Kathleen Vinehout
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Vinehout, Ph.D, M.P.H. is a Democratic
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 31st district since 2007.
and grew up in Aurora, Illinois
. Her father was a laborer and her mother a registered nurse, and both served in the United States Air Force
. She graduated from Aurora Central Catholic High School
in 1976. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southern Illinois University
in 1980, and a Masters of Public Health
from St. Louis University in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Health Services Research from St. Louis University in 1987. She also received an associates degree in agriculture form the Lincolnland Community College in 1992.
Vinehout directed both the graduate and undergraduate programs in health administration at the University of Illinois, serving for ten years she was a member of the faculty and teaching in the Health Services Administration and Women’s Studies Programs. Her academic work focused on state health policy, the history of health care reform and health problems facing rural communities.
After working in academia, Vinehout worked as the primary operator of the family's fifty-cow dairy farm. The farm had a rolling herd average of 21,000 pounds of milk and received many quality milk awards. Vinehout was president of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association in Buffalo County, Wisconsin
for several years and represented the district at statewide meetings. She also assisted the Wisconsin
Farmers Union
in agriculture and dairy policy and worked part time in 2005 as an advocate at the state capitol for the Farmers Union. She served on the Buffalo County Agricultural Fair Association Board and the Buffalo County Farm Bureau Board. Vinehout was formerly a member of the Wisconsin Holstein
Association and she and her family have shown cattle at district shows.
Incumbent
Ron Brown. In her first term, Vinehout chaired the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education and served as Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Audit. Kathleen also served in a leadership position as Vice-chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Senator Vinehout also served as a member of the following Senate Committees; Economic Development; Children, Families and Work Force Development; Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Job Creation.
Vinehout was the chair of the Democratic Party of Buffalo County and served on the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission and the Alma Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
awarded her with the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for her work in grassroots organizing. On November 2, 2010, Vinehout was reelected to the Wisconsin Senate beating Ed Thompson
. On November 9, 2010, with only 352 votes separating the two candidates, Thompson asked for a recount. On November 19, 2010, Thompson conceded the election to Vinehout.
's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. She returned to the State of Wisconsin on March 12, 2011.
, a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives
. Her family operates a 223 acre (0.90244978 km²) organic farm near Alma, Wisconsin
. She is an active member of Saint Lawrence Catholic Church. Douglas and Kathleen have one son, Nathan. Douglas is also a member of the Alma School Board.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 31st district since 2007.
Early life, education and career
Vinehout was born on June 16, 1958 in Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and grew up in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
. Her father was a laborer and her mother a registered nurse, and both served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. She graduated from Aurora Central Catholic High School
Aurora Central Catholic High School
Aurora Central Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic secondary school under the direction of the Diocese of Rockford. ACC began as two separate secondary schools in 1926. Madonna Catholic High School, a girls school, and Roncalli High School, a boys school, merged in 1968 to become Aurora...
in 1976. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
in 1980, and a Masters of Public Health
Professional degrees of public health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
from St. Louis University in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Health Services Research from St. Louis University in 1987. She also received an associates degree in agriculture form the Lincolnland Community College in 1992.
Vinehout directed both the graduate and undergraduate programs in health administration at the University of Illinois, serving for ten years she was a member of the faculty and teaching in the Health Services Administration and Women’s Studies Programs. Her academic work focused on state health policy, the history of health care reform and health problems facing rural communities.
After working in academia, Vinehout worked as the primary operator of the family's fifty-cow dairy farm. The farm had a rolling herd average of 21,000 pounds of milk and received many quality milk awards. Vinehout was president of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association in Buffalo County, Wisconsin
Buffalo County, Wisconsin
Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 13,804. Its county seat is Alma.-Geography:According to the U.S...
for several years and represented the district at statewide meetings. She also assisted the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Farmers Union
Farmers Union
Farmers Union is a brand name established by the South Australian Farmers' Co-operative Union Ltd .-Jamestown:At a meeting in Jamestown, South Australia on 28 February 1888, a committee formed to establish a grain "producers' union to combat the effects of depressed agricultural prices and the...
in agriculture and dairy policy and worked part time in 2005 as an advocate at the state capitol for the Farmers Union. She served on the Buffalo County Agricultural Fair Association Board and the Buffalo County Farm Bureau Board. Vinehout was formerly a member of the Wisconsin Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
Association and she and her family have shown cattle at district shows.
Wisconsin Senate
Vinehout was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 2006, succeeding RepublicanRepublican Party of Wisconsin
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin affiliate of the United States Republican Party . The state party chair is Brad Courtney...
Incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Ron Brown. In her first term, Vinehout chaired the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education and served as Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Audit. Kathleen also served in a leadership position as Vice-chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Senator Vinehout also served as a member of the following Senate Committees; Economic Development; Children, Families and Work Force Development; Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Job Creation.
Vinehout was the chair of the Democratic Party of Buffalo County and served on the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission and the Alma Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. As of 2009, it is headed by state party chairman Mike Tate, who is the youngest chairman of a state party...
awarded her with the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for her work in grassroots organizing. On November 2, 2010, Vinehout was reelected to the Wisconsin Senate beating Ed Thompson
Ed Thompson
Allan Edward "Ed" Thompson , was an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin for two non-consecutive terms, and was the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 2002, receiving 11% of the vote in that race. He was elected to his first term as mayor of...
. On November 9, 2010, with only 352 votes separating the two candidates, Thompson asked for a recount. On November 19, 2010, Thompson conceded the election to Vinehout.
2011 Wisconsin protests
During the protests in Wisconsin, Vinehout, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, fled the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott WalkerScott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. She returned to the State of Wisconsin on March 12, 2011.
Electoral history
Personal life
In addition to her political career, Vinehout owns a farm with her husband, DouglasDoug Kane
Douglas N. "Doug" Kane is a former Illinois state representative who represented Springfield from 1974-1982, and a current member of the Alma School Board. Kane is an economist and President of Program Analysis Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in economic and public policy issues...
, a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
. Her family operates a 223 acre (0.90244978 km²) organic farm near Alma, Wisconsin
Alma, Wisconsin
Alma is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 942 at the 2000 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Alma. The motto for the city of Alma is: "Step into Living History."-Geography:...
. She is an active member of Saint Lawrence Catholic Church. Douglas and Kathleen have one son, Nathan. Douglas is also a member of the Alma School Board.
External links
- Senator Kathleen Vinehout at the Wisconsin State Legislature