Chuck Chvala
OfficeMajority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate
Term startJanuary 4, 1999
Term endOctober 21, 2002
PredecessorMichael Ellis
SuccessorRuss Decker (acting co-leader)
Fred Risser (acting co-leader)
Term start 1June 14, 1996
Term end 1April 20, 1998
Predecessor 1Michael Ellis
Successor 1Michael Ellis
Office 2Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate
Term start 2April 20, 1998
Term end 2January 4, 1999
Predecessor 2Michael Ellis
Successor 2Michael Ellis
Term start 3October 17, 1995
Term end 3June 14, 1996
Predecessor 3Robert Jauch
Successor 3Michael Ellis
State senate 4Wisconsin
District 416th
Term start 4January 7, 1985
Term end 4January 3, 2005
Predecessor 4Carl W. Thompson
Successor 4Mark F. Miller
State assembly 5Wisconsin
District 598th
Term start 5January 3, 1983
Term end 5January 7, 1985
Predecessor 5Edward Jackamonis
Successor 5Peggy Rosenzweig
Birth dateDecember 5, 1954 (age 71)
Birth placeMerrill, Wisconsin, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
  • Tracyjean Rebenstorff (m. 1978; div. 1988)
  • Barbara Worcester (m. 1991)
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison (BA, JD)

Charles Joseph "Chuck" Chvala (born December 5, 1954) is an American real estate dealer, lawyer, and former politician. He served 20 years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Dane County, and was the Democratic caucus leader from 1995 through 2002. His political career was ended by a 2002 scandal which found he and other lawmakers had illegally utilized state employees for campaign work.

Early life and career

Born in Merrill, Wisconsin, Chvala's family moved to Madison where he attended La Follette High School, and served as a student member of the Madison School Board.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978 and the same year earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.[2]

Both of Chvala's parents were teachers in the Madison School District, and famously led a strike in the 1970s. His parents' involvement with the teachers' union was a springboard for his entrance into politics. He made his first run for Wisconsin State Assembly in 1978, relying on union support in the Democratic primary.[3] He ultimately fell 174 votes short of David Travis, another first time candidate who would also go on to become a Democratic caucus leader in the 1990s.[4]

Between 1978 and 1982, Chvala worked as a lawyer and legislative consultant in Madison. His clients included the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association and the Citizens Utility Board. He also served the boards of the non-profit organizations Vets House and The Attic.[5]

Political career

Legislative career

Following the court-ordered redistricting of 1982, Chvala ran in the newly drawn 98th Assembly district. Due to the drastic redistricting, there was no incumbent in the district. Chvala prevailed over a field of five Democrats in the primary, and went on to receive 70% of the vote in the general election.[6]

In 1983, the Legislature passed another redistricting plan, superseding the court-ordered plan. Chvala chose to run for Wisconsin State Senate in 1984, in the redrawn 16th Senate district, which now stretched from Madison's east side through eastern Dane County, western Rock County, and across Green County. This time, Chvala faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, but had a more competitive general election, receiving 54% of the vote over Republican Thomas L. Storm.[7] He was subsequently re-elected four times, serving until 2005.

Gubernatorial campaign

Main article: 1994 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

In 1994, Chvala sought to challenge incumbent Republican Governor Tommy Thompson. Chvala faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, but lost to Thompson in a landslide, receiving only 31% of the statewide vote.[8]

Senate leadership

From 1995 to 2002 he led Senate Democrats during a time of razor-thin, one-vote party balances, leading to flips between Democratic and Republican leadership control in the event of legislative vacancies or intra-term seats changing hands due to special elections. Control of the legislature flipped four times during Chvala's tenure as Democratic caucus leader, twice due to intra-term special elections, and twice due to general election victories.[9]

In the fall of 2002, Chvala and other legislative leaders were caught in a scandal arising from the use of state legislative staffers and resources for political campaign duties. He was charged with 20 felony counts, including extortion, misconduct in public office, and filing false election reports. He pleaded guilty to two counts, and was sentenced to nine months in jail with two years of probation.[10]

After the legislature

While on probation, Chvala became involved in the real estate market in collaboration with his daughter, who was a licensed broker. His law license, which had been suspended following his guilty plea, was reinstated in 2008, enabling him to resume his legal practice.[11] He also serves as a regular contributor to The Insiders, a political commentary series in Wisconsin.[12][13][14]

Personal life and family

Chvala married Tracyjean Rebenstorff in June 1978.[15] They had two children together before divorcing in 1988.[16]

Chvala subsequently married Barbara Worcester, a Senate legislative staffer, in 1991.[17] Worcester continued her career in government after Chvala's resignation and served for many years as chief of staff to Democratic Senate leader Russ Decker. She now works as deputy chief of staff to Governor Tony Evers.[18]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1978, 1982)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 12, 1978

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, September 14, 1982

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 1982

Wisconsin Senate (1984–2000)

YearElectionDate! colspan="4"| Elected! colspan="4"| DefeatedTotalPlurality
1984General[7]Nov. 6Charles ChvalaDemocratic34,29654.03%Thomas L. StormRep.29,17745.97%63,4735,119
1988General[19]Nov. 8Charles Chvala (inc.)Democratic40,58662.47%J. Michael BlacaRep.24,37937.53%64,96516,207
1992General[20]Nov. 3Charles Chvala (inc.)Democratic46,88863.63%Eric D. GordonRep.26,79936.37%73,68720,089
1996General[21]Nov. 5Charles Chvala (inc.)Democratic39,61853.67%Tom MetcalfeRep.32,99744.70%73,8196,621
Mike A. OprishLib.1,2041.63%
2000General[22]Nov. 7Charles Chvala (inc.)Democratic51,07657.93%Lisa B. NelsonRep.37,03742.01%88,16814,039

Wisconsin Governor (1994)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 1994

References

  1. ^ Anderson, Andrea (July 18, 2013). "La Follette alumni celebrate 50 years". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 3. Retrieved October 25, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ "Chvala, Chuck 1954". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Crusan, Liz (September 8, 1978). "37th Assembly District has lively race". The Capital Times. p. 3. Retrieved October 25, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
  4. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert & Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.) (1979). "Elections". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 906, 925. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Five Democrats in 98th Assembly primary". Wisconsin State Journal. September 2, 1982. p. 6. Retrieved October 25, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
  6. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert & Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.) (1983). "Elections". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 892, 912. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert & Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.) (1985). "Elections". The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 903, 921. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.) (1995). "Elections". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 891, 912. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Democrats set targets for more Senate seats, by Pete Millard, Milwaukee Business Journal, June 4, 2000, retrieved June 23, 2020
  10. ^ Court of Appeals of Wisconsin-Published Opinion-Case 03-0442 CR-State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Charles Chvala, Defendant-Appellant
  11. ^ Walters, Steven (September 19, 2008). "Chvala gets his law license back". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  12. ^ Wispolitics.com, June 12, 2020, retrieved June 16, 2020
  13. ^ ExploreLawyers.com, retrieved June 16, 2020
  14. ^ PropertyDrive.com, retrieved June 16, 2020
  15. ^ "Rebenstorff-Chvala". Wisconsin State Journal. March 12, 1978. p. 78. Retrieved October 25, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
  16. ^ "Dane County Case Number 1988FA001963 Charles J Chvala Vs Tracyjean E Chvala". Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. December 30, 1988. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "Good times". Wisconsin State Journal. July 21, 1991. p. 15. Retrieved October 25, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
  18. ^ Sommerhauser