Tim Carpenter
Timothy W. Carpenter (born February 24, 1960) is an American politician and Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 3rd Senate district since 2003. He previously served 18 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1985–2003). Early life and education. Carpenter was born on February 24, 1960, at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee. He graduated from Milwaukee's Casimir Pulaski High School and attended Marquette University in 1978, before transferring to University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he received his bachelor's degree in political science and history in 1982. He continued graduate work at Milwaukee, but was  interrupted when he was elected to the Legislature in 1984. He later resumed his education at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned his master's degree in 1995. Political career. After graduating from college, Carpenter worked briefly at a number of jobs, at Rustlers Steak House and as a courier for Federal Express. He had become involved with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin at an early age and became a member of the state party's administrative committee. In 1984, at age 24, while still a student at the La  Follette School, he jumped into the race for Wisconsin State Assembly in the open 20th Assembly district seat. The 20th Assembly district was heavily Democratic, based in southern Milwaukee—Carpenter faced five opponents in the Democratic primary. He prevailed in the six-way race with just 27% of the vote, and faced no opponent in the 1984 general election. Carpenter was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1984 and served nine terms representing the 9th Assembly District until 2002, holding the post of Speaker "Pro Tempore" in 1993. He was first elected to represent Wisconsin's 3rd Senate District  in 2002. During the 2007–08 biennium, he served as President "Pro Tempore" of the Wisconsin State Senate. During the 2007-08 biennium, he was the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Job Creation. Carpenter is currently a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services; the Senate Committee of Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs; and he serves on the Transportation Projects Commission. Senator Tim Carpenter He was also previously the Chair of the Legislative Council Study Committee on addressing recidivism in High-Risk Juvenile Offenders. 2008 Interim  Study Committees 2011 Wisconsin protests. During the protests in Wisconsin, Carpenter, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. Based on the revelations from a prank phone call on Gov. Walker, detailing plans to pass his bill, Carpenter called upon Gov. Walker to resign. 2020 protests. On June 23, 2020, Carpenter was recording a protest near the Wisconsin state capitol when he was assaulted by BLM (Black Lives Matter) protesters. A short time later he collapsed and was taken to the  hospital for a suspected concussion. Running for other offices. 2004 U.S. House campaign. In 2004, Carpenter unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for United States House of Representatives in the 4th congressional district, losing the primary election to fellow state senator Gwen Moore. Milwaukee City Treasurer. In February 2012, Carpenter was one of two State Senators (the other being fellow Democrat Spencer Coggs) to win a place on the ballot for Milwaukee City Treasurer in the Spring 2012 election, defeating former State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass and Socialist Rick Kissell in the non-partisan primary. Coggs polled 13,559 votes; Carpenter  12,880; Sass 5,089 and Kissell 2,241. In the general election, Coggs won 35,096 votes to Carpenter's 34,293. Personal life. Carpenter is gay, and is one of three openly LGBT members of the Wisconsin Legislature. He is a member of the Sierra Club; Jackson Park Neighborhood Association; Story Hill Neighborhood Association; and the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home Advisory Council.