Joseph S. "Joe" Leean (born March 10, 1942) 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 ...
businessman and retired
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
politician. He served as Secretary of the
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services for seven years under Governor
Tommy Thompson
Tommy George Thompson (born November 19, 1941) is an American Republican politician who most recently served as interim president of the University of Wisconsin System from 2020 to 2022. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served ...
and was instrumental in the creation of
BadgerCare
BadgerCare Plus, known informally as BadgerCare, is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents created by former governor Tommy Thompson and modified by former governor Jim Doyle. The Wisconsin Department of Health Serv ...
, Wisconsin's state health insurance program.
Leean subsequently worked as a consultant to Thompson after his appointment as
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is ...
. Earlier in his career, he served ten years in the
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...
, representing the
14th Senate district.
Early life and career
Leean was born in
Iola, Wisconsin
Iola is a village in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,236 at the 2020 census. The village is bordered by the towns of Iola and Scandinavia. The community was named after a Potawatomi girl.
Geography
Iola is located ...
.
He earned his
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
from
Augustana College Augustana College may refer to:
*Augustana College (Illinois)
*Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*Augustana University College, Alberta
See also
*Augustana Divinity School (Neuendettelsau)
The Augustana-Hochschule Neuendettelsau is ...
in 1964 and went on to do graduate studies at the
University of Wisconsin–Madison
A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...
and
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...
.
He worked as a high school math and physics teacher for several years, then became owner and operator of a recreational
boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...
company on the
Chain O' Lakes outside
Waupaca, Wisconsin
Waupaca is a city in and the county seat of Waupaca County, Wisconsin, Waupaca County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 6,282 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census.
The city is located mostly within the Waupaca (town), ...
.
Political career
Leean was first elected to the Senate in 1984, representing the
14th District, and was re-elected in 1988 and 1992.
Leean was appointed to the influential budget-writing Joint Finance Committee in 1989, and became co-chair of the powerful committee after Republicans secured the Senate majority in 1993.
He resigned from the Senate in July 1995 to accept an appointment as the head of the newly reorganized Department of Health and Family Services (now the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WisDHS) is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin responsible for maintaining public health. It administers a wide range of services in the state and at state institutions, regulates hosp ...
).
He was succeeded in the 14th Senate district by
Robert Welch after a September special election.
At the time of his appointment, Governor Thompson said Leean had demonstrated his "diplomacy, skill, and ability" as co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee—where he had to forge consensus with a Democratic co-chair
Barbara Linton
Barbara J. Linton, (born June 27, 1952) was a Wisconsin politician and legislator. She served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1986 to 1998.
Born in Ashland, Wisconsin, she attended Northland College (Wisconsin), Northland College, and curre ...
.
Leean served seven years as head of the Department Health and Family Services under Governor Thompson. In 2001, Thompson was appointed
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is ...
in the
George W. Bush administration
George W. Bush's tenure as the 43rd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2001, and ended on January 20, 2009. Bush, a Republican from Texas, took office following a narrow victory over Democratic in ...
and Leean was asked to join Thompson as a consultant in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
Leean retired to Wisconsin after his stint with the Department of Health and Human Services. He remained active in state politics, however, and was an outspoken supporter of Wisconsin's medicaid program,
BadgerCare
BadgerCare Plus, known informally as BadgerCare, is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents created by former governor Tommy Thompson and modified by former governor Jim Doyle. The Wisconsin Department of Health Serv ...
, and worked with Democratic Governor
Jim Doyle
James Edward Doyle, Jr., (born November 23, 1945) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 44th governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. In his first election to the governorship, he defeated incu ...
's administration to develop a bipartisan state health insurance plan.
Personal life
Leean and his wife, Ginny, lived in
Waupaca, Wisconsin
Waupaca is a city in and the county seat of Waupaca County, Wisconsin, Waupaca County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 6,282 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census.
The city is located mostly within the Waupaca (town), ...
. He is survived by three adult daughters.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leean, Joseph
People from Iola, Wisconsin
Republican Party Wisconsin state senators
University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
Western Michigan University alumni
State cabinet secretaries of Wisconsin
1942 births
Living people