Representative Jeff Fitzgerald graduated from Hustisford High School in 1984 and originally attended the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he played basketball, before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh after his sophomore year. He graduated from UW-O with a B.S. in Journalism.

 

After a brief venture into the newspaper industry, Jeff focused his energies on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. While working with the Chicago Futures Group, Jeff traded the yield curve on Eurodollars in the futures pit.  Dealing directly with Lehman Brothers and Fuji Bank, the 20 year futures market provided Jeff an inside look at world financial markets.  Jeff spent 8 years in Chicago on the Mercantile Exchange before heading back to Wisconsin and running for elected office.

 

Jeff comes from a long line of public service family members.  Jeff’s father was a County Sheriff before being appointed by President George W. Bush to US Marshall. Additionally, Jeff’s brother Scott is a Wisconsin State Senator.  The former co-chairman of the powerful budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance, Scott is currently serving the Senate as Majority Leader.

Jeff was elected to the Beaver Dam City Council in 2000 and served on the Finance Committee, until his resignation in July of 2003.  Jeff was also elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in November 2000.

 

During his first term in office, Jeff took on a leadership role rare for freshman legislators. He spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at economic development and attracting new business to Wisconsin and served on numerous high profile committees, such as the Committee on Financial Institutions and the Labor and Workforce Development Committee.

After being re-elected to a second term in November 2002, Jeff was appointed as chairman of the Committee on State Affairs and vice-chairman of the Financial Institutions Committee. Jeff was also tapped for membership on the Wisconsin State Building Commission, where all large building projects undertaken by the state must be approved.  This position, which serves directly with the Governor, is rarely given to a second-term representative.

In his third term, Jeff remained Chair of the Committee on State Affairs, passing a number of important consumer protection bills, and a member of the Wisconsin State Building Commission.  Additionally, Jeff was elected by his caucus as the Assistant Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly.  This leadership position works directly with the Majority Leader and Speaker of the Assembly on legislative initiatives and operation of the body.

In his fourth term, Jeff was elected Majority Leader by his Assembly Republican colleagues.  Jeff played a leadership role in brokering a monumental agreement on Ethics Reform with Senate Democrats and Governor Doyle and on the 2007-09 Budget Conference Committee where he played a key role in defeating 98 percent of Senate Democrats’ proposed tax increases.

Now, in his sixth term, Jeff has been elected Assembly Speaker.

 

Residence:

910 Sunset Lane
Horicon, WI 53032

Birth Date:

Chicago, IL – 10/12/66

 

Wife, Andrea; Son, Jack; Daughter, Lauren

 

Graduate, Hustisford High School; Hustisford, WI
Graduate, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; B.S. in Journalism

 

Elected to State Assembly in November 2000
Re-elected in November 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008

Beaver Dam City Council, 2000-2003

Assembly Committee on Rules
Assembly Committee on Organization
Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER)
Joint Committee on Legislation Organization (JCLO)
Joint Legislative Council

Dodge County Republican Party (former chairman)
Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce
Juneau Chamber of Commerce
Sacred Heart Parish, Horicon
Pheasants Forever Club
Fox Lake Correctional Institution Community Relations Board
Previous Professional Employment:

Former Co-Owner, Fitzgerald Coach Lines Ltd.
Former member, Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Former director of sales, Vanguard Finance Corporation