Barbara Lawton

{{Short description|American politician (born 1951)}} {{about|the American politician|the English high jumper|Barbara Inkpen}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Barbara Lawton | image = Lawton barbara official.jpg | caption = | order = 43rd | state = | office = Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin | term_start = January 6, 2003 | term_end = January 3, 2011 | governor = Jim Doyle | predecessor = Margaret Farrow | successor = Rebecca Kleefisch | office1 = 49th Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association | term_start1 = 2008 | term_end1 = 2009 | predecessor1 = Jack Dalrymple | successor1 = Bill Bolling | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|07|05}} | birth_place = Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | profession = Business consultant | spouse = Cal Lawton | education = Lawrence University (BA)<br />University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA) | footnotes = | birth_name = Barbara Smith }}

'''Barbara Lawton''' (born July 5, 1951) is an American businesswoman and politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin who is the President and CEO of Americans for Campaign Reform.<ref name="acrreform.org">{{cite web|title=Barbara Lawton Named ACR President and CEO |url=http://www.acrreform.org/news/barbara-lawton-named-acr-president-and-ceo/ |access-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107183519/http://www.acrreform.org/news/barbara-lawton-named-acr-president-and-ceo/ |archive-date=January 7, 2014 }}</ref> A member of the Democratic Party, Lawton was the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. She became the first woman elected to the position in 2002, as the running mate of then state Attorney General Jim Doyle. Lawton was re-elected on November 7, 2006. She was co-founder and Director of External Affairs for Issue One, a nonprofit whose goal is to reduce the influence of money in politics.

==Personal background== '''Barbara Smith''' grew up in southeastern Wisconsin, first in Hales Corners and then on a farm near Waterford. She worked her way through college, ultimately earning a degree in Spanish from Lawrence University in Appleton and a master's degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Lawton has an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Lawrence University and an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She met and married Charles "Cal" Lawton in 1973 when she was a student at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.

During thirty-five years living in the Green Bay area, Barbara Lawton was active in the community, helping to co-found the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and was a leader in the Educational Resource Foundation. She was also a founding member of the Latinos Unidos and the Green Bay Area Multicultural Center. She served on the Entrepreneurs of Color Advisory Board, winning their first Founders' Award. She also served on the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Foundation Board.

Barbara and Cal Lawton have two children, Joseph and Amanda, and four grandchildren: Bella, Molly, James, and Max. The Lawtons presently reside in Algoma, Wisconsin.

Professionally, Lawton worked as an international business consultant, helping businesses export their products to the Southern Cone of South America and providing cultural training. The Lawton family lived for a time in Oaxaca, Mexico and Santiago, Chile.

Prior to being elected lieutenant governor in 2002, Lawton won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 1998 and ran alongside the party's nominee for governor, attorney Ed Garvey. The Garvey/Lawton ticket lost to incumbent Tommy Thompson and Scott McCallum. Lawton also ran unsuccessfully for the Wisconsin State Senate in 1992.<ref>Richard Mial "[http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/article_2a4fff5e-c37f-11de-90bf-001cc4c03286.html Lawton seeks public funding for Supreme Court candidates]", ''La Crosse Tribune'', October 28, 2009.</ref>

==Citizens Panel on a Clean Elections Option== Lawton was a commissioner on the 1997 "Citizens Panel on a Clean Elections Option" that was formed due to the "growing perception of corruption" within the political system. The panel outlined a public policy plan for full-public financing of political campaigns that would "pass constitutional muster." The panel was also known as the "Heffernan Commission" referring to the retired Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice, Nathan Heffernan, who chaired the panel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Report: Citizens Panel on a Clean Elections Option |url=http://www.fightingbob.com/files/heffernan_commission_report.pdf |access-date=November 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510075121/http://www.fightingbob.com/files/heffernan_commission_report.pdf |archive-date=May 10, 2013 }}</ref>

==Lieutenant governor== As lieutenant governor, Lawton took on many issues, most related to economic development, climate change, and campaign reform. In 2003 she launched an economic development initiative called "Wisconsin Women = Prosperity". Lawton has also worked on clean energy policy, stem cell research and affordable higher education. In 2007, Lawton authored and passed the Energy Independence and Climate Protection Resolution at the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Lawton also chaired the Wisconsin Arts Board.

