American politician

Robert L. Cowles III (born July 31, 1950) is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 2nd District since 1987. In August 2011, Cowles faced a recall election, but defeated the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, 60 percent to 40 percent.

Contents

• 1 Early life and education
• 2 Political career
  • 2.1 Elections
  • 2.2 Recall effort
  • 2.3 Committee *ignments
• 3 Electoral history
  • 3.1 Wisconsin *embly (1982-1986)
  • 3.2 Wisconsin Senate (1987-2016)
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Early life and education

Cowles was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay in 1975. He was formerly a director of an alternative energy division for a communications construction company.

Political career

Elections

Cowles was elected to the Wisconsin State *embly in 1982 and re-elected until 1986 when he resigned to run for the state Senate. He was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in a special election in April 1987. He ran unopposed in 2008 and 2012, and beat his opponent 65 percent to 35 percent in 2016.

Recall effort

See also: Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011

Cowles supported Governor Walker's budget repair bill, including the section that removed collective bargaining. As a result, Cowles was subject to a recall effort as part of the 2011 Wisconsin protests. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Cowles" registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. On April 28, roughly 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed with the Government Accountability Board. In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified pe*ions against Cowles. The recall election was held on August 9, 2011, with Cowles defeating the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, 60 percent to 40 percent.

Committee *ignments

Cowles chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, Co-Chairs the Joint Committee on Audit, sits on the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, and is the Ranking Member on the Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology.

Electoral history

Wisconsin *embly (1982-1986)

Wisconsin Senate (1987-2016)

References

External links

• Official legislative website
• Voting record and bills aut*d website
• Campaign website