Barbara Lawton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barbara Lawton
43rd Lt. Governor Wisconsin
In office 2003;
Governor	Jim Doyle
Preceded by	Margaret Farrow
Born	July 5, 1951 (1951-07-05) (age 56)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Cal Lawton
Profession	Business Consultant

Barbara Lawton (born July 5, 1951) is an American politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin. She is the current Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. She became the first woman elected to the position in 2002, as the running mate of current Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Lawton was re-elected on November 7, 2006.

As Lieutenant Governor, Lawton has taken on many issues, most related to economic development and climate change. She is seen as a leading advocate for women in the workplace; in 2003 she launched an economic development initiative called "Wisconsin Women = Prosperity." Lawton has also championed such issues as clean energy policy, stem cell research and affordable higher education. In 2007, Lawton authored and passed the landmark Energy Independence and Climate Protection Resolution at the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Lawton also Chairs the Wisconsin State Arts Board.

A 2006 editorial in the Madison, Wisconsin daily The Capital Times called Lawton "the boldest and most active lieutenant governor in state history."

Lawton was unanimously elected Vice-Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association in 2007.

Prior to being elected lieutenant governor in 2002, Lawton won the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor in 1998 and ran alongside the party's nominee for governor, attorney Ed Garvey. The Garvey/Lawton ticket lost to incumbent Tommy Thompson and Scott McCallum. Lawton also ran unsuccessfully for State Senate in 1992.

[edit] Possible gubernatorial run

Lawton hinted in a March 2008 interview with the Associated Press that she would consider running for governor of Wisconsin in 2010 if Doyle does not seek a third term. If elected, she would be the state's first female governor.

At the 2007 Democratic Party of Wisconsin Convention, Lawton decisively won the WisPolitics.com straw poll for Governor in 2010 should Jim Doyle decide against a third term.

Doyle has yet to make a decision on whether or not he would seek reelection.

[edit] Personal background

Lieutenant Governor Lawton grew up in southeastern Wisconsin, first in Hales Corners and then on a farm near Waterford. She worked her way through college, ultimately earning a degree in Spanish from Lawrence University in Appleton and a Master's Degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She met and married Cal Lawton when she was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

During thirty-five years living in the Green Bay area, Barbara Lawton was active in the community, helping to co-found the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and was a leader in the Educational Resource Foundation. She was also a founding member of the Latinos Unidos and the Green Bay Area Multicultural Center. She served on the Entrepreneurs of Color Advisory Board, winning their first Founders' Award. She also served on the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Foundation Board.

Professionally, Lawton made her way as an international business consultant, helping businesses export their products to the Southern Cone of South America and providing cultural training. The Lawton family lived for a time in Oaxaca, Mexico and Santiago, Chile.

Barbara and Cal Lawton have two children and four grandchildren.

[edit] Electoral history

2006 Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election (Lieutenant Governor's seat)

2002 Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election (Lieutenant Governor's seat)

1998 Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election (Lieutenant Governor's seat)

[edit] External links

• Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton official state biography
• Barbara Lawton official campaign site
• Follow the Money - Barbara lawton 2006 campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton (WI) profile
• Capital Times Editorial
• Google News on Barbara Lawton
• Wispolitics 2007 Straw Poll Results for Governor at the Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention

This article about a Wisconsin politician is a stub. You can help by expanding it.