Risser to Retire After 64 Years
MADISON — State Senator Fred A. Risser (D-Madison) announced today that he would not be a candidate for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate.
Risser, 92, is in his 64th year as a Wisconsin legislator. He is the longest serving state or national legislator in the nation’s history. He is also the last World War II veteran still remaining in either the state or nation’s legislatures.
Risser was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1956, moving to the State Senate in 1962, where he has served in many leadership roles including Senate Minority Leader and 25 years as Senate President.
During his tenure Risser has worked with 13 different governors (7 Democrats and 6 Republicans) and has never missed a legislative roll call.
He spent over 50 years as a member of the State Building Commission. Risser is the main author of many bills, including the state’s Clean Indoor Act. Hee made it possible for seniors over 60 to audit, at not cost, courses at the University of Wisconsin. Risser said that he considers a major accomplishment to be his work on drafting the Capitol Master Plan and following through over 10 years of work on the Capitol restoration. Risser has received many awards for his work on environmental and women’s issues, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for his support of Planned Parenthood.
Risser is the fourth generation in his family to represent the Madison area in the Wisconsin Legislature. His father, Fred E. Risser, was the last Progressive Republican and served in the Assembly, and his great-grandfather, Colonel Clement E. Warner, once elected as a Unionist, served in both the State Senate and Assembly. Senator Risser is the only Democrat legislature in the family. But, as he says, “the political parties keep changing their ideas, while our family has remained committed to progressive values.”
In deciding not to seek re-election, Risser said he was honored to have had the opportuity to represent the Madison area in the Wisconsin Legislature.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by State Sen. Fred Risser
Risser Applauds Governor Evers’ State of the State Address
Jan 23rd, 2020 by State Sen. Fred RisserLast night during the State of the State Address, Governor Evers delivered a resounding call to action on the challenges facing our state.
