Walter Kunicki

Walter J. Kunicki (born June 9, 1958) is an American politician and former Wisconsin legislator. He was the 71st Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving for the 1991-1992 and 1993-1994 sessions. A Democrat, he served 18 years in the Assembly representing south-central Milwaukee.

Walter J. Kunicki
71st Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office January 7, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Thomas A. Loftus
Succeeded by	David Prosser Jr.
Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office January 3, 1995 – May 26, 1998
Preceded by	David Prosser Jr.
Succeeded by	Shirley Krug
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office January 4, 1993 – January 1, 1999
Preceded by	Peter Bock
Succeeded by	Pedro Colón
Constituency	8th district
In office January 3, 1985 – January 4, 1993
Preceded by	Thomas W. Meaux
Succeeded by	Tim Carpenter
Constituency	9th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Lois Plous
Succeeded by	Shirley Krug
Constituency	15th district
In office January 5, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Joseph Czerwinski
Succeeded by	Charles W. Coleman
Constituency	27th district
Personal details
Born	June 9, 1958 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (B.S., 1980)
Profession	attorney

Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kunicki graduated from Milwaukee Technical High School and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1980.[1]

That same year, he was elected to his first term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He narrowly won the Democratic nomination for the seat, topping a crowded seven-candidate primary contest. He went on to win re-election 8 times, even as the district was redrawn in 1982, 1984, and 1992. In 1991, after the expiration of the term of Speaker Thomas A. Loftus, who had chosen to run for Governor of Wisconsin in 1990 rather than seek re-election to the Assembly, the members elected Kunicki as the new speaker. He continued as speaker until the Republicans took the majority in the 1994 election, and then became the Democrats' leader in the minority.[1] He did not run for re-election in 1998.[2]

Since leaving office, Kunicki has worked as a vice president at Wisconsin Energy Corporation, and has worked as a registered lobbyist for them in the Wisconsin Legislature.[3] Kunicki is a member of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the National Speakers Conference.[4]

Personal life

Earlier in his career, Kunicki was an occupational health nurse and remained a member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association through his time as a legislator. He is not married.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly 27th District (1980)

Wisconsin Assembly, 27th District Election, 1980[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Democratic Primary, September 9, 1980
	Democratic	Walter Kunicki	662	21.44%
	Democratic	Narciso L. Aleman	592	19.18%
	Democratic	Daryl Laatsch	567	18.37%
	Democratic	Sam L. Orlich	409	13.25%
	Democratic	Harvey J. Cooper	353	11.44%
	Democratic	John A. Tadych	341	11.05%
	Democratic	Barbara Svetlik	163	5.28%
Plurality			70	2.27%
Total votes			3,087	100.0%
General Election, November 4, 1980
	Democratic	Walter Kunicki	7,645	75.82%
	Republican	Roger Sullivan	2,438	24.18%
Plurality			5,207	51.64%
Total votes			10,083	100.0%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1997). "Biographies and photos: Members of the State Legislature". In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 21, 27. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
2. "Kunicki, Walter J. 1958". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
3. Walters, Steven (January 18, 2013). "The Capitol's revolving door". Opinion. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
4. "Walter J. Kunicki - Senior Vice President – State Public Affairs". WEC Energy Group. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
5. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 894, 915. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart