Walter J. Kunicki (born June 9, 1958) is an American lobbyist and former politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as the 71st speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1991 to 1995. A Democrat, he represented south-central Milwaukee for 18 years in the Assembly. Since leaving office, he has lobbied on behalf of Wisconsin Gas LLC and WEC Energy Group, where he is now senior vice president for state public affairs.

Walter J. Kunicki
71st Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 7, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byThomas A. Loftus
Succeeded byDavid Prosser Jr.
Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office
January 3, 1995 – May 26, 1998
Preceded byDavid Prosser Jr.
Succeeded byShirley Krug
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 4, 1993 – January 1, 1999
Preceded byPeter Bock
Succeeded byPedro Colón
Constituency8th Assembly district
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 4, 1993
Preceded byThomas W. Meaux
Succeeded byTim Carpenter
Constituency9th Assembly district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985
Preceded byLois Plous
Succeeded byShirley Krug
Constituency15th Assembly district
In office
January 5, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byJoseph Czerwinski
Succeeded byCharles W. Coleman
Constituency27th Assembly district
Personal details
Born (1958-06-09) June 9, 1958 (age 66)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (B.S., 1980)
ProfessionLobbyist

Biography

edit

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kunicki graduated from Milwaukee Technical High School and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1980.[1]

That same year, he was elected to his first term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He narrowly won the Democratic nomination for the seat, topping a crowded seven-candidate primary contest. He went on to win re-election 8 times, even as the district was redrawn in 1982, 1984, and 1992. In 1991, after the expiration of the term of Speaker Thomas A. Loftus, who had chosen to run for Governor of Wisconsin in 1990 rather than seek re-election to the Assembly, the members elected Kunicki as the new speaker. He continued as speaker until the Republicans took the majority in the 1994 election, and then became the Democrats' leader in the minority.[1] He did not run for re-election in 1998.[2]

Since leaving office, Kunicki has worked as a vice president at Wisconsin Energy Corporation, and has worked as a registered lobbyist for them in the Wisconsin Legislature.[3] Kunicki is a member of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the National Speakers Conference.[4]

Personal life and family

edit

Earlier in his career, Kunicki was an occupational health nurse and remained a member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association through his time as a legislator. He is married.[1]

Kunicki's son, Kyle, ran unsuccessfully for the open 40th Assembly district in 2024.[5]

Electoral history

edit

Wisconsin Assembly 27th District (1980)

edit
Wisconsin Assembly, 27th District Election, 1980[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Primary, September 9, 1980
Democratic Walter Kunicki 662 21.44%
Democratic Narciso L. Aleman 592 19.18%
Democratic Daryl Laatsch 567 18.37%
Democratic Sam L. Orlich 409 13.25%
Democratic Harvey J. Cooper 353 11.44%
Democratic John A. Tadych 341 11.05%
Democratic Barbara Svetlik 163 5.28%
Plurality 70 2.27%
Total votes 3,087 100.0%
General Election, November 4, 1980
Democratic Walter Kunicki 7,645 75.82%
Republican Roger Sullivan 2,438 24.18%
Plurality 5,207 51.64%
Total votes 10,083 100.0%
Democratic hold

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1997). "Biographies and photos: Members of the State Legislature". In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 21, 27. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kunicki, Walter J. 1958". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. ^ Walters, Steven (January 18, 2013). "The Capitol's revolving door". Opinion. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  4. ^ "Walter J. Kunicki - Senior Vice President – State Public Affairs". WEC Energy Group. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Claflin, Hallie (July 23, 2024). "Which Democrat will win rural votes for an open Assembly seat?". Wisconsin Watch. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 894, 915. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
edit


Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 27th district
January 5, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 15th district
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 9th district
January 3, 1985 – January 4, 1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 8th district
January 4, 1993 – January 1, 1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
January 7, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
January 3, 1995 – May 26, 1998
Succeeded by