Racine Teacher To Head Senate Education Committee

Racine teacher John Lehman will serve as the new chair of the State Senate Education Committee. Lehman, who has served 10 years in the Assembly, was elected to the State Senate on November 7 when he won an open Senate seat vacated by Cathy Stepp. Lehman also will serve on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee. (Read more about Lehman in a 2005 OnWEAC feature article titled 'John Lehman brings teacher's perspective to Capitol.')

Lehman's appointment was among several announced Wednesday (December 6, 2006) by incoming Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson of Beloit. Democrats will have an 18-15 majority in the Senate. Following is a list of committees and their designated chairs for 2007-08. Additional committee members will be named at a later date.

• Agriculture & Higher Education: Senator Kathleen Vinehout.
• Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues & Information Technology: Senator Pat Kreitlow.
• Commerce, Utilities & Rail: Senator Jeff Plale.
• Economic Development, Job Creation, Family Prosperity & Housing: Senator Julie Lassa.
• Education: Senator John Lehman.
• Environment & Natural Resources: Senator Mark Miller.
• Ethics Reform & Government Operations: Senator Fred Risser.
• Health & Human Services: Senator Jon Erpenbach.
• Judiciary & Corrections: Senator Lena Taylor.
• Labor, Elections & Urban Affairs: Senator Spencer Coggs.
• Public Health, Senior Issues, Long-Term Care & Privacy: Senator Tim Carpenter.
• Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Workforce Development, Technical Colleges & Consumer Protection: Senator Bob Wirch.
• Transportation, Tourism & Insurance: Senator Roger Breske.
• Veterans & Military Affairs, Biotechnology & Financial Institutions: Senator Jim Sullivan.

Posted December 7, 2006