{{short description|American politician (born 1961)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Kevin Shibilski | honorific_suffix = | image = Kevin Shibilski.tiff | order = 2nd | title = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism | governor = Jim Doyle | term_start = January 6, 2003 | term_end = May 2, 2003 | predecessor = Richard Speros | successor = Jim Holperin | state1 = Wisconsin | state_senate1 = Wisconsin | district1 = 24th | term_start1 = May 15, 1995 | term_end1 = January 6, 2003 | predecessor1 = David Helbach | successor1 = Julie Lassa | party = Democratic | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|6|28}} | birth_place = Stevens Point, Wisconsin, U.S. | profession = Businessman | spouse = Sue | education = University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | website = }} '''Kevin Shibilski''' (born June 28, 1961) is an American businessman and former Democratic politician from Wisconsin. He served 8 years in the Wisconsin Senate (1995–2003) and served briefly as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism (2003) under governor Jim Doyle. He also served as register of deeds for Portage County, Wisconsin, and served on the county board of supervisors. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to a number of federal tax crimes arising from his ownership of a waste-recycling business, and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.<ref name="sentence">{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/blatant-theft-former-state-senator-sentenced-to-33-months-in-prison-for-tax-crimes/article_1167ef2f-2fe1-526a-885f-4117553852e8.html |title= 'Blatant theft': Former state senator sentenced to 33 months in prison for tax crimes |first= Lucas |last= Robinson |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= February 22, 2023 |accessdate= January 7, 2024 }}</ref><ref name="wihist">{{cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS12943 |title= Shibilski, Kevin 1961 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate= January 7, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://legis.wisconsin.gov/spotlight/spotl112.html|title=Wisconsin Legislative Spotlight|publisher=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau|date=April 25, 2003|access-date=August 17, 2011|archive-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927183805/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/spotlight/spotl112.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Shibilski graduated from Stevens Point Area Senior High School and went on to graduate with a B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. He is or has been a member of the Izaak Walton League, Wisconsin Bowhunters Association, Whitetails Unlimited, Tomorrow River Lions Club, Ducks Unlimited, Portage County Red Cross board of directors, and Portage County United Way.
==Political career==
Shibilski served in the Portage County Board of Supervisors 1982(?)-1987. He then served as Register of Deeds of Portage County 1987–1995.<ref name="wihist"/>
===Wisconsin Senate=== In February 1995, incumbent state senator David Helbach announced his sudden resignation, triggering a special election.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/marshfield-news-herald-helbach-resigning/137532352/ |title= Helbach to step down |newspaper= Marshfield News-Herald |date= February 17, 1995 |page =1 |accessdate= December 28, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}</ref> Shibilski—who had just won his fourth term as register of deeds in the November 1994 election—immediately entered the race to succeed him.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/marshfield-news-herald-shibilski-senate/138242447/ |title= Shibilski will seek Helbach seat |newspaper= Marshfield News-Herald |date= February 21, 1995 |page= 14 |accessdate= January 7, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }}</ref> Shibilski faced no opposition for the Democratic nomination and went on to defeat the Republican candidate, Donna Rozar, in the May 2 special election.<ref name="1995elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/YPHDP7TNI56WH8E |title= State of Wisconsin 1995–1996 Blue Book |year= 1995 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |editor-last2= Meloy |editor-first2= Patricia E. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AYPHDP7TNI56WH8E/full/AP6UL4RFI3VJ7S8N 919] |accessdate= January 7, 2024 }}</ref> He joined the Senate later that month and was re-elected without serious opposition in 1996 and 2000.<ref name="1997elex">{{cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/V57G6QVOUSNPG8T |title= State of Wisconsin 1997–1998 Blue Book |year= 1997 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1=Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |editor-last2= Meloy |editor-first2= Patricia E. |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/full/A57JCAGWQULPA28Q 888], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AV57G6QVOUSNPG8T/full/AUIIXAEKIGA64R86 890] |accessdate= January 7, 2024 }}</ref><ref name="2000gen">{{Cite report|url= https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_09c2e2a3-1386-4ff9-aad8-3248bf6bb3c5/ |title= Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 |date= May 10, 2001 |publisher= Wisconsin State Elections Board |page= 9 |via= Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate= January 7, 2024 }}</ref>
