Peter Barca
14th Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
GovernorTony Evers
Preceded byRichard G. Chandler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 1st district
In office
May 4, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byLes Aspin
Succeeded byMark Neumann
Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 3, 2011 – September 30, 2017
Preceded byJeff Fitzgerald
Succeeded byGordon Hintz
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 64th district
In office
January 5, 2009 – January 8, 2019
Preceded byJames Kreuser
Succeeded byTip McGuire
In office
January 7, 1985 – May 4, 1993
Preceded byJoseph Wimmer
Succeeded byJames Kreuser
Personal details
Born
Peter William Barca

(1955-08-07) August 7, 1955
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKathleen Barca
Children2
ResidenceKenosha, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Harvard University
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Peter William Barca (born August 7, 1955) is an American Democratic politician and the current Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in the administration of Governor Tony Evers. Barca is a lifelong resident of the Kenosha area.[1]

Barca represented the northern part of the city of Kenosha and surrounding areas in the Wisconsin State Assembly for nine terms, covering the years 1985 through 1993 and 2009 through 2019, and was the Democratic floor leader from 2011 through 2017. He also served as a member of the 103rd U.S. Congress between 1993 and 1995, and was the Midwest Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration during the presidency of Bill Clinton.

Early life and education

Barca was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 7, 1955, and spent his entire youth in the Kenosha area. He graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1973 and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He attended Harvard Graduate School and went on to earn an M.A. in public administration and educational administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1983.[2]

Starting his career as a teacher of the emotionally disturbed and a team leader for students with special needs, Barca went on to become the director of the Friendship Camp, a camp for children with disabilities. He also served as an employment specialist.[3]

Wisconsin State Assembly

Barca entered politics in 1984 when he won his first election to the State Assembly, succeeding Joseph Wimmer in the 64th District. At the time, the 64th District had just been redrawn to cover the northern half of the city of Kenosha and the town of Somers.

During his initial tenure in the State Capitol, Barca authored and passed a wide variety of proposals covering issues such as economic development, protection for seniors and the disabled, education, employment and job training, criminal justice, and environmental protection. He also worked closely with the Kenosha delegation to help pass legislation that led to the creation of the Lakeview Corporate Park.

Barca also chaired several special legislative committees that led to Wisconsin’s nationally recognized welfare reform program, implemented the award-winning 'one stop shop' employment and training systems, and developed the roadmap for rail services between Kenosha and Milwaukee.[1]

In 1991 and 1993, Barca was elected Majority Caucus Chairperson in the State Assembly.

Barca resigned his seat in 1993 after being elected to U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. Congress

In early 1993, newly-inaugurated President Bill Clinton appointed 22-year incumbent congressman Les Aspin as United States Secretary of Defense. Aspin therefore had to resign his seat in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district and a special election was called to fill the balance of his term in the 103rd United States Congress. Barca narrowly won a competitive Democratic Primary election, fending off fellow State Assemblymembers Jeffrey A. Neubauer of Racine and Wayne W. Wood of Janesville. In the general election, Barca faced Republican Mark Neumann, who had been Aspin's opponent in November 1992. Barca won by only 675 votes, mainly due to a weak showing in Racine.[4] Neumann, in turn, defeated Barca in the regular 1994 election 17 months later.[5]

Post-Congressional career

After Barca narrowly lost his re-election bid, President Clinton appointed him to serve as Midwest Regional Administrator to the U.S. Small Business Administration. He also served as National Ombudsman to the SBA. Barca was also leader of the National Regulatory Fairness Program, an initiative which included more than fifty company presidents throughout the country aimed at making regulatory enforcement small business friendly. He later went on to become Vice President and then President of Aurora Associates International, an international project management company.[6]

Return to politics

In November 2008, after a 14-year absence, Barca was elected to represent the 64th District once again. He was again chosen to be Majority Caucus Chairperson, and served as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, and chair of the Partnership for a Stronger Economy.

