Warren Daniel Braun (born June 12, 1934) is a retired

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 ...

educator,

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deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...

, and Democratic politician. He served six 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 ...

(1977–1983) representing the west side of the city of

Milwaukee 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. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...

, and was a member of the

Milwaukee Common Council The municipal government of the U.S. city of Milwaukee, located in the state of Wisconsin, consists of a mayor and common council. Traditionally supporting liberal politicians and movements, this community has consistently proved to be a strongho ...

and the Milwaukee School Board.

Early life and career

Braun was born in Eden, in

Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Fond du Lac County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du La ...

, and graduated from

St. Mary Springs High School St. Mary's Springs Academy (SMSA, formerly St. Mary's Springs High School) is a Catholic, private, coeducational system serving grades 3-year-old Preschool through High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and is associated with the Archdiocese of Mi ...

in Fond du Lac. He attended

Marquette University Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...

, where 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 ...

in political science in 1956. After earning his degree, Braun became a history teacher and football coach at Milwaukee's

Pius XI High School Pius XI High School is a private Catholic high school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Its enrollment is approximately 900. History Pius XI High School, named in honor of Pope Pius XI, was foun ...

. He also served in the

United States Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed F ...

from 1957 through 1963. In the late 1960s, Braun continued his own education at the

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UW–Milwaukee, UWM, or Milwaukee) is a public urban research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and a member of the University of Wiscons ...

, and earned his

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in history in 1970. He subsequently attended

Marquette University Law School Marquette University Law School is the professional graduate law school of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is one of two law schools in Wisconsin and the only private law school in the state. Founded in 1892 as the Milwaukee Law ...

but did not finish.

Political career

In 1968, Braun ran successfully for a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council from Milwaukee's 16th ward. He was re-elected several times. He was noteworthy on the common council as the first white alderman in Milwaukee to vote in favor of an

open housing Housing discrimination in the United States refers to the historical and current barriers, policies, and biases that prevent equitable access to housing. Housing discrimination became more pronounced after the abolition of slavery in 1865, typical ...

ordinance for the city. In 1976, incumbent Wisconsin state senator Wayne F. Whittow, who represented Milwaukee's west side district—then the 11th State Senate district—resigned in the middle of his term after his election as Milwaukee

city treasurer The municipal treasurer is a position of responsibility for a municipality according to the locally prevailing laws. The treasurer of a public agency is elected special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-larges ...

was called for November 1976 to fill the vacancy for the remaining two years of the term, and Braun decided to enter the race. In the November general election, Braun received 80% of the vote in the heavily Democratic district and took the oath of office on December 8, 1976. He was re-elected in 1978 without opposition. In 1982, the

Wisconsin Legislature The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republican ...

failed to pass a

redistricting Redistribution (re-districting in the United States and in the Philippines) is the process by which electoral districts are added, removed, or otherwise changed. Redistribution is a form of boundary delimitation that changes electoral dist ...

act and, as a result, a lawsuit led to redistricting being carried out by a panel of federal judges. Braun's Senate district was dismembered, and he instead chose to enter the Democratic

primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...

for a vacancy in

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district Wisconsin's 5th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin, covering most of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs. It presently covers all of Washington and Jefferson countie ...

. Braun came in 4th in a field of ten candidates in the primary, taking 14% of the vote.

Later years

Following the end of his Senate term, Braun was employed as director of the social ministry department of the

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee The Archdiocese of Milwaukee ( la, Archidiœcesis Milvauchiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, a ...

, and served on several state boards and commissions. Under Governor

Tony Earl Anthony Scully Earl (born April 12, 1936) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic party and served as the 41st governor of Wisconsin from 1983 until 1987. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1958 and earned a J.D. fr ...

, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice in 1983, and to a special legislative committee for studying pregnancy options in 1985. Through his role with the Archdiocese, he remained active in state politics, pushing for progressive reform of the state property tax, and writing to the Governor to request that the

Wisconsin National Guard The Wisconsin National Guard consists of the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the Wisconsin Air National Guard. It is a part of the Government of Wisconsin under the control of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. The Wisconsin Natio ...

not be utilized in support of the

Contras The Contras were the various U.S.-backed and funded right-wing rebel groups that were active from 1979 to 1990 in opposition to the Marxist Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction Government in Nicaragua, which came to power in 1979 fol ...

in Nicaragua. He was subsequently elected to the Milwaukee School Board.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (1976, 1978)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 2, 1976

U.S. House of Representatives (1982)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", Democratic Primary, September 14, 1982

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Braun, Warren Politicians from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Politicians from Milwaukee Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators Wisconsin city council members Military personnel from Milwaukee United States Army soldiers Marquette University alumni University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni Marquette University Law School alumni 1934 births Living people People from Eden, Wisconsin