Sue Conley (politician)

Sue S. Conley (born 1959/1960) is an American nonprofit administrator and politician. A Democrat, she represents the 44th district of the Wisconsin State Assembly, based in Janesville, Wisconsin. She was elected in November 2020.

Sue Conley
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 44th district
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byDebra Kolste
President of the Janesville City Council
Assumed office
April 21, 2020
Preceded byDouglas Marklein
Member of the Janesville City Council
Assumed office
April 2017
Personal details
Born1959/1960 (age 60–61)
Galesburg, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Jim Conley
​
(m. 1987)​
Children3
ResidenceJanesville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Professionpolitician
WebsiteCampaign website

Early life and career

Conley was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, with her parents in 1971.[1][2]

Conley became involved in nonprofit management in the Janesville community and was executive director of the Rock County YWCA, and later, from 2002 through 2014, with the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.[2] She retired in 2014, but continued to volunteer and offer her advice within the community, and served as interim executive director for several organizations over the next six years, including HealthNet of Rock County, KANDU Industries, and the UW–Rock County Foundation.[2]

Political career

Conley was elected to the Janesville city council in April 2017, and was reelected in 2019.[3][4] At the start of the 2020–2021 session, Conley was elected President of the City Council.[2][5]

In February 2020, Janesville's state representative, Debra Kolste, announced she would not seek a fifth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 2020 election.[6][7] Conley and Kolste were friends, and Conley had already been contemplating a run for higher office. With Kolste's endorsement, Conley entered the 2020 campaign.[8] Conley was able to avoid a primary contest and secured the Democratic nomination unopposed. In the general election, she faced Republican former city councilmember DuWayne Severson;[9] Libertarian hopeful Reese Wood had intended to run, but failed to secure enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot.[10] During the campaign, Conley emphasized the need for redistricting reform, endorsing the so-called Iowa model of redistricting, utilizing a nonpartisan commission.[9] In the general election, Conley defeated Severson with 60% of the vote.[11][12]

Personal life

Conley and her husband, Jim, reside in Janesville, Wisconsin. They have three children, Scott, Bernie, and Liz.[2]

Electoral history

Janesville City Council (2017, 2019)
Janesville City Council Election, 2017[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 4, 2017 (choose four)
Nonpartisan Sue Conley 3,954 16.65%
Nonpartisan Douglas Marklein (incumbent) 3,502 14.74%
Nonpartisan Jim Farrell 3,201 13.48%
Nonpartisan Tom Wolfe 3,033 12.77%
Nonpartisan Kay Deupree (incumbent) 2,613 11.00%
Nonpartisan Jim Dennis 2,430 10.23%
Nonpartisan Steve Knox 2,332 9.82%
Nonpartisan Jeff Navarro 1,708 7.19%
Nonpartisan Spencer Zimmerman 721 3.04%
Scattering 259 1.09%
Total votes 23,753 100.0%
Janesville City Council Election, 2019[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 2, 2019 (choose four)
Nonpartisan Sue Conley (incumbent) 6,598 22.50% +5.86%
Nonpartisan Tom Wolfe (incumbent) 6,247 21.31% +8.54%
Nonpartisan Douglas Marklein (incumbent) 6,187 21.10% +6.36%
Nonpartisan Jim Farrell (incumbent) 5,720 19.51% +6.03%
Nonpartisan Jan Chesmore 4,384 14.95%
Scattering 185 0.63%
Total votes 29,321 100.0%

Wisconsin Assembly (2020)
Wisconsin Assembly, 44th District Election, 2020[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 2020
Democratic Sue Conley 17,205 60.11% -37.36%
Republican DuWayne Severson 11,335 39.60%
Independent Reese Wood (write-in) 13 0.05%
Scattering 68 0.24%
Plurality 5,870 20.51% -74.43%
Total votes 28,621 100.0% +54.94%
Democratic hold

References
  1. "2020 - 2021 Janesville City Council". City of Janesville. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  2. "Meet Sue Conley". Sue Conley for Wisconsin State Assembly. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  3. April 4, 2017 - Spring Election - Results (Report). Office of the Clerk of Rock County, Wisconsin. April 12, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. April 2, 2019 - Spring General Election - Official Results (Report). Office of the Clerk of Rock County, Wisconsin. April 8, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  5. McCallum, Ashley (April 22, 2020). "Janesville bars can sell prepackaged liquor under temporary ordinance change". Janesville Gazette. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  6. Schultz, Frank (February 21, 2020). "Kolste discusses dropping the 'Representative' from her name". Janesville Gazette. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  7. Associated Press (February 20, 2020). "State Rep. Debra Kolste announces retirement after 3 terms". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  8. Schultz, Frank (February 21, 2020). "Sue Conley running for Rep. Kolste's seat". Janesville Gazette. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  9. "Candidate Q&A: 44th Assembly District". Wisconsin State Journal. August 30, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  10. Schultz, Frank (October 19, 2020). "Third-party candidate wages write-in campaign in Janesville". Janesville Gazette. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  11. McCallum, Ashley (November 3, 2020). "Conley wins 44th state Assembly seat". Janesville Gazette. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  12. Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 18. Retrieved December 23, 2020.


Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
Debra Kolste		 Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 44th district
January 4, 2021 – present		 Incumbent
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