Robert Cowles
| Robert Cowles | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 2nd district |
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Assumed office April 21, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Don Hanaway |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 6th district |
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In office 1983–1987 |
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| Preceded by | Gervase Hephner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 31, 1950 Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Allouez |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Robert L. Cowles (born July 31, 1950) is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 2nd District since 1987. In August 2011, Cowles faced a recall election, but defeated the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, 60 percent to 40 percent.
Cowles was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay in 1975. He was formerly a director of an alternative energy division for a communications construction company, but is now a full-time legislator.
Cowles was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1982 and re-elected until 1986, when he resigned to run for the state senate. He was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in a special election in April 1987. He ran unopposed in 2008.
Cowles supported Walker's budget repair bill, including the section that removed collective bargaining. In July, a businessman alleged that Cowles did not like the bill, but supported it because Walker threatened to run a tea party candidate against him otherwise.
Cowles was subject to a recall effort as part of the 2011 Wisconsin protests. On March 2, 2011, the "Committee to Recall Cowles" registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. On April 28, roughly 26,000 signatures to recall Cowles were filed with the Government Accountability Board. In late May 2011, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board verified petitions against Cowles, overruling his challenges. The recall election was held on August 9, 2011, with Cowles defeating the Democratic challenger, Nancy Nusbaum, 60 percent to 40 percent.
Cowles chairs the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Information Technology and sits on the Joint Committee on Audit and the Joint Committee on Finance.
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