Mark Block (born October 8, 1954) is an American political strategist who worked as

chief of staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...

and

campaign manager {{Political campaigning A campaign manager, campaign chairman, or campaign director is a paid or volunteer individual whose role is to coordinate a political campaign's operations such as fundraising, advertising, polling, getting out the vote ( ...

for

Herman Cain Herman Cain (December 13, 1945July 30, 2020) was an American businessman and Tea Party movement activist within the Republican Party. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Cain grew up in Georgia and graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor's d ...

during his unsuccessful 2012 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.Gilbert, Craig (8 October 2011)
State native helps to direct Cain's ascent
''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' Block has previously worked for Americans for Prosperity. Block is no stranger to controversy as a matter of fact controversy seems to follow him everywhere he goes In 1997 Block wad investigated by the State Elections Board of Wisconsin (now part of the Government Accountability Board) and agreed to a plea agreement and the payment of a $15,000 fine. In November of 2012, the IRS was asked to investigate Block's Prosperity USA for spending over $40,000 of tax-exempt donations to pay for private jets, travel, and computers for Herman Cain's presidential bid. Tax-exempt charities are prohibited from intervening in the political campaign for any candidate for public office, no matter the post. CMD also asked that the IRS investigate a variety of other nonprofit groups associated with Block, including the Wisconsin Prosperity Network
"Herman Cain’s deep ties to Koch brothers key to campaign."
Associated Press, 16 October 2011.Biography - Mark Block
americansforprosperity.com, Retrieved October 25, 2011

Early life and education

Block grew up in

Weyauwega, Wisconsin Weyauwega is a city in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,900 at the 2010 census. The city is located mostly within the Town of Weyauwega, though it is politically independent of the town. Small portions extend nor ...

, where he graduated from Weyauwega-Fremont High School in 1972. He earned a

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 the

University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UW Oshkosh or UW Osh) is a public university in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs to nearly 14,000 students ea ...

(1977).

Career

In 1974, Block became the first 18-year-old ever elected to office in Wisconsin, when he won a position on the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors.Kleefeld, Eric (25 October 2011)
Smoking America: A Look At Mark Block
, '' Talking Points Memo'' In the late 1970s, he worked for Republican Congressman

William A. Steiger William Albert Steiger (May 15, 1938 – December 4, 1978) was a member of the US House of Representatives from 1967 to his death from a heart attack in Washington, DC, in 1978. He served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican from Wis ...

until Steiger's death in 1978, and then took a job with

NCR Corporation NCR Corporation, previously known as National Cash Register, is an American software, consulting and technology company providing several professional services and electronic products. It manufactures self-service kiosks, point-of-sale termin ...

from 1979 to 1990.http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-block/6/1a3/70 Block founded several organizations including the

MacIver Institute The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy is a Wisconsin-based conservative think tank. According to the organization, the MacIver Institute promotes free markets, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government.MacIver I ...

. He has run and consulted on numerous campaigns in Wisconsin since the 1980s. Among others, he ran Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson's re-election campaign in 1990.Associated Press (15 April 2010)
Some in Tea Party to skip state rally
, '' Beloit Daily News'' Following

Jon P. Wilcox Jon P. Wilcox (born September 5, 1936) is an American lawyer and retired judge. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for 15 years, appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson, Tommy G. Thompson in 1992 and leaving office in 2007. Prior to hi ...

's 1997 campaign for the

Wisconsin Supreme Court The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin. Location The Wi ...

, allegations of election law violations by Block were made by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. These were settled in 2001 when Block agreed to pay a $15,000 fine (though, without admitting any wrongdoing) and not to work on any campaigns until 2004.Chaptman, Dennis (6 March 2001)
Campaign Finance Lawsuit Settled
''Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel'' By 2007, Block was working as the Wisconsin director of the pro-business political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity.(5 November 2007)
Groups calls to West Bend are legal
''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' In 1997, Block was investigated by the Wisconsin Elections Commission and agreed to a plea agreement and the payment of a $15,000 fine. In November 2012, the IRS was asked to investigate Block's Prosperity USA for spending over $40,000 of tax-exempt donations to pay for private jets, travel, and computers for Herman Cain's presidential bid. Tax-exempt charities are prohibited from intervening in the political campaign for any candidate for public office, no matter the post. CMD also asked that the IRS investigate a variety of other nonprofit groups associated with Block, including the Wisconsin Prosperity Network.

2012 Herman Cain campaign

Block met Herman Cain while working as Wisconsin state director for Americans for Prosperity, and both were traveling to meetings in launching branches in

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

and

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. At a March 2010 dinner with Cain in

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

, Block and campaign aide Linda Hansen pitched a plan for how Cain could become a legitimate contender for the 2012 Republican nomination for president. Block's rising profile in the Cain campaign gained additional attention on October 24–25, 2011, when a campaign ad showing Block smoking a

cigarette A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhaled via the opp ...

caused widespread consternation and amusement., Retrieved October 25, 2011 (uploaded October 19, 2011)(25 October 2011)
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Herman Cain’s New Web Video?
''

Fox News Channel The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...

'' On October 30, 2011, allegations surfaced that the Cain campaign might have been illegally funded by Block's Prosperity USA. As a tax-exempt charity, Prosperity USA is not allowed to donate money or services to a political campaign.Eggen, Dan
"Herman Cain campaign’s financial ties to Wisconsin charity questioned."
''Washington Post'', 31 October 2011. The FEC voted on January 21, 2016, to dismiss the allegations.

Personal life

Block is married and has two children.Kurtz, Bill (30 October 1992)
Towns get up steam for Bush's visits
''Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel'' ("A Weyauwega native, Mark Block, is a senior adviser to Bush's Wisconsin campaign")

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Block, Mark American political consultants Wisconsin Republicans County supervisors in Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh alumni People from Winnebago County, Wisconsin Herman Cain Living people People from Weyauwega, Wisconsin 1956 births

Early life and education

Career

2012 Herman Cain campaign

Personal life

See also

References