Jerry Kleczka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Kleczka
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th district |
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| In office April 3, 1984 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Clement Zablocki |
| Succeeded by | Gwen Moore |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – April 3, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Kurt Frank |
| Succeeded by | John Plewa |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 3rd district |
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| In office January 6, 1975 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Casimir Kendziorski |
| Succeeded by | John Norquist |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 9th district |
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| In office January 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Phillip James Tuczynski |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 14th Milwaukee County district |
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| In office January 6, 1969 – January 1, 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Robert P. Kordus |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gerald Daniel Kleczka
November 26, 1943 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | October 8, 2017 (aged 73) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Bonnie |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee |
| Occupation | Accountant |
Gerald Daniel Kleczka (born November 26, 1943 – died October 8, 2017) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. From 1984 to 2005, he served in the United States House of Representatives. He represented the 4th district of Wisconsin, which included the city of Milwaukee.
Early Life and Education
Gerald Kleczka grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from Don Bosco High School in 1961. After high school, he studied at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee for two years. Before becoming a politician, he worked as an accountant. He also served in the National Guard.
Starting in Politics
Kleczka began his political career in Wisconsin.
- From 1969 to 1974, he was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. This is one part of Wisconsin's state government.
- From 1975 to 1984, he served in the Wisconsin State Senate. This is the other part of the state government.
In 1984, a special election was held for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. This happened after the death of Representative Clement J. Zablocki. Kleczka won this election, starting his time in Congress.
Time in Congress
While in the U.S. Congress, Gerald Kleczka worked on important committees.
- He was a member of the United States House Committee on Ways and Means. This committee deals with taxes and other money matters.
- Later, he joined the United States House Committee on the Budget. This committee plans how the government spends money.
Kleczka was known for his liberal views. This means he often supported government programs to help people. He worked to get money for:
- Education programs
- Programs to help people out of poverty
- Projects to improve housing
For many years, Kleczka represented a district that covered southern Milwaukee and parts of Waukesha County. After the 2000 census (a count of the population), the districts changed. His district then included all of the city of Milwaukee. This new district was very strongly Democratic.
Sometimes, people found it hard to say Kleczka's name correctly. He even joked about it with other politicians!
Retirement and Later Life
In 2004, Gerald Kleczka decided not to run for reelection. He retired from Congress in January 2005. He had served ten terms, which is 20 years. After he retired, Gwen Moore took his place in Congress. She was also a Democrat.
After leaving politics, Kleczka moved to Middleton, Wisconsin, with his wife. He passed away on October 8, 2017, at the age of 73.
