Mary Kay Wagner (born January 14, 1949) is an American lawyer and retired judge. She served 30 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Kenosha County (1991–2021) and was chief judge of Wisconsin's 2nd judicial administrative district from 2008 to 2014. Earlier in her career, she represented Kenosha County in the Wisconsin State Assembly for two terms.
The Honorable Mary K. Wagner | |
|---|---|
| Chief Judge of the 2nd District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts | |
| In office August 1, 2008 – July 31, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Gerald P. Ptacek |
| Succeeded by | Allan Torhorst |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Kenosha Circuit, Branch 6 | |
| In office August 1, 1991 – July 31, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Gerald W. Breitenbach |
| Succeeded by | Angelina Gabriele |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 66th district | |
| In office January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Russell A. Olson |
| Succeeded by | Steven M. Foti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mary Kay Wagner January 14, 1949 Burlington, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Judge John E. Malloy |
| Residence | Brighton, Kenosha County, Wisconsin |
| Education | |
Biography edit
Born in Burlington, Wisconsin, Wagner graduated from Central High School in Salem, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1971 and went to work as a teacher. She was elected Kenosha County Clerk in 1976, then elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1978, representing the 66th assembly district as a Democrat.[1] She continued her education and, in 1982, earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She was re-elected in 1980, but was defeated seeking re-election in 1982 after being redistricted into a matchup with fellow incumbent Cloyd A. Porter.[2][3]
After leaving the Assembly, Wagner worked as an attorney and state tax commissioner. In 1991, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Jerold W. Breitenbach declined to seek re-election. Wagner was one of six candidates who decided to run for the open judgeship. She came in second in the primary but was able to defeat Paul F. Wokwicz—an ally of then-Governor Tommy Thompson—in the general election by 621 votes.[4] Judge Wagner went on to win re-election in 1997, 2003, 2009, and 2015.
In 2008, Judge Wagner was appointed Chief Judge of the 2nd Judicial Administrative District by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[5] She remained chief judge for the maximum 3 two-year terms. She was Chair of the Committee of Chief Judges in 2013 and 2014.[6]
On November 9, 2020, Wagner announced her plans to step down at the end of her fifth term. She said she loved being a judge, but felt it was time to move on. "I wanted to retire at the end of a term so we could have a good election," she said, saying she wanted to make sure she left the bench when her replacement would be elected rather than appointed mid-term.
Former Deputy District Attorney Angelina Gabriele was elected April 6, 2021, to take over the Branch 6 seat beginning August 1, 2021.[7]
Personal life and family edit
On September 11, 1982, Wagner married Judge John E. Malloy, who was then a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge in Kenosha County.[8]
Electoral history edit
Wisconsin Assembly (1978, 1980, 1982) edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election, September 12, 1978 | |||||
| Democratic | Mary K. Wagner | 2,685 | 54.12% | ||
| Republican | Donald K. Gallagher | 1,167 | 23.52% | ||
| Republican | David R. Roettgen | 559 | 11.27% | ||
| Democratic | Timothy B. Daley | 550 | 11.09% | ||
| Total votes | 4,961 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 7, 1978 | |||||
| Democratic | Mary K. Wagner | 7,401 | 55.51% | ||
| Republican | Donald K. Gallagher | 5931 | 44.49% | ||
| Plurality | 1,470 | 11.03% | |||
| Total votes | 13,332 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 1980 | |||||
| Democratic | Mary K. Wagner (incumbent) | 13,838 | 62.18% | ||
| Republican | John J. Rausch | 8,416 | 37.82% | ||
| Plurality | 5,422 | 24.36% | |||
| Total votes | 22,254 | 100.0% | +66.92% | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 2, 1982 | |||||
| Republican | Cloyd A. Porter | 7,859 | 54.76% | ||
| Democratic | Mary K. Wagner | 6,492 | 45.24% | ||
| Plurality | 1,367 | 9.53% | |||
| Total votes | 14,351 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Wisconsin Circuit Court (1991, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2015) edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Election, February 19, 1991 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Paul F. Wokwicz | 3,526 | 27.09% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Mary K. Wagner | 3,184 | 24.46% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Robert D. Zapf | 2,306 | 17.72% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Sally Yule Mengo | 2,043 | 15.69% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Richard Alan Ginkowski | 1,156 | 8.88% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Beverly A. Jambois | 802 | 6.16% | ||
| Total votes | 13,017 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, April 2, 1991 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Mary K. Wagner | 8,914 | 51.80% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Paul F. Wokwicz | 8,293 | 48.20% | ||
| Plurality | 621 | 3.61% | |||
| Total votes | 17,207 | 100.0% | |||
References edit
- ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Biographies and pictures". The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 65. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ Potente, Joe (November 1, 2012). "61st Assembly District". Kenosha News. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 910. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "Wagner-Malloy beats Wokwicz for Kenosha bench". Racine Journal Times. April 3, 1991. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "Wagner to take over as chief judge of 2nd Judicial District". Racine Journal Times. Madison, Wisconsin. April 12, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "Wisconsin Judges to Join Committee of Chief Judges". InsideTrack. Vol. 5, no. 14. State Bar of Wisconsin. July 12, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Deneen (July 31, 2021). "After 30 years, Judge Mary K. Wagner steps down from the bench". Kenosha News. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- ^ Korten, Jean A. (September 13, 1982). "Opposites attract". Kenosha News.
- ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 907, 925. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 916. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 878, 880. Retrieved April 6, 2020.