A 2006 editorial in the Madison, Wisconsin daily ''The Capital Times'' called Lawton "the boldest and most active lieutenant governor in state history".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://action.barbaralawton.com/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY%3D20931 |title=Barbara Lawton for Governor Official Website |access-date=January 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707211829/http://action.barbaralawton.com/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY=20931 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }} Capital Times Editorial</ref>

==National Lieutenant Governor's Association== Barbara Lawton was unanimously elected Chairwoman of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association (NLGA) at their 2008 annual meeting in Buffalo, NY. Lawton served as the vice-chair of the NLGA in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nlga.us/web-content/Single-Purpose-Page/message_from_nlga_chair__lt.htm |title=Message from NLGA Chair Lt |access-date=January 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922002458/http://www.nlga.us/web-content/Single-Purpose-Page/message_from_nlga_chair__lt.htm |archive-date=September 22, 2008 }} NLGA Chair Remarks</ref>

In September 2008, as Chairwoman of the NLGA, Lawton had traveled on a mission to China along with Lt. Governors from Alabama, Connecticut, Kansas and Nevada. There, she signed a student exchange agreement between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Tsinghua University in Beijing. Lawton also reached an agreement for the two Universities to form an exploratory commission to create a Global Manufacturing Institute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/travels_details.asp?travelid%3D65%26locid%3D126 |title=Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton's Travels |access-date=January 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510052515/http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/travels_details.asp?travelid=65&locid=126 |archive-date=May 10, 2009 }} Office of the Lt. Governor Blog on China Trade Mission</ref>

==2010 gubernatorial run== On August 15, 2009, Politico announced Governor Doyle will not be seeking a third term according to sources familiar with his campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/08/gov-jim-doyle-wont-seek-reelection-026145|title=Gov. Jim Doyle won't seek reelection|website=Politico |date=August 15, 2009 |access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> Soon after this announcement, Lawton's entry into the race was confirmed.<ref name="Milwaukee Journal Sentinel">{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/53423497.html|title=Lawton enters race; Kind considering it|access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> Two months later, on October 26, 2009, Lawton announced she would be withdrawing from the race, citing "personal reasons."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=174717 |title=Archived copy |access-date=October 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506111454/http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=174717 |archive-date=May 6, 2010 }}</ref>

==Americans for Campaign Reform== On January 6, 2014, Lawton was named the President and CEO of Americans for Campaign Reform, an advocacy organization based in Washington D.C. chaired by former Senators Bill Bradley (D-NJ), Bob Kerrey (D-NE), and Alan Simpson (R-WY). The organization advocates for public funding of federal elections.<ref name="acrreform.org"/>

===Issue One=== In October 2014, Americans for Campaign Reform announced its merger with another campaign finance reform group, Fund for the Republic. The merged organizations adopted the name Issue One. Issue One is based in Washington D.C., and is run by Nick Penniman. Lawton formerly led the organization's external affairs department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.issueone.org/#team|title=Issue One - Together, We Can Fix Our Democracy|website=Issue One|access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>

==Endorsements== Lawton co-chaired Hillary Clinton's Wisconsin campaign during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/8247172.html|title=Wisconsin Lt. Governor Lawton Joins Hillary Clinton Team|work=WIFR|access-date=July 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624020531/https://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/8247172.html|archive-date=June 24, 2016}}</ref> During the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, Lawton endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2016/03/29/with-fresh-cash-team-sanders-plans-big-push-in-remaining-states/|title=With fresh cash, Team Sanders plans big push in remaining states|date=March 29, 2016|website=VTDigger|access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

=== Wisconsin Senate (1992) ===

=== Lieutenant Governor (1998–2006) ===

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202115736/http://www.barbaralawton.com/ Barbara Lawton] official campaign site * [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200648&c=427596 Follow the Money – Barbara lawton] 2006 campaign contributions * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061023092203/http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS040586 Project Vote Smart – Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton (WI)] profile * [http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2006/11/06/0611060238.php Capital Times Editorial] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070706151336/http://blogs.wispolitics.com/DEMconvos/2007/06/wispoliticscom-edwards-lautenschlager.html Wispolitics 2007 Straw Poll Results for Governor at the Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention] Wispolitics.com * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100527172038/http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=13781&locid=126 WW=P 5-year Progress Report] * [http://issueone.org Issue One official website] * {{C-SPAN}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Dorothy Dean}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin|years=1998, 2002, 2006}} {{s-aft|after=Tom Nelson}} {{s-off}} {{succession box | before= Margaret Farrow |title=Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin | years=2003–2011 | after = Rebecca Kleefisch }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawton, Barbara}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Lieutenant governors of Wisconsin Category:Politicians from Green Bay, Wisconsin Category:Lawrence University alumni Category:University of Wisconsin–Green Bay alumni Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni Category:Wisconsin Democrats Category:Women in Wisconsin politics Category:21st-century Wisconsin politicians Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:People from Algoma, Wisconsin Category:People from Hales Corners, Wisconsin Category:People from Waterford, Wisconsin