{{short description|American politician (born 1950)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Jerry Petrowski | honorific_suffix = | image = State Sen Jerry Petrowski.jpg | caption = | state = Wisconsin | state_senate = Wisconsin | district = 29th | term_start = July 17, 2012 | term_end = January 3, 2023 | predecessor = Pam Galloway | successor = Cory Tomczyk | state1 = Wisconsin | state_assembly1 = Wisconsin | district1 = 86th | term_start1 = January 3, 1999 | term_end1 = July 17, 2012 | predecessor1 = Thomas J. Springer | successor1 = John Spiros | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|6|16}} | birth_place = Wausau, Wisconsin, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = University of Wisconsin-Marathon County<br>Northcentral Technical College | profession = Politician, farmer | spouse = {{marriage|Ellen M. Jensen|1973}} | children = 4 | allegiance = United States | branch = United States Army Reserve | service_years = 1968–1974 | website = }} '''Jerry James Petrowski''' (born June 16, 1950) is a retired American Republican politician and a former ginseng, dairy, and beef farmer from Marathon County, Wisconsin. He represented Marathon County for 24 years in the Wisconsin Legislature, serving 11 years in the Wisconsin Senate (2012–2023) and 13 years in the state Assembly (1999–2012).
== Early life and career== Petrowski was born on June 16, 1950, in Wausau, Wisconsin, and has lived most of his life in the Wausau area. He graduated from Wausau's Newman High School in 1968 and immediately enlisted in the United States Army Reserve.<ref name="wileg">{{cite web|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2021/legislators/senate/2109 |title= Senator Jerry Petrowski |year= 2021 |website= Wisconsin Legislature |accessdate= July 25, 2025 }}</ref> He served six years in the Army Reserve, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Marathon County and Northcentral Technical College.<ref name="wileg"/>
He worked as a machinist at Marathon Electric Manufacturing Company for nine years, and during that time was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers labor union.<ref name="announce1998">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/marshfield-news-herald-petrowski/177460653/ |title= Petrowski seeks 86th district seat in Assembly |newspaper= Marshfield News-Herald |date= August 21, 1998 |page= 3 |accessdate= July 25, 2025 |via =Newspapers.com }}</ref> He subsequently became a small business owner and farmer and rancher, growing ginseng and raising dairy and beef cows.<ref name="wileg"/>
== Political career == Petrowski represented the 86th Assembly District in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 to 2012. From 2003 to 2007 he served as the Majority Caucus Sergeant at Arms in the State Assembly.<ref>Wisconsin State Legislature. [http://legis.wisconsin.gov/Pages/leg-info-bio.aspx?h=S&d=29 Senator Jerry Petrowski, 29th Senate District, Republican: Biography]</ref>
Petrowski was a candidate in the recall election to replace fellow Republican State Senator Pam Galloway of the 29th Senate District, who had resigned after being targeted for recall.<ref>Matt Lehman. "[http://wsau.com/news/articles/2012/mar/21/petrowski-to-run-for-state-senate/ Petrowski to run for State Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065041/http://wsau.com/news/articles/2012/mar/21/petrowski-to-run-for-state-senate/ |date=2016-03-04 }}". WSAU, March 21, 2012. Accessed June 25, 2013.</ref> On June 5, 2012, Petrowski was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, defeating Representative Donna Seidel with 61.34% of the vote.<ref>Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. [http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results_6.5.12%20Recall%20Election_PRE%20SEN21%20RECOUNT.pdf G.A.B. Canvass Reporting System: Canvass Results for 2012 June 5 Recall Election - 6/5/2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521214226/http://www.gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results_6.5.12%20Recall%20Election_PRE%20SEN21%20RECOUNT.pdf |date=2015-05-21 }}.</ref>
Petrowski was the Chair of the Senate Transportation, Public Safety and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, Vice Chair of the Senate Economic Development and Local Government Committee, and is a voting member of the Senate Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism Committee, the Senate Financial Institutions and Rural Issues Committee, and the Joint Legislative Council. Petrowski also serves on the Governor’s Council on Highway Safety, Transportation Projects Commission, Rustic Roads Board, Scenic Byway Advisory Committee, Council on Military and State Relations, the State Council on Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point College of Natural Resources Advisory Board.<ref name="ss">Wisconsin State Legislature. [http://legis.wisconsin.gov/Pages/leg-info-comm.aspx?d=29&h=S State Senator Jerry Petrowski: 2013-2014 Committee Assignments]</ref>
== Personal life == Jerry Petrowski is one of two children born to Leo Petrowski and his wife Marcella (''{{nee}}'' Nowak). Leo Petrowski was also a lifelong resident of Marathon County, and worked as a millwright at Marathon Electric Manufacturing Company.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-obituary-leo-j-pet/33120673/ |title= Leo J. Petrowski |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= June 7, 1982 |page= 8 |accessdate= July 25, 2025 |via= Newspapers.com }}</ref>
On December 1, 1973, Jerry Petrowski married Ellen Marie Jensen at Holy Name Catholic Church in Wausau.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald/110065619/ |title= Couple wed |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= December 6, 1973 |page= 12 |accessdate= July 25, 2025 |via= Newspapers.com }}</ref> They have four adult children and three grandchildren.<ref name="ss"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20220731111650/https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/29/petrowski Official Senate website (Archived July 31, 2022)] * [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2021/legislators/senate/2109 Senator Jerry Petrowski (2021)] ** [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/legislators/senate/906 2013] [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/legislators/senate/1229 2015] [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/legislators/senate/1521 2017] [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/legislators/senate/1913 2019] * {{CongLinks|votesmart= 26338}} * {{Ballotpedia|Jerry_Petrowski}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before = Thomas J. Springer }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 86th district}} |years= January 3, 1999{{spnd}}July 17, 2012 }} {{s-aft|after = John Spiros }} {{s-par|us-wi-sen}} {{s-bef|before = Pam Galloway }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin Senate}} {{nowrap|from the 29th district}} |years= July 17, 2012{{spnd}}January 3, 2023 }} {{s-aft|after = Cory Tomczyk }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrowski, Jerry}} Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Wausau, Wisconsin Category:People from Marathon, Wisconsin Category:Farmers from Wisconsin Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:Republican Party Wisconsin state senators Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature Category:Catholic politicians from Wisconsin