Full Name:
Don Vruwink
Gender:
Male
Family:
Wife: Beth; 1 Child: Craig
Birth Date:
06/12/1952
Birth Place:
Auburndale, WI
Home City:
Milton, WI
Master of Arts, History, University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 1986
Bachelor of Arts, Social Studies, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, 1975
Assembly Member, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 43, 2017-2023
Candidate, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 43, 2020
Member, Milton School Board, 2016-2019
Candidate, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 43, 2018
President, City Council, City of Milton, 2014-2015
Member, City Council, City of Milton, 2011-2015
Former Member, Colleges and Universities Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly
Former Member, Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly
Former Member, International Affairs and Commerce Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly
Former Member, Rural Development and Mining Committee, Wisconsin State Assembly
Substitute Teacher, Milton Public Schools, present
Teacher/Coach, Milton High School, 1979-2011
Director, City of Milton Parks and Recreation, 1984-1996
Teacher/Coach, Bowler High School, 1976-1979
Member, Farm Bureau
Member, League of Conservation Voters
Awards:
Channel 3000 Top Notch Teacher Award;
Daughters of the American Revolution Teaching Award;
Lifetime Achievement Award, Milton Area Chamber of Commerce, 2011
Reason for Seeking Public Office:
I'm running to be a champion of public education. When I started as a teacher many years ago, teachers were respected and valued by our legislature. We have sadly entered a period where the Republican majority and governor are actively working to devalue public education, and their drastic cuts to education will have long-lasting effects on our students, on our economy, and on our society as a whole. I'm running for the high school students I taught who are now starting their own families and are worried about the future of education for their children.
I'm running to continue the fight for public workers, who deserve the right to collectively bargain.
I'm running to be a strong advocate for good government. I want to take a page out of former Senator Tim Cullen's handbook and continue a steady drum beat in favor of nonpartisan redistricting reform.
I'm running to be a strong voice for those who the current majority has continually diminished and disrespected. I want to fight for the rights, respect, and equal pay for women. I want to make sure that minorities have equal opportunities to vote.
I'm running because we have a current majority that takes advantage of Wisconsin's environmental heritage. We need to protect our invaluable natural resources.
As a former city councilman and a sitting school board member, I'm running to restore local control, which has been under constant attack by legislative Republicans. Local governments are in the best position to understand the unique needs of their communities and residents.