In 2002, Shibilski entered the race for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, but lost in the Democratic primary to Barbara Lawton.<ref name="2002pri">{{cite report|url= https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_ea07ee50-974a-4449-9b09-53ddcd9d2671/ |title= Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/10/2002 |publisher= Wisconsin State Elections Board |date= September 24, 2002 |page= 3 |accessdate=January 7, 2024 |via= Wisconsin Historical Society }}</ref>
===Doyle administration===
After the 2002 election, Shibilski was named by incoming governor Jim Doyle as his choice to head the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. One of his first acts as secretary was to declare a "no snow emergency" when the state experienced a particularly poor winter snow season, dramatically impacting the state's economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://badgerherald.com/news/2003/01/30/tourism_no-snow_emer.php |title=Tourism: 'No-Snow' emergency |publisher=Badger Herald |access-date=2011-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406015726/http://badgerherald.com/news/2003/01/30/tourism_no-snow_emer.php |archive-date=2012-04-06 }}</ref>
He stepped down just a few months after taking office, in May 2003. Journalists and political observers speculated that he was pressured to resign by governor Doyle because of controversy over political attacks used in the special election over Shibilski's former state senate seat. Doyle was described as upset that Shibilski was connected to a mailing which accused then-Assembly candidate Julie Lassa of "hooking up" with former Senate majority leader Charles Chvala, who was at that time facing criminal charges. Republicans speculated that Doyle fired Shibilski as a scapegoat for his own involvement in the smear campaign. Doyle and Shibilski had both supported Lassa's opponent, Stevens Point attorney Alex Paul, in the Senate primary. Paul's parents were large contributors to Doyle's gubernatorial campaign, and Paul, Doyle, and Shibilski shared a common campaign strategist. The broader theory was that Doyle, Shibileski, and Paul had an understanding prior to the 2002 election that if Doyle won, Shibileski would receive a cabinet appointment, creating an opportunity for Paul to run for state senate. Lassa ultimately won the primary and the Senate seat, despite being outspent four-to-one in that primary.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-shibilski-controversy/138241143/ |title= Republicans jump on Doyle over Shibilski |newspaper= The Capital Times |date= April 16, 2003 |first= David |last= Callender |accessdate= January 7, 2024 }}</ref>
Shibilski did not immediately take another job, but three months later he was hired as vice president of Wisconsin public finance for Stifel, Nicolaus and Company.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/shibilski.pdf|title=Shibilski Joins Stifel, Nicolaus and Company|publisher=Stifel, Nicolaus and Company|date=August 8, 2003 |access-date=2011-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929000053/http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/shibilski.pdf|archive-date=2011-09-29|url-status=dead |via= Wayback Machine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinreport.com/archives/2003/resignation.htm|title=Resignation|publisher=Wisconsin Report|date=|access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref>
Shibilski was reported to have considered a run for United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in both 2010 and 2012, but did enter either race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waow.com/story/12476165/former-state-senator-kevin-shibilski-wont-run-for-obeys-seat?redirected=true|title=Former State Senator Won't Run for Obey's Seat|publisher=Waow News|date=|access-date=2011-05-06|archive-date=2011-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724174914/http://www.waow.com/story/12476165/former-state-senator-kevin-shibilski-wont-run-for-obeys-seat?redirected=true|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waow.com/story/12476245/press-release-statement-by-kevin-shibilski|title=Press release by Kevin Shibilski|publisher=Waow News|date=|access-date=2011-05-06|archive-date=2011-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724174937/http://www.waow.com/story/12476245/press-release-statement-by-kevin-shibilski|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bloggingblue.com/2011/04/26/pat-kreitlow-to-challenge-sean-duffy-in-2012-will-shibilski-challenge-as-well/|title=Pat Kreitlow to challenge Sean Duffy in 2012; will Shibilski as well?|publisher=Blogging Blue|date=26 April 2011|access-date=2011-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/Sean+Duffy/articles/7i-VRrMTPqU/Kevin+Shibilski+gearing+up+challenge+Sean|title=Kevin Shibilski gearing up for challenge to Sean Duffy|publisher=Top Stories Milwaukee|date=|access-date=2011-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ashlandcurrent.com/article/11/01/05/duffy-may-have-challenger-2012 |title=Duffy may have challenger in 2012 |publisher=Ashland Current |access-date=2011-06-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423143604/http://www.ashlandcurrent.com/article/11/01/05/duffy-may-have-challenger-2012 |archive-date=2012-04-23}}</ref>
==Later career==
After several years with Stifel, Shibilski left that position to become an investor and CEO/CFO in an electronics recycling company called 5R Processors Ltd., established in 1990.<ref>{{cite news| publisher=wsaw.com| date=February 22, 2023| title=Ex-legislator gets 33 months in employment tax charge case| url=https://www.wsaw.com/2023/02/22/ex-legislator-gets-33-months-employment-tax-charge-case-2}}</ref> The company focused on recycling of cathode ray tubes, appliances, and other home electronic equipment.
