{{Short description|American Republican politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Bob Kulp | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Bob Kulp WI 69th Assembly District photo small.jpg | image_size = | state = Wisconsin | state_assembly = Wisconsin | district = 69th | term_start = December 4, 2013 | term_end = January 4, 2021 | predecessor = Scott Suder | successor = Donna Rozar | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|3|21}} | birth_place = Elkhart, Indiana | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Thomas Edison State University | profession = Politician | spouse = Laura | children = 7 | website = [https://twitter.com/bobkulp Official twitter] }}
'''Bob Kulp''' (March 21, 1966) is an American businessman and politician. A Republican, he was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2013 to 2021.
==Early life and career== Kulp was born in Elkhart, Indiana, but moved with his family to Marathon County, Wisconsin, where he was raised on a dairy farm.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url= http://www.kulpforassembly.com/about_bob |title= Why Bob |website= Bob Kulp - Assembly |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190618115125/http://www.kulpforassembly.com/about_bob |archive-date= June 18, 2019 |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref> In 1985, Kulp founded Kulp's of Stratford, a roofing, insulation, and sheet metal installation contractor.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.kulproof.com/about-us |title= About Us |website= Kulp's of Strateford |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref> He subsequently created Marathon Metals in 2001 and Kulp Energy Solutions in 2011, which function as suppliers for his primary business. He also created Kulp Real Properties in 2001, through which he manages a real estate portfolio. In 2014, he resumed his education through the online Thomas Edison State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in public administration in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/145416/bob-kulp |title= Bob Kulp's Biography |website= Vote Smart |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref>
==Political career== In 2013, incumbent state representative Scott Suder announced he would resign from the Wisconsin State Assembly before the end of the year to accept a new job. A special election was called to fill the pending vacancy, and Kulp was one of four Republicans who filed to run in the primary.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/candidates-file-to-replace-both-honadel-and-suder-in-assembly-b99105929z1-225103422.html/ |title= Candidates file to replace both Honadel and Suder in Assembly |newspaper= Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date= September 24, 2013 |last= Schultz |first= Steve |accessdate =January 7, 2021 }}</ref> Kulp ultimately prevailed in the Republican primary with 43% of the vote,<ref name="2013pri">{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Percentage%20Results-10.22.13%20Assm%2069%20special%20primary.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2013 Special Primary Assembly 69 |publisher=Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |date= October 29, 2013 |page= 1 |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref> and went on to defeat Democrat Kenneth Slezak in the November 19 special election.<ref name="2013gen">{{cite report|url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/County%20Results-11.19.13%20Special%20Election-Assm%2069.pdf |title= 2013 Special Election Assembly 69 |date= November 26, 2013 |publisher= Wisconsin Government Accountability Board |page= 1 |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref> Kulp was sworn in as representative of the 69th district on December 4, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/232642061.html |title=Republicans Kulp, Rodriguez win Wisconsin Assembly seats |access-date=2013-11-20 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131120132132/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/232642061.html |archive-date=2013-11-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2018, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission issued a warning to Kulp for violated state ethics laws by promoting his company utilizing state resources.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/nletter/wisconsin-investigations/2018/01/04/wisconsin-ethics-panel-warns-rep-kulp-improper-tweets/1001189001/ |title= Wisconsin ethics panel warns Rep. Kulp about 'improper' tweets |first= Keegan |last= Kyle |newspaper= Stevens Point Journal |date= January 4, 2018 |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref>
In January 2020, Kulp announced that he would not seek a fifth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/story/news/2020/01/10/wisconsin-elections-bob-kulp-not-seek-re-election-69th-assembly-district/4430329002/ |title= State Rep. Bob Kulp will not seek re-election to the 69th Assembly District in 2020 |newspaper= Marshfield News-Herald |date= January 10, 2020 |last= Siegler |first= Melissa |accessdate= January 7, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/story/news/2020/08/04/wisconsin-elections-69th-assembly-district-sees-crowded-gop-primary/5505533002/ |title= Four Republicans seek nomination in bid to replace state Rep. Bob Kulp in 69th Assembly District |newspaper= Marshfield News-Herald |last=Hovorka |first= Alan |language=en-US |access-date=August 17, 2020}}</ref> He left office in January 2021.
==Electoral history== ===Wisconsin Assembly (2013)=== {{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 69th District Special Election, 2013<ref name="2013pri"/><ref name="2013gen"/> }} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Republican Primary, October 22, 2013''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Bob Kulp |votes = 2,260 |percentage = 46.94% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Alanna Feddick |votes = 1,273 |percentage = 24.61% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Tommy Dahlen |votes = 1,014 |percentage = 19.61% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Scott Kenneth Noble |votes = 624 |percentage = 12.06% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = |candidate = ''Scattering'' |votes = 1 |percentage = 0.02% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 987 |percentage = 19.08% |change = }} {{Election box total |votes = 5,172 |percentage = 100.0% |change = }} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Special Election, November 19, 2013''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Bob Kulp |votes = 4,700 |percentage = 67.28% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Kenneth A. Slezak |votes = 1,679 |percentage = 24.03% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Independent (United States) |candidate = Tim Swiggum |votes = 607 |percentage = 8.69% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = |candidate = ''Scattering'' |votes = 0 |percentage = 0.0% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 3,021 |percentage = 43.24% |change = +20.82% }} {{Election box total |votes = 6,986 |percentage = 100.0% |change = -72.93% }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing |winner = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{CongLinks| votesmart= 145416}} * {{Ballotpedia|Bob_Kulp }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20201114115026/https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/69/kulp Official website (Archived 11/14/2020)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20181103054711/https://www.kulpforassembly.com/ Campaign website (Archived 11/3/2018))] * [https://www.kulproof.com/contact-us Kulp's of Stratford, LLC]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before = Scott Suder }} {{S-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 69th district}} |years= December 4, 2013{{Spaced ndash}}January 4, 2021 }} {{s-aft|after = Donna Rozar }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kulp, Bob}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:People from Elkhart, Indiana Category:People from Stratford, Wisconsin Category:Thomas Edison State University alumni Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature