Peg Lautenschlager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peg Lautenschlager
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| 1st Chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission | |
| In office July 11, 2016 – April 8, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Commission established |
| Succeeded by | David R. Halbrooks |
| 42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Governor | Jim Doyle |
| Preceded by | Jim Doyle |
| Succeeded by | J. B. Van Hollen |
| United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin | |
| In office October 18, 1993 – April 27, 2001 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Kevin C. Potter |
| Succeeded by | J. B. Van Hollen |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 52nd district |
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| In office January 1, 1989 – January 1, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Earl F. McEssy |
| Succeeded by | John P. Dobyns |
| District Attorney of Winnebago County | |
| In office July 1985 – December 1988 |
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| Appointed by | Tony Earl |
| Preceded by | Dee Dyer |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Paulus |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peggy Ann Lautenschlager
November 22, 1955 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | March 31, 2018 (aged 62) Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Osteosarcoma and breast cancer |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Bill Rippl |
| Children | 5 (including Josh Kaul) |
| Residences | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin |
Peggy Ann Lautenschlager (November 22, 1955 – March 31, 2018) was an important American lawyer and politician from the Democratic Party. She held many important jobs in Wisconsin and the U.S. government.
Peg Lautenschlager was the first woman to become the Attorney General of Wisconsin. This is the state's top lawyer. She also led the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and was a U.S. Attorney. Her son, Josh Kaul, is currently the Attorney General of Wisconsin. He was elected in 2018 and again in 2022.
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Growing Up and Going to School
Peggy Ann Lautenschlager was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Her dad, Milton "Fritz" Lautenschlager, was a sports coach. Her mom was Patsy "Pat" Oleson.
Peg graduated from Goodrich High School (now Fond du Lac High School) in 1973. She was the best student in her class, known as the valedictorian. She then went to Lake Forest College. In 1977, she graduated with top honors, called summa cum laude. She studied history and mathematics. Later, she earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1980.
Her Career in Law and Politics
After finishing law school, Peg Lautenschlager worked as a lawyer in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She helped families and people dealing with domestic abuse. She also taught law at the University of Wisconsin Law School and other colleges.
In 1984, she tried to get elected to the Wisconsin State Senate but did not win. Soon after, the governor appointed her as the district attorney for Winnebago County, Wisconsin. She was the first woman to hold this job. She worked as district attorney from 1985 to 1988. During this time, she also served on several state and national committees.
In 1988, Peg was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. This is part of the state's lawmaking body. She represented the Fond du Lac area from 1989 to 1993. She led committees that focused on drug enforcement and corrections. She also worked on committees for criminal justice, elections, and the environment. In 1992, she decided not to run for re-election. Instead, she ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress but lost by a small number of votes.
Serving as U.S. Attorney
In 1993, President Bill Clinton chose Peg Lautenschlager to be the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. The U.S. Senate approved her for this job. She held this position until 2001. As U.S. Attorney, she was the main federal law enforcement officer for 44 counties in western Wisconsin. In 1996, she was chosen to be part of a special committee that advised the U.S. Attorney General. She was the first person from Wisconsin to be on this committee.
Becoming Wisconsin's Attorney General
In 2002, Peg Lautenschlager was elected as the Attorney General of Wisconsin. She was a Democrat and took over from Jim Doyle, who became governor. She won the election even though her opponent spent more money on his campaign. She won with 52% of the votes. While serving as Attorney General, she also worked as a lawyer and taught politics part-time at Ripon College. She also led the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
Her Re-election Campaign
In 2006, Peg Lautenschlager ran for re-election as Attorney General. However, she faced a challenge from another Democrat, Kathleen Falk, in the primary election. A primary election is when members of the same party vote to choose who will represent them in the main election. Peg lost the primary to Kathleen Falk. This made her the first Attorney General in Wisconsin to lose a primary election in 58 years. Kathleen Falk later lost the main election to J. B. Van Hollen.
Her Passing
Peg Lautenschlager was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. She passed away on March 31, 2018, at her home in Fond du Lac. She was 62 years old.
