Mary Wagner

Mary Kay Wagner (born January 14, 1949) is an American judge, serving on the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Kenosha County since 1991. Earlier in her career, she represented Kenosha County in the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Democrat.

For the pro-life activist, see Mary Wagner (Canada).
The Honorable

Mary K. Wagner
Chief Judge of the 2nd District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts
In office
August 1, 2008 – July 31, 2014
Preceded byGerald P. Ptacek
Succeeded byAllan Torhorst
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Kenosha Circuit, Branch 6
Assumed office
August 1, 1991
Preceded byGerald W. Breitenbach
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 66th district
In office
January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983
Preceded byRussell A. Olson
Succeeded bySteven M. Foti
Personal details
Born
Mary Kay Wagner

(1949-01-14) January 14, 1949
Burlington, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Judge John E. Malloy
ResidenceBrighton, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Education

Biography

Born in Burlington, Wisconsin, Wagner graduated from Central High School in Salem, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1971 and went to work as a teacher. She was elected Kenosha County Clerk in 1976, then elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1978, representing the 66th assembly district as a Democrat.[1] She continued her education and, in 1982, earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She was re-elected in 1980, but was defeated seeking re-election in 1982 after being redistricted into a matchup with fellow incumbent Cloyd A. Porter.[2][3]

After leaving the Assembly, Wagner worked as an attorney and state tax commissioner. In 1991, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Jerold W. Breitenbach declined to seek re-election. Wagner was one of six candidates who decided to run for the open judgeship. She came in second in the primary but was able to defeat Paul F. Wokwicz—an ally of then-Governor Tommy Thompson—in the general election by 621 votes.[4] Judge Wagner went on to win re-election in 1997, 2003, 2009, and 2015.

In 2008, Judge Wagner was appointed Chief Judge of the 2nd Judicial Administrative District by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[5] She remained chief judge for the maximum 3 two-year terms. She was Chair of the Committee of Chief Judges in 2013 and 2014.[6]

Personal life and family

On September 11, 1982, Wagner married Judge John E. Malloy, who was then a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge in Kenosha County.[7]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1978, 1980, 1982)
Wisconsin Assembly, 66th District Election, 1978[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, September 12, 1978
Democratic Mary K. Wagner 2,685 54.12%
Republican Donald K. Gallagher 1,167 23.52%
Republican David R. Roettgen 559 11.27%
Democratic Timothy B. Daley 550 11.09%
Total votes 4,961 100.0%
General Election, November 7, 1978
Democratic Mary K. Wagner 7,401 55.51%
Republican Donald K. Gallagher 5931 44.49%
Plurality 1,470 11.03%
Total votes 13,332 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican
Wisconsin Assembly, 66th District Election, 1980[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1980
Democratic Mary K. Wagner (incumbent) 13,838 62.18%
Republican John J. Rausch 8,416 37.82%
Plurality 5,422 24.36%
Total votes 22,254 100.0% +66.92%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly, 22nd District Election, 1982[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 2, 1982
Republican Cloyd A. Porter 7,859 54.76%
Democratic Mary K. Wagner 6,492 45.24%
Plurality 1,367 9.53%
Total votes 14,351 100.0%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1991, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2015)
Wisconsin Circuit Court, Kenosha Circuit, Branch 6 Election, 1991[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, February 19, 1991
Nonpartisan Paul F. Wokwicz 3,526 27.09%
Nonpartisan Mary K. Wagner 3,184 24.46%
Nonpartisan Robert D. Zapf 2,306 17.72%
Nonpartisan Sally Yule Mengo 2,043 15.69%
Nonpartisan Richard Alan Ginkowski 1,156 8.88%
Nonpartisan Beverly A. Jambois 802 6.16%
Total votes 13,017 100.0%
General Election, April 2, 1991
Nonpartisan Mary K. Wagner 8,914 51.80%
Nonpartisan Paul F. Wokwicz 8,293 48.20%
Plurality 621 3.61%
Total votes 17,207 100.0%

References
  1. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Biographies and pictures". The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 65. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. Potente, Joe (November 1, 2012). "61st Assembly District". Kenosha News. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 910. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. "Wagner-Malloy beats Wokwicz for Kenosha bench". Racine Journal Times. April 3, 1991. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  5. "Wagner to take over as chief judge of 2nd Judicial District". Racine Journal Times. Madison, Wisconsin. April 12, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  6. "Wisconsin Judges to Join Committee of Chief Judges". InsideTrack. Vol. 5 no. 14. State Bar of Wisconsin. July 12, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  7. Korten, Jean A. (September 13, 1982). "Opposites attract". Kenosha News.
  8. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 907, 925. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  9. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 916. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  10. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 878, 880. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Jerold W. Breitenbach		 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Kenosha Circuit, Branch 6
1991 – present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Gerald P. Ptacek		 Chief Judge of the 2nd District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts
2008 – 2014		 Succeeded by
Allan Torhorst


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