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Joe Sheehan (politician)

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21st century American politician
Joe SheehanPh.D.
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 26th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2025
Preceded byTerry Katsma
Superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District
In office
November 1999 – July 1, 2018Serving with Jeanne Bitkers (until Jul. 2005)
Preceded byBill Hittman
Succeeded bySeth Harvatine
Personal details
BornOctober 1957 (age 67)
Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Lynn J. Wilder ​ ​(m. 1984; div. 1998)​
  • Barbara Ann Kesner ​(m. 2002)​
ResidenceTown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Education
OccupationEducator, politician
WebsiteCampaign website

Joseph Milton Sheehan (born October 1957) is an American educator and Democratic politician from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 26th Assembly district since 2025. He previously served two years as executive director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation, and served 18 years as the superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District.

Biography

Joe Sheehan was born and raised in Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, earning two bachelor's degrees in 1981, in social science secondary education and psychology. He continued his education at the University of Houston, where he obtained his master's degree in 1987.

After working as a teacher and assistant principal in Houston, Sheehan was hired as an assistant principal in the Sheboygan Area School District, at Urban Middle School, in 1989. He then became principal of James Madison Elementary School in 1990. While working in Sheboygan, Sheehan pursued a doctorate at Marquette University, earning his Ph.D. in 1995.

Shortly after completing his doctorate, he was hired as director of personnel for the Sheboygan Area School District, before becoming co-superintendent of the district in 1999. The shared office continued until 2005, when Sheehan became sole superintendent. He ultimately served 18 years as co-superintendent and superintendent.

He retired from his role as superintendent in 2018, but was then hired to become the first executive director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation. He served two more years in that role before retiring to work as a private leadership coach.

Political career

In April 2024, Sheehan announced his candidacy for Wisconsin State Assembly in the recently redrawn 26th Assembly district. Since the 2011 redistricting, Sheboygan had been split between two Assembly districts in order to dilute the political power of the Democratic votes in the city. The 2024 redistricting act reunited all of Sheboygan in the 26th district, making it one of the most competitive swing districts in the state. No incumbent resided in the new 26th district, but 27th district incumbent Republican Amy Binsfeld chose to relocate to run in the 26th district rather than facing a difficult primary against fellow incumbent Paul Tittl.

The general election in the 26th district was one of the closest in the state; Sheehan prevailed with about 51.4% of the vote.

Personal life and family

Joe Sheehan married Lynn J. Wilder on July 21, 1984, in Muskegon, Michigan; they divorced in 1998.

Joe subsequently married fellow divorcee, Barbara Ann Ackley (née Kesner). He has four adult children and two grandchildren.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2024)

