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| == Background == | == Background == | ||
| He attended ], ] and ]; worked as a ] and |
He attended ], ] and ]; worked as a ] and on religious films for the ]; married; and became active in the organizations ] and ] (of which he was a regional director). As of 1972-1974 he lived in the ] in ].<ref></ref> | ||
| == Legislative service == | == Legislative service == | ||
| He was elected to the 53rd Assembly District in 1972 with 9341 votes, to 7939 for ] Lehman Eichstadt,<ref></ref> |
He was elected to represent the newly-created 53rd Assembly District (portions of ], ] and ] counties) in 1972 with 9341 votes, to 7939 for ] Lehman Eichstadt,<ref></ref>. In 1974 he almost lost a challenge in the Republican ] to ] (daughter of ], a former ] from this area), receiving 1830 votes to her 1749; but won the general election by a more comfortable margin.<ref>[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1975 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. ''The state of Wisconsin 1975 blue book | ||
| Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 803, 830]</ref> He saw no challenge in the 1976 primary and was reelected easily.<ref>[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1977 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. ''The state of Wisconsin 1977 blue book''. | |||
| Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 893, 915]</ref> In 1978 he was re-elected without opposition.<ref></ref> | |||
| == Conviction and removal from office == | == Conviction and removal from office == | ||
| In 1980, Lewis became part of a group who attempted to persuade scientist Myron Muckerheide (formerly with ]) to create a ] "designed to blind people", and to sell it |
In 1980, Lewis became part of a group who attempted to persuade ] scientist Myron Muckerheide (formerly with ]) to create a ] "designed to blind people", and to sell it to ]n ] Federico Fuentes in order to raise funds to build a ] factory in South America (Lewis had been a prominent Wisconsin ]). Muckerheide contacted the ], the laser was never built, and Lewis pled guilty to ] for lying to a federal ] investigating the scheme.<ref>UPI. "Solon convicted of making, selling laser gun." '']'' August 29, 1979; p. A-2.</ref> Lewis, whose office was decorated with plaques with slogans such as "Virtue" and "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?", tearfully apologized, saying he "...made a very, very serious mistake and I regret that very much."<ref>UPI. "Legislator pleads guilty to lying on laser gun plan." '']'' August 30, 1979; p.2</ref> Fellow Republican ] ] declined to request a ] for Lewis, although he was quoted as saying the six-month sentence was too harsh.<ref>UPI. "Dreyfus won't go to bat for Lewis" '']'' November 24, 1979; p.6</ref> | ||
| Under the relevant provisions of Wisconsin law, Lewis was removed from office.<ref>Johnson, Raymond E. "5 vie to replace ousted legislator." ''Milwaukee Journal'' December 27, 1979; p. Accent North 6]</ref> In the subsequent ], ] was elected to take his place. | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 20:18, 31 October 2010
James R. Lewis (born Milwaukee, May 3, 1936) was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Background
He attended Rufus King High School, UW-Milwaukee and Moody Bible Institute; worked as a salesman and on religious films for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; married; and became active in the organizations Citizens for Decency Through Law and Christian Business Men's Committee (of which he was a regional director). As of 1972-1974 he lived in the Town of Barton in Washington County.
Legislative service
He was elected to represent the newly-created 53rd Assembly District (portions of Dodge, Fond du Lac and Washington counties) in 1972 with 9341 votes, to 7939 for Democrat Lehman Eichstadt,. In 1974 he almost lost a challenge in the Republican primary to Mary Panzer (daughter of Frank Panzer, a former state senator from this area), receiving 1830 votes to her 1749; but won the general election by a more comfortable margin. He saw no challenge in the 1976 primary and was reelected easily. In 1978 he was re-elected without opposition.
Conviction and removal from office
In 1980, Lewis became part of a group who attempted to persuade laser scientist Myron Muckerheide (formerly with NASA) to create a laser gun "designed to blind people", and to sell it to Guatemalan colonel Federico Fuentes in order to raise funds to build a laetrile factory in South America (Lewis had been a prominent Wisconsin advocate for the legalization and manufacture of laetrile). Muckerheide contacted the FBI, the laser was never built, and Lewis pled guilty to perjury for lying to a federal grand jury investigating the scheme. Lewis, whose office was decorated with plaques with slogans such as "Virtue" and "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?", tearfully apologized, saying he "...made a very, very serious mistake and I regret that very much." Fellow Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus declined to request a presidential pardon for Lewis, although he was quoted as saying the six-month sentence was too harsh.
Under the relevant provisions of Wisconsin law, Lewis was removed from office. In the subsequent special election, Mary Panzer was elected to take his place.
References
- "Lewis, James R. 1936". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1973 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 57
- Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1973 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 827
- [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1975 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1975 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 803, 830]
- [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1977 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1977 blue book. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 893, 915]
- Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 blue book. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 925
- UPI. "Solon convicted of making, selling laser gun." Rome News-Tribune August 29, 1979; p. A-2.
- UPI. "Legislator pleads guilty to lying on laser gun plan." Bangor Daily News August 30, 1979; p.2
- UPI. "Dreyfus won't go to bat for Lewis" Milwaukee Journal November 24, 1979; p.6
- Johnson, Raymond E. "5 vie to replace ousted legislator." Milwaukee Journal December 27, 1979; p. Accent North 6]
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