Kathleen Falk

Kathleen Falk
Kathleen Falk in the 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade, Madison WI
4th Dane County Executive
In office April 21, 1997 – April 18, 2011
Preceded by	Richard J. Phelps
Succeeded by	Joe Parisi
Assistant Attorney General
In office 1983–1997
Personal details
Born	(1951-06-24) June 24, 1951 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Peter Bock (m. 2002)
Children	Eric Phillips
Residence	Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D.) Stanford University (B.A.)
Profession	Prosecutor, politician

Kathleen Falk (born June 26, 1951) is an American attorney and politician from Wisconsin who served as Dane County Executive from 1997 until 2011. A Democrat, Falk unsuccessfully sought the party's nomination for Governor of Wisconsin in 2002 and in the 2012 recall election. In 2006, Falk defeated Democratic Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager to win the party's nomination for Attorney General, but was herself defeated by Republican J.B. Van Hollen in the general election.

Prior to entering politics, Falk was a prosecutor and public-interest attorney. From 1983 to 1997, she was an assistant attorney general and public intervenor in the Wisconsin Department of Justice; she previously worked as a co-director and legal counsel of Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, an advocacy organization. Falk is the only woman who has served as Dane County Executive and was the first woman to seek a major party's gubernatorial nomination in Wisconsin history.^[1]

Early life and career

Falk was raised in Waukesha County, between Madison and Milwaukee. She earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Stanford University in 1973 and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1976.^[2] She is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.^[3]

Following law school, Falk became the co-director and general counsel of Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Inc., a non-profit, public interest organization devoted environmental litigation and lobbying. Falk successfully argued cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court during her tenure at Wisconsin's Environmental Decade^[4] In 1983, Falk was hired as an assistant attorney general in the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Attorney General Bronson La Follette appointed Falk to serve as Public Intervenor, a in which capacity Falk performed litigation, lobbying, and advocacy on environmental protection matters. Falk's position was eliminated in 1995,^[5] during the tenure of Attorney General James E. Doyle, Jr., and Falk became an administrative law attorney for the department.

County Executive (1997-2010)

Falk made her first run for public office in 1996, joining a field of accomplished local leaders in the open race for Dane County Executive. She finished first in the runoff and eventually defeated a long-time conservative county board member, Mike Blaska. She was later re-elected three times (2001, 2005, 2009), all by wide margins. During her 14-year tenure as the county's chief executive officer she implemented mergers of county departments,^[6] vetoed borrowing for jail construction^[7] and ended Dane County’s practice of sending its inmates to other counties.^[8] Falk enlarged the county sheriff's department by adding 134 new positions,^[9] she opened a juvenile justice facility,^[10][11] and launched a community-based initiative aimed at gang prevention.^[12][13] Falk's budgets have funded jail diversion programs for non-violent substance-addicted offenders.^[14] Falk's tenure also encompassed a number of land use and human services programs.

Resignation and later professional career

Falk stepped down as county executive in April 2010, citing an interest in contributing to public policy in a new way. Her tenure in office made her the longest serving county executive in the office’s history. “As I looked at what I set out to do, what we have done, and where I can best serve -- the answer was clear. As I approach the seventh decade of my life, it's time for me to find that next chapter of how I can make a contribution,” Falk said at a press conference in October 2010.^[15]

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2013-)

In September 2013, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius appointed Falk to serve as DHHS's Region V Director. As Director, Falk leads the department's efforts in a six-state area that includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.^[16] The Capital Times newspaper called Falk a "great choice for DHHS."^[17]

Awards

Falk has received numerous awards and recognitions from environmental groups, business interests, women's organizations, LGBT equality activists, advocates for the disabled, conservation groups, the American Legion and domestic violence support groups.^[18][19]

Political career

In 2002, she unsuccessfully ran for Governor, losing the Democratic primary to Jim Doyle. Falk was Wisconsin's first woman candidate for governor from a major political party. 

In 2006, Falk challenged and defeated Wisconsin's Attorney General in a Democratic primary election. She went on to lose the general election race by fewer than 9,000 votes out of more than 2.1 million cast. Falk was advanced as a contender to challenge Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in an ongoing recall attempt, and announced her candidacy for governor on January 18, 2012, but lost in the Democratic gubernatorial primaries to Tom Barrett.^[20]

Personal life

Falk is married to former Democratic State Representative Peter Bock.^[21] She has one son, Eric Phillips,^[22] and is an avid baseball fan, bicyclist,^[23] hunter,^[24] and angler.

Electoral history

Notes

External links

• Dane County Executive biography
• Falk County Executive campaign website