Wisconsin Assembly, 26th District Election, 2024
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 2024
Democratic Joe Sheehan 14,887 51.35% +14.23pp
Republican Amy Binsfeld 14,042 48.43% −14.37pp
Scattering 64 0.22%
Plurality 845 2.91% -22.77pp
Total votes 28,993 100.0% +13.37%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ "Get to Know Joe Sheehan". Joe Sheehan for Assembly. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  2. "Four new assistant principals hired". The Sheboygan Press. May 11, 1989. p. 9. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Gallianetti, David (June 2, 1999). "School board: 2 heads better than one". The Sheboygan Press. p. 1. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Shad, Martha H. (November 19, 2003). "School Board picks Sheehan". The Sheboygan Press. p. 1. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation announces Executive Director". Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (Press release). June 25, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  6. Berman, Ari (October 29, 2024). "The Democrats' Secret Weapon in Wisconsin". Mother Jones. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  7. Zimmermann, Kevin (April 25, 2024). "Sheehan Joins Race for New 26th Assembly District Representative". WHBL. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  8. "2024 Wisconsin General Elections Results - State Assembly District 26". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  9. ^ County by County Report - 2024 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 27, 2024. p. 26. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  10. "Sheehan-Wilder". Muskegon Chronicle. October 2, 1984. p. 30. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Sheboygan County Case Number 1998FA000092 Lynn J Sheehan vs Joseph M Sheehan". Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. 1998. Retrieved November 18, 2024.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded byTerry Katsma Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 26th district
January 6, 2025 – present 		Incumbent
Educational offices
Preceded byBill Hittman Superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District
November 1999 – July 1, 2018
Served alongside: Jeanne Bitkers (until Jul. 2005) 		Succeeded bySeth Harvatine
Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
107th Wisconsin Legislature (2025–2027)
  1. ▌Joel Kitchens (R)
  2. ▌Shae Sortwell (R)
  3. ▌Ron Tusler (R)
  4. ▌David Steffen (R)
  5. ▌Joy Goeben (R)
  6. ▌Elijah Behnke (R)
  7. ▌Karen Kirsch (D)
  8. ▌Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D)
  9. ▌Priscilla Prado (D)
  10. ▌Darrin Madison (D)
  11. ▌Sequanna Taylor (D)
  12. ▌Russell Goodwin (D)
  13. ▌Robyn Vining (D)
  14. ▌Angelito Tenorio (D)
  15. ▌Adam Neylon (R)
  16. ▌Kalan Haywood (D)
  17. ▌Supreme Moore Omokunde (D)
  18. ▌Margaret Arney (D)
  19. ▌Ryan Clancy (D)
  20. ▌Christine Sinicki (D)
  21. ▌Jessie Rodriguez (R)
  22. ▌Paul Melotik (R)
  23. ▌Deb Andraca (D)
  24. ▌Dan Knodl (R)
  25. ▌Paul Tittl (R)
  26. ▌Joe Sheehan (D)
  27. ▌Lindee Brill (R)
  28. ▌Robin Kreibich (R)
  29. ▌Treig Pronschinske (R)
  30. ▌Shannon Zimmerman (R)
  31. ▌Tyler August (R)
  32. ▌Amanda Nedweski (R)
  33. ▌Robin Vos (R)
  34. ▌Rob Swearingen (R)
  35. ▌Calvin Callahan (R)
  36. ▌Jeffrey Mursau (R)
  37. ▌Mark Born (R)
  38. ▌William Penterman (R)
  39. ▌Alex Dallman (R)
  40. ▌Karen DeSanto (D)
  41. ▌Tony Kurtz (R)
  42. ▌Maureen McCarville (D)
  43. ▌Brienne Brown (D)
  44. ▌Ann Roe (D)
  45. ▌Clinton Anderson (D)
  46. ▌Joan Fitzgerald (politician) (D)
  47. ▌Randy Udell (D)
  48. ▌Andrew Hysell (D)
  49. ▌Travis Tranel (R)
  50. ▌Jenna Jacobson (D)
  51. ▌Todd Novak (R)
  52. ▌Lee Snodgrass (D)
  53. ▌Dean Kaufert (R)
  54. ▌Lori Palmeri (D)
  55. ▌Nate Gustafson (R)
  56. ▌Dave Murphy (R)
  57. ▌Kevin D. Petersen (R)
  58. ▌Rick Gundrum (R)
  59. ▌Robert Brooks (R)
  60. ▌Jerry L. O'Connor (R)
  61. ▌Bob Donovan (R)
  62. ▌Angelina Cruz (D)
  63. ▌Robert Wittke (R)
  64. ▌Tip McGuire (D)
  65. ▌Ben DeSmidt (D)
  66. ▌Greta Neubauer (D)
  67. ▌David Armstrong (R)
  68. ▌Rob Summerfield (R)
  69. ▌Karen Hurd (R)
  70. ▌Nancy VanderMeer (R)
  71. ▌Vinnie Miresse (D)
  72. ▌Scott Krug (R)
  73. ▌Angela Stroud (D)
  74. ▌Chanz Green (R)
  75. ▌Duke Tucker (R)
  76. ▌Francesca Hong (D)
  77. ▌Renuka Mayadev (D)
  78. ▌Shelia Stubbs (D)
  79. ▌Lisa Subeck (D)
  80. ▌Mike Bare (D)
  81. ▌Alex Joers (D)
  82. ▌Scott Allen (R)
  83. ▌Dave Maxey (R)
  84. ▌Chuck Wichgers (R)
  85. ▌Patrick Snyder (R)
  86. ▌John Spiros (R)
  87. ▌Brent Jacobson (R)
  88. ▌Ben Franklin (R)
  89. ▌Ryan Spaude (D)
  90. ▌Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D)
  91. ▌Jodi Emerson (D)
  92. ▌Clint Moses (R)
  93. ▌Christian Phelps (D)
  94. ▌Steve Doyle (D)
  95. ▌Jill Billings (D)
  96. ▌Tara Johnson (D)
  97. ▌Cindi Duchow (R)
  98. ▌Jim Piwowarczyk (R)
  99. ▌Barbara Dittrich (R)
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