Joan Ballweg (''

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

'' Gottinger; born March 16, 1952) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

politician and legislator, currently serving in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 14th senatorial district. She previously served eight terms in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

and was Mayor of

Markesan, Wisconsin Markesan is a city in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,476 at the 2010 census. The center of population of Wisconsin is located in Markesan. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a ...

. She is a member of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

Early life and education

Born in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

, she graduated from

Nathan Hale High School Nathan Hale High School may refer to: * Nathan Hale High School (Oklahoma), United States * Nathan Hale High School (Washington), United States * Nathan Hale High School (Wisconsin), United States * Nathan Hale-Ray High School, Connecticut ...

in 1970 before attending the

University of Wisconsin–Waukesha A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

and receiving a B.A. from the

University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UW–Stevens Point or UWSP) is a public university in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and grants associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees, as well as ...

in 1974. She is married to Tom Ballweg, with whom she has four children.

Career

Ballweg worked as a first grade teacher from 1974 to 1976 in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...

. She started Ballweg Implement Company, Inc. in December 1976 with her husband, Tom. Ballweg served as an alderperson on the

, Common Council from 1986 to 1989 and was the city's mayor from 1990 to 1996. Ballweg was elected to the

in 2004 and reelected seven times, serving until 2020. She served on the following committees in the Assembly: Chair of Labor & Workforce Development, Colleges and Universities and State Affairs and Homeland Security. She also served as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Council and as a member of the Wisconsin Building Commission. In addition to her legislative assignments, she is a member of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Exec ...

(FEMA) Region V Advisory Council. In 2020, she was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate replacing retiring state senator

Luther Olsen Luther S. Olsen (born February 26, 1951) is an American politician and former member of the Wisconsin Legislature. A Republican, he served 16 years in the Wisconsin State Senate (2005–2021) and ten years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1 ...

References

External links

Joan Ballweg for State Assembly
''Official Campaign Website''
Ballweg Implement Co., Inc.
1952 births Living people Politicians from Milwaukee People from Markesan, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point alumni Women mayors of places in Wisconsin Wisconsin city council members Mayors of places in Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Party Wisconsin state senators Women state legislators in Wisconsin 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians Women city councillors in Wisconsin {{Wisconsin-mayor-stub