==Federal indictment== In July 2020, Shibilski sued his business partners at 5R Processors, accusing them of falsifying accounting and business records to lure investors, like him. A few months later, in September 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Shibilski for his part in the business, bringing charges of wire fraud, illegal disposal of hazardous electronic waste, and tax fraud for not paying employment taxes for 2014 and 2015. Three of his former business partners were also charged and immediately pled guilty and entered into cooperation agreements.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Treleven |first1=Ed |title=Former state senator Kevin Shibilski charged with fraud, environmental misconduct |url=https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-state-senator-kevin-shibilski-charged-with-fraud-environmental-misconduct/article_9bec3019-d0e5-5fed-8348-fd797ebd630d.html |access-date=10 September 2020 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |date=September 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://eu.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/crime/2022/05/16/former-state-senator-shibilski-pleads-guilty-failing-pay-taxes/9800449002/ | title=Former Wisconsin tourism secretary, state senator pleads guilty to failing to pay employment taxes}}</ref> Shibilski pled guilty in 2022; he was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution.<ref>[https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/crime/2022/05/16/former-state-senator-shibilski-pleads-guilty-failing-pay-taxes/9800449002]</ref><ref>[https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/67586}]</ref>
==Electoral history==
=== Wisconsin Senate (1995–2000) ===
{| class=wikitable |- ! Year ! Election ! Date !! colspan="4"| Elected !! colspan="4"| Defeated ! Total ! Plurality |- ! valign="top" | 1995 | valign="top" | Special<ref name="1995elex"/> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|May 2}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Kevin Shibilski}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | valign="top" align="right" | 15,923 | valign="top" align="right" | 57.00% | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Donna Rozar}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep. | valign="top" align="right" | 12,011 | valign="top" align="right" | 43.00% | valign="top" align="right" | 27,934 | valign="top" align="right" | 3,912 |- ! valign="top" | 1996 | valign="top" | General<ref name="1997elex"/> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 5}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Kevin Shibilski (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | valign="top" align="right" | 44,933 | valign="top" align="right" | 84.08% | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Wayne Wiedeman}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Constitution}} | Tax | valign="top" align="right" | 8,508 | valign="top" align="right" | 15.92% | valign="top" align="right" | 53,441 | valign="top" align="right" | 36,425 |- ! valign="top" | 2000 | valign="top" | General<ref name="2000gen"/> | valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 7}} | valign="top" | {{nowrap|Kevin Shibilski (inc)}} | valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | valign="top" align="right" | 55,760 | valign="top" align="right" | 99.49% | colspan="4" valign="top" | ''--unopposed--'' |56,047 | valign="top" align="right" | 55,473 |}
===Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (2002)=== {{Election box begin | title= Wisconsin Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 2002<ref name="2002pri"/>}} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Democratic Primary, September 10, 2002''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Barbara Lawton |votes = 265,733 |percentage = 54.11% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Kevin Shibilski |votes = 224,834 |percentage = 45.78% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = |candidate = ''Scattering'' |votes = 525 |percentage = 0.11% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 40,899 |percentage = 8.33% |change = }} {{Election box total |votes = 491,092 |percentage = 100.0% |change = }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3449/kevin-shibilski Profile at Vote Smart] * [https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=7537 Profile at Our Campaigns]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-sen}} {{s-bef|before = David Helbach }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin Senate}} {{nowrap|from the 24th district}} |years= May 15, 1995{{spnd}}January 6, 2003 }} {{s-aft|after = Julie Lassa }} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before = Richard Speros }} {{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism |years= January 6, 2003{{spnd}}May 2, 2003 }} {{s-aft|after = Jim Holperin }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shibilski, Kevin}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:County supervisors in Wisconsin Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators Category:People from Stevens Point, Wisconsin Category:University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point alumni Category:People from Merrill, Wisconsin Category:20th-century Wisconsin politicians Category:Wisconsin politicians convicted of crimes Category:Stevens Point Area Senior High School alumni Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature