American politician

Edmund J. Berner (May 17, 1864 – May 15, 1917) was a trade union activist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who served four terms as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State *embly.

Background

Berner was born in Freistadt, Wisconsin in Ozaukee County on May 17, 1864, and came to Milwaukee in 1872. A cigar maker by trade, he became active in the Cigar Makers' International Union and the trade union movement, and held various offices therein before being elected to the *embly.

Legislative races and service

In 1896 Berner ran for the *embly for the 9th district of Milwaukee County (9th ward of the City of Milwaukee) as a Democrat/Populist, losing to Republican Reinhard Klabunde. In 1902 he ran as a Socialist, losing to Democrat Jacob Kehrein, who received 1,043 votes against 1,031 for Republican George Christianson, 939 for Berner, and 40 for independent Louis Ziener.

In 1904 Berner challenged in*bent Kehrein and won, with 1,348 votes to 1,168 votes for Republican Frank Mueller, 844 votes for Kehrein, and 28 votes for Independent Republican Elias Lehman. He was *igned to the standing committee on public health and sanitation. He was re-elected in 1906, defeating both Kehrein and Republican Arthur Lambeck; and was additionally *igned to the *embly committee on libraries. In 1908 he again won out over Democratic and Republican opponents. He now listed himself as a "cigar dealer" by trade, and transferred to the *embly committee on public improvements. He was re-elected again in 1910, for the first time polling more votes than his two major party opponents combined; and moved to the *embly's committees on national and interstate relations, on cities, and on legislative procedure.

In 1912 he chose to run for the Wisconsin State Senate's 6th District seat, losing by a 97-vote margin to Democrat George Weissleder. He was succeeded in the *embly by Democrat William E. Walsh.

He died in Milwaukee on May 15, 1917.

References