James Flynn (politician)

James T. Flynn (born September 25, 1944) is an American lawyer and retired politician. He was the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1983 to 1987. Prior to that, he served ten years in the Wisconsin State Senate.[1][2]

Jim Flynn
40th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987
GovernorTony Earl
Preceded byRussell Olson
Succeeded byScott McCallum
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Development
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987
GovernorTony Earl
Preceded byChandler L. McKelvey
Succeeded byBruno J. Mauer
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 8th district
In office
January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byAllen Busby
Succeeded byJoseph Czarnezki
Personal details
Born(1944-09-25)September 25, 1944
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJennifer
Children2
Education
Professionlawyer, politician

Biography

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Flynn graduated from Pius XI High School in Milwaukee. He earned a B.A. degree from Marquette University in 1970 and a J.D. degree from Marquette University Law School in 1973. He worked as a house painter and subsequently as a teacher, serving at nearby St. Rose of Lima School in Milwaukee. Flynn was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate as a Democrat in 1972, and was re-elected in 1976 and 1980.[2]

He won the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor in September 1982 and went on to win election alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Earl. He held office from 1983 until 1987; In January 1983, he was appointed and simultaneously served as the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Development. He did not run for re-election in 1986.[2] After he left office, he retired from politics and took a job as a project development executive with American Medical Buildings.[3]

Flynn ran for a judgeship on the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Milwaukee County in 1999, but was defeated by incumbent Judge John E. McCormick.

In 2003, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission by Governor Jim Doyle, and he was reappointed as chairman in 2005. His term expired in 2011.[4]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Senate (1972, 1976, 1980)

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Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (1982)

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Wisconsin Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 1982[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, September 14, 1982
Republican Russell Olson (incumbent) 276,496 36.77%
Democratic James T. Flynn 259,638 34.52%
Democratic Wayne P. Frank 150,592 20.02%
Democratic Jack H. Gleason 62,022 8.25%
Libertarian Gerald Shidell 1,766 0.23%
Constitution Diana K. Simonson 1,526 0.20%
Total votes '752,040' '100.0%'
Gubernatorial General Election, November 2, 1982
Democratic Tony Earl
James T. Flynn
896,872 56.75% +11.86%
Republican Terry Kohler
Russell Olson (incumbent)
662,738 41.94% −12.43%
Libertarian Larry Smiley
Gerald Shidell
9,734 0.62%
Constitution James P. Wickstrom
Diana K. Simonson
7,721 0.49% +0.07%
Independent Peter Seidman
Margo Storsteen
3,025 0.19%
Scattering 254 0.02%
Total votes '1,580,344' '100.0%' +5.29%
Democratic gain from Republican

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1999)

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Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 19 Election, 1999[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 6, 1999
Nonpartisan John E. McCormick (incumbent) 49,600 55.86%
Nonpartisan James Flynn 39,195 44.14%
Total votes '88,795' '100.0%' -10.86%

References

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  1. ^ "Wisconsin Constitutional Officers; Lieutenant Governors" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. July 2005. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1985). "Biographies and pictures". The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 4. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "James T. Flynn". Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  4. ^ Lueders, Bill (August 14, 2013). "Gov. Walker's picks recast membership of Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission". Isthmus. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 877, 900. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (1999). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 856. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1982
Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 8th district
1973 – 1983
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1983 – 1987
Succeeded by