As chair of the Partnership for a Stronger Economy, Barca traveled the state meeting with various small businesses owners and economic development professionals to craft an economic plan for Wisconsin. The Partnership led the way in helping to pass over 50 economic initiatives in the 2009–10 legislative session, including the Small Business Capital Access Program and the Entrepreneurial Assistance Grant Program, both authored by Barca.[3]

In the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans won complete control of government in Wisconsin. Following the election, Barca was elected by his colleagues to serve as Assembly Democratic Leader in the 100th Wisconsin Legislative Session.[7] He remained leader of the Democratic minority until September 2017, when he stepped down to focus more attention on his own constituency.[8]

In the 2011 legislative session, Barca rose to national prominence as a leader in the struggle against Governor Scott Walker's proposed changes to collective bargaining in Wisconsin. Barca also led Assembly Democrats in protesting the Republicans' alleged violation of open meetings laws.[9]

Barca authored legislation to ban text messaging while driving in Wisconsin.[10]

On January 7, 2019, newly-inaugurated Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers nominated Mr. Barca to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Barca resigned his Assembly seat the next day. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and Financial Institutions unanimously approved his nomination on February 22, 2019, and the full Senate confirmed his appointment on October 8, 2019.[11][12]

Redistricting

For most of his career representing the 64th District, his constituency was drawn to cover the northern half of the city of Kenosha and a portion of the town of Somers, in Kenosha County. In 2011, however, the new Republican majority used their power to redraw the state's legislative maps. Barca's district was altered to add southern portions of Racine County, including the village of Elmwood Park, as well as parts of the village of Mount Pleasant and the city of Racine. The redrawn map was designed by the new Republican majority to remove Democratic-leaning precincts from what had been the 62nd assembly district, and by doing so, also removing those precincts from the 21st senate district, which is defined by the boundaries of the 61st, 62nd and 63rd assembly districts. This, along with other changes, successfully gerrymandered the previously-competitive 62nd assembly and 21st senate districts into safely Republican seats.[13][14]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1984-1992)

Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 1984[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca 3,212 32.83%
Democratic Marlene Mura 1,898 19.40%
Democratic David D. Holtze, Sr. 1,328 13.57%
Democratic Mark C. Lindas 1,110 11.34%
Democratic Gerald F. Bellow 903 9.23%
Democratic Frank J. Perone 471 4.81%
Democratic Charles E. Waller 470 4.80%
Republican Gary T. Adelsen 309 3.16%
Democratic Kenneth A. Slade 71 0.73%
Constitution Tony Michetti 13 0.13%
Total votes 9,785 100.0%
General Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca 14,745 78.43%
Republican Gary T. Adelsen 3,741 19.90%
Constitution Tony Michetti 315 1.68%
Total votes 18,801 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 1986[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 4,751 92.88%
Republican Timothy G. Blackmon 364 7.12%
Total votes 5,115 100.0%
General Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 9,439 82.20%
Republican Timothy G. Blackmon 2,044 17.80%
Total votes 11,483 100.0% -38.92%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 1988[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 7,058 100.0%
Total votes 7,058 100.0%
General Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 14,126 100.0%
Total votes 14,126 100.0% +23.02%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 1990[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 2,650 90.11%
Republican Michael F. Phebus 291 9.89%
Total votes 2,941 100.0%
General Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 7,389 74.20%
Republican Michael F. Phebus 2,569 25.80%
Total votes 9,958 100.0% -29.51%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 1992[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 4,760 100.0%
Total votes 4,760 100.0%
General Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 15,730 100.0%
Total votes 15,730 100.0% +57.96%
Democratic hold

U.S. House of Representatives (1993, 1994)

Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District Special Election, 1993[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Primary Election, April 6, 1993
Democratic Peter W. Barca 31,073 48.67%
Democratic Jeffrey A. Neubauer 21,610 33.85%
Democratic Wayne W. Wood 8,254 12.93%
Democratic Jeffrey C. Thomas 1,814 2.84%
Democratic Samuel Platts 1,094 1.71%
Total votes 63,845 100.0%
Special Election, May 4, 1993
Democratic Peter W. Barca 55,605 49.90%
Republican Mark W. Neumann 54,930 49.29%
Libertarian Edward J. Kozak 375 0.34%
Independent Gary W. Thompson 327 0.29%
Independent Karl Huebner 203 0.18%
Plurality 675 0.61%
Total votes 111,440 100.0%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District Election, 1994[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 1994
Republican Mark W. Neumann 83,937 49.42%
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 82,817 48.76%
Libertarian Edward J. Kozak 3,085 1.82%
Plurality 1,120 0.66%
Total votes 169,839 100.0% +52.40%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 1.27%

