 7, 2020). "Pro-Trump Climate Denial Group Lays Off Staff Amid Financial Woes, Ex-Employees Say". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  29. ^ Waldman, Scott (March 17, 2020). "Prominent U.S. Climate Denial Group Fires President Amid Financial Crisis". Science. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  30. ^ "Brown County Case Number 2001FA001048 Frank G Lasee vs Kirsten F Lasee". Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  31. ^ Bice, Daniel (May 13, 2016). "Where is home for congressional hopeful Frank Lasee?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "2002 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  33. ^ "2004 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  34. ^ "2006 General Election - State Assembly - County-by-County Canvass". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  35. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. September 30, 2016. p. 6. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
  36. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 2nd district
1995–2009 		Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Senate from the 1st district
2011–2017 		Succeeded by
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