American politicianFor the American mixed martial artist, see Tim Carpenter (fighter).

Timothy W. Carpenter (born February 24, 1960) is an American politician and Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 3rd Senate district since 2003. He previously served 18 years in the Wisconsin State *embly (1985–2003).

Contents

• 1 Early life and education
• 2 Political career
  • 2.1 2011 Wisconsin protests
  • 2.2 2020 protests
• 3 Running for other offices
  • 3.1 2004 U.S. House campaign
  • 3.2 Milwaukee City Treasurer
• 4 Personal life
• 5 Electoral history
  • 5.1 Wisconsin *embly, 20th district (1984–1990)
  • 5.2 Wisconsin *embly, 9th district (1992–2000)
  • 5.3 Wisconsin Senate (2002–2018)
• 6 References
• 7 External links

Early life and education

Carpenter was born on February 24, 1960, at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee. He graduated from Milwaukee's Casimir Pulaski High School and attended Marquette University in 1978, before transferring to University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he received his bachelor's degree in political science and history in 1982. He continued graduate work at Milwaukee, but was interrupted when he was elected to the Legislature in 1984. He later resumed his education at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned his master's degree in 1995.

Political career

After graduating from college, Carpenter worked briefly at a number of jobs, at Rustlers Steak House and as a courier for Federal Express. He had become involved with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin at an early age and became a member of the state party's administrative committee. In 1984, at age 24, while still a student at the La Follette School, he jumped into the race for Wisconsin State *embly in the open 20th *embly district seat. The 20th *embly district was heavily Democratic, based in southern Milwaukee—Carpenter faced five opponents in the Democratic primary. He prevailed in the six-way race with just 27% of the vote, and faced no opponent in the 1984 general election.

Carpenter was elected to the Wisconsin State *embly in 1984 and served nine terms representing the 9th *embly District until 2002, holding the post of Speaker Pro Tempore in 1993. He was first elected to represent Wisconsin's 3rd Senate District in 2002. During the 2007–08 biennium, he served as President Pro Tempore of the Wisconsin State Senate.

During the 2007-08 biennium, he was the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Job Creation.

Carpenter is currently a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services; the Senate Committee of Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs; and he serves on the Transportation Projects Commission. Senator Tim Carpenter

He was also previously the Chair of the Legislative Council Study Committee on addressing recidivism in High-Risk Juvenile Offenders. 2008 Interim Study Committees

2011 Wisconsin protests

See also: 2011 Wisconsin protests

During the protests in Wisconsin, Carpenter, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. Based on the revelations from a prank phone call on Gov. Walker, detailing plans to p* his bill, Carpenter called upon Gov. Walker to resign.

2020 protests

On June 23, 2020, Carpenter was recording a protest near the Wisconsin state capitol when he was *aulted by BLM (Black Lives Matter) protesters. A short time later he collapsed and was taken to the hospital for a suspected concussion.

Running for other offices

2004 U.S. House campaign

In 2004, Carpenter unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for United States House of Representatives in the 4th congressional district, losing the primary election to fellow state senator Gwen Moore.

Milwaukee City Treasurer

In February 2012, Carpenter was one of two State Senators (the other being fellow Democrat Spencer Coggs) to win a place on the ballot for Milwaukee City Treasurer in the Spring 2012 election, defeating former State Treasurer Dawn Marie S* and Socialist Rick Kissell in the non-partisan primary. Coggs polled 13,559 votes; Carpenter 12,880; S* 5,089 and Kissell 2,241. In the general election, Coggs won 35,096 votes to Carpenter's 34,293.

Personal life

Carpenter is gay, and is one of three openly LGBT members of the Wisconsin Legislature. He is a member of the Sierra Club; Jackson Park Neighborhood *ociation; Story Hill Neighborhood *ociation; and the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home Advisory Council.

Electoral history

Wisconsin *embly, 20th district (1984–1990)

Wisconsin *embly, 9th district (1992–2000)

Wisconsin Senate (2002–2018)

References

External links

• Profile at the Wisconsin Senate
• Senator Tim Carpenter (archive) at the Wisconsin State Legislature
  • cons*uency site (archive)
• Tim Carpenter Archived 2019-09-16 at the Wayback Machine official campaign site
• Profile at Vote Smart
• 3rd Senate District, Senator Carpenter Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine in the Wisconsin Blue Book (2005–2006)