Wisconsin Assembly (2008-2018)

Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca 3,134 74.51%
Democratic Jim Huff 928 22.06%
Democratic Michael J. Orth 122 2.90%
Write-ins 22 0.52%
Total votes 4,206 100.0%
General Election[21]
Democratic Peter W. Barca 19,739 98.71%
Write-ins 257 1.29%
Total votes 19,996 100.0%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 1,466 95.07%
Libertarian Daane Hoffman 8 0.52%
Write-ins 68 4.41%
Total votes 1,542 100.0%
General Election[22]
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 9,667 84.17%
Libertarian Daane Hoffman 1,774 15.45%
Write-ins 44 0.38%
Total votes 11,485 100.0% -42.56%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 1,943 96.62%
Write-ins 68 3.38%
Total votes 2,011 100.0%
General Election[23]
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 20,264 96.84%
Write-ins 662 3.16%
Total votes 20,926 100.0% +82.20%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 2,124 97.93%
Write-ins 45 2.07%
Total votes 2,169 100.0%
General Election[24]
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 13,887 95.54%
Write-ins 649 4.46%
Total votes 14,536 100.0% -30.54%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 2,207 97.74%
Write-ins 51 2.26%
Total votes 2,258 100.0%
General Election[25]
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 18,799 97.67%
Write-ins 449 2.33%
Total votes 19,248 100.0% +32.42%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 64th District Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 4,996 98.25%
Constitution Thomas Harland 6 0.12%
Write-ins 83 1.63%
Total votes 5,085 100.0%
General Election[26]
Democratic Peter W. Barca (incumbent) 16,773 78.32%
Constitution Thomas Harland 4,441 20.74%
Write-ins 202 0.94%
Total votes 21,416 100.0% +11.26%
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 "Biography". Peter Barca, State Representative - 64th Assembly District. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "2015 Wisconsin State Representatives". wisconsin.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Recent Barca and Legislative Successes". peterbarca.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1993). State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 918. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1995). State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. p. 916. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Peter Barca". Wisconsin Public Radio. October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  7. ↑ Andrew Beckett (November 10, 2010). "Barca named Assembly Minority Leader". Wisconsin Radio Network. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ Stein, Jason; Marley, Patrick (September 7, 2017). "Peter Barca to step down as Assembly minority leader on Sept. 30". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  9. ↑ MoveOnMedia (March 10, 2011). "Rep. Barca calls out Republicans for breaking the law". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2016 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ Patrick Marley, "Texting ban for drivers begins". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 11/30/2010
  11. ↑ Report of Committees (Report). State of Wisconsin Senate Journal. February 22, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Wisconsin Senate confirms 5 of Governor Tony Evers' Cabinet secretaries". FOX6Now.com. October 8, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  13. ↑ Stein, Jason; Marley, Patrick (July 8, 2011). "GOP redistricting maps make dramatic changes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  14. ↑ Berman, Ari (January 24, 2018). "How the GOP Rigs Elections". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  15. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 908, 926. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  16. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 889, 908. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  17. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 911, 926. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  18. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 900, 916. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  19. 1 2 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 899, 905, 918, 922. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  20. ↑ 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. pp. 897, 916. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  21. ↑ Canvass Result, Fall General Election (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 4, 2008. p. 64. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  22. ↑ 2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 2, 2010. pp. 24, 25. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  23. ↑ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 6, 2012. p. 24. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  24. ↑ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 4, 2014. p. 23. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  25. ↑ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 8, 2014. p. 23. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  26. ↑ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. November 6, 2014. p. 25. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
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