Cathy Zeuske

Cathy Susan "Cate" Zeuske (born December 4, 1958),[1] is an American Republican politician who served as the 31st State Treasurer of Wisconsin and 9th Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. She was also elected to four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly and was Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.[2]

Cate Zeuske
9th Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
In office November 27, 1996 – March 2001
Governor	Tommy Thompson
Preceded by	Mark D. Bugher
Succeeded by	Richard G. Chandler
31st State Treasurer of Wisconsin
In office January 7, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Governor	Tommy Thompson
Preceded by	Charles P. Smith
Succeeded by	Jack Voight
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 4th district
In office January 7, 1985 – January 7, 1991
Preceded by	Barbara Ulichny
Succeeded by	John H. Ainsworth
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 54th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded by	Esther Doughty Luckhardt
Succeeded by	Carol A. Buettner
Personal details
Born	Cathy Susan Zeuske (1958-12-04) December 4, 1958 Clintonville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	John Gard
Children	2 daughters

Early life and career

A native of Clintonville, Wisconsin, Zeuske graduated from Shawano High School and then attended McGill University. She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[1] Prior to her political career, she worked as an insurance agent.[3]

Public office

Zeuske was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1982 at the age of 23, and served until 1991, having decided to forgo re-election and instead run against incumbent State Treasurer Charles Smith (D) in 1990.

State Treasurer (1991-1995)

On November 6, 1990, Zeuske was elected Wisconsin State Treasurer.[2] During her time in office she established the State Treasurer's Advisory Council and State Treasurer's Annual Conference for Local and County Clerks/Treasurers. She was also a member of the State Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, State Board of Canvassers, State Depository Selection Board, Insurance Security Fund, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Retirement Fund, National Association of State Treasurers, Heritage Tourism Advisory Council, Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, Governor's Commission on Dental Care, and Council on State-Local Relations.

She gave up her reelection bid in 1994 to compete in the Republican Senate primary for the opportunity to run against incumbent Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. In the September primary, she lost the nomination to State Senator Robert Welch. On November 8, 1994, Republican Jack Voight was elected as the new State Treasurer, while Senator Kohl went on to defeat State Senator Welch 58% to 41%. In 2000, Zeuske served as a member of the platform committee for the Republican National Convention. She was a member of the Wisconsin Women for Trump coalition in 2016.[4]

Cabinet Positions

Zeuske was then appointed in 1995 as Deputy for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and later as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue from 1999–2001. From 2001–2015, Zeuske was the administrative director of a non-profit organization and international leadership academy for public officials.[5]

In 2015, Zeuske was appointed by Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.[6] She resigned in May 2018.[7]

Personal life

Zeuske is married to John Gard,[8] who served as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2003 until 2007.[9] They have two children.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Treasurer (1990)

Wisconsin State Treasurer Election, 1990[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
General Election, November 6, 1990
	Republican	Cathy S. Zeuske	623,548	48.70%	+5.01%
	Democratic	Charles P. Smith (incumbent)	609,505	47.61%	-5.07%
	Wis. Labor-Farm	Lucille Berrien	28,141	2.20%	-1.43%
	Independent	David A. Ameringer	19,077	1.49%
Plurality			14,043	1.10%	-7.88%
Total votes			1,280,271	100.0%	-6.99%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	10.08%

United States Senate (1994)

United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 1994[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
Republican Primary, September 13, 1994
	Republican	Robert T. Welch	157,109	47.39%
	Republican	Matthew Gunderson	74,460	22.46%
	Republican	Cathy S. Zeuske	56,248	16.97%
	Republican	Thomas M. Fitzpatrick	43,695	13.18%
Total votes			331,512	100.0%

References

1. "Zeuske, Cathy S. (born 1958)". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
2. Eagleton Institute of Politics. "Women in Elective Office - Historical Summary". Center for American Women and Politics. Rutgers University. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
3. "Wisconsin Women Legislators − A Historical List" (PDF). Legislative Reference Bureau. Wisconsin State Legislature. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
4. Bauer, Scott (2016-08-24). "Trump unveils Wisconsin women coalition lacking big names". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
5. "Zeuske, Cathy S. 1958". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
6. Journal, Matthew DeFour | Wisconsin State. "Scott Walker announces administrative shake-up". madison.com. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
7. "Zeuske Resigns from Department of Administration - Hamilton Consulting". The Hamilton Consulting Group. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
8. "WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL". Beacon Design Handcrafted Keepsakes Since 1976. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
9. "Wisconsin 08". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
10. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 908. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
11. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 896. Retrieved May 18, 2020.

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Esther Doughty Luckhardt	Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 54th district January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985	Succeeded by Carol A. Buettner
Preceded by Barbara Ulichny	Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 4th district January 7, 1985 – January 7, 1991	Succeeded by John H. Ainsworth
Government offices
Preceded by Mark D. Bugher	Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue November 27, 1996 – March 2001	Succeeded by Richard G. Chandler
Political offices
Preceded by Charles P. Smith	State Treasurer of Wisconsin January 7, 1991 – January 3, 1995	Succeeded by Jack Voight