Quick Facts
Biography
Mary Lazich (born October 3, 1952) is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 28th District since a special election in April 1998. She was elected as president of the Wisconsin Senate in January 2015, the first female ever elected to that position. She was previously a member of the Wisconsin Assembly from 1992 through 1998.
On March 21, 2016, Lazich announced that she would not run for re-election in 2016.
Personal life
Lazich received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, graduating summa cum laude. She was a New Berlin city councilwoman from 1986 through 1992, and a Waukesha County Board supervisor from 1990 through 1993.
In 2004, Lazich was criticized for lying about her vote for Senate Majority Leader.
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Lazich | 61,366 | 67.48% | ||
| Democratic | Kathleen S. Arciszewski | 29,519 | 32.46% | ||
| Scattering | 60 | .06% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Lazich | 73,899 | 99.27% | ||
| Scattering | 544 | .73% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Lazich | 74,951 | 99.24% | ||
| Scattering | 571 | .76% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Lazich | 60,854 | 63.4% | ||
| Democratic | Jim Ward | 35,053 | 36.5% | ||
| Scattering | 103 | .1% | |||
2011 recall attempt
Senator Lazich was the subject of a recall attempt as part of the 2011 Wisconsin protests due to her support of Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill that repeals collective bargaining on benefits for public employees. However, the recall attempt failed to get enough signatures to be put on the ballot.