Ron Kind

Infobox Congressman
name= Ron Kind


state= Wisconsin
district= 3rd
party= Democrat
term_start= January 3, 1997
preceded= Steve Gunderson
succeeded= Incumbent
date of birth= birth date and age|1963|03|16
place of birth= La Crosse, Wisconsin
occupation= attorney
alma_mater= Harvard University, London School of Economics, University of Minnesota
residence= La Crosse, Wisconsin
religion= Lutheran
spouse= Tawni Kind

Ronald James "Ron" Kind (born March 16 1963) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He has served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997, representing ushr|Wisconsin|3|.

Early life

Kind was born and raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is the third of five children born to Greta and Elroy Kind, and the fifth generation of his family to live in the area. [http://www.house.gov/kind/bio.shtml] Kind's mother formerly worked as the assistant director of personnel in the La Crosse School District. His father had a 35-year career as a telephone repairman and union leader at the La Crosse Telephone Company. [http://www.house.gov/kind/bio.shtml]

Kind attended the public schools in La Crosse and became a standout student athlete at Logan High School in both football and basketball. He accepted a scholarship to Harvard University where he graduated with honors in 1985. While attending Harvard, Kind played quarterback on the football team and worked during the summer with Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire in Washington. In Proxmire's office he helped investigate waste, which provided the basis for some of the senator's famous Golden Fleece Awards. [http://www.house.gov/kind/bio.shtml]

Kind went on to receive a master's degree from the London School of Economics and a Law Degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. He practiced law for two years at the law firm of Quarles and Brady in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Kind returned to his hometown of La Crosse to become a county prosecutor. He later served as a special prosecutor in numerous counties throughout western Wisconsin. [http://www.house.gov/kind/bio.shtml]

Career

In September 1995, Kind announced his intention to run for the 3rd Congressional District seat being vacated by 16-year incumbent Steve Gunderson. He later won a five-person race for the Democratic nomination and went on to defeat his Republican opponent 52 percent to 48 percent. In 2004 he won with 57 percent of the vote and won with 65 percent of the vote in 2006 against Paul R. Nelson.

He was first elected in ushr|Wisconsin|3 ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/wi03_109.gifmap] ) in November 1996. He currently serves on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. His other (non-committee) titles are the Democratic Chief Deputy Whip, co-founder of both the Upper Mississippi River Congressional Caucus and the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, and is a co-vice-chair of the New Democrat Coalition.

As a New Democrat, Kind is a strong proponent of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He most recently took a lead role in passing the Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in November 2007.

Personal life

Kind and his wife, Tawni, live in his hometown of La Crosse. She is an official court reporter for the County Court system. They have two sons, Johnny (born in August 1996) and Matthew (born in May 1998). They are members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Kind is a member of the La Crosse Optimists Club, a leader in the Boys' and Girls' Club, and the La Crosse YMCA. He is also on the board of directors for Coulee Council on Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse. His wife organizes the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school artists in western Wisconsin.

Election history

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/kind/ U.S. Congressman Ron Kind] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.ronkind.org/ Ron Kind for Congress] campaign website
* [http://www.wisdems.org/index.php?display=CandidateDetails&id=246238 Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Ron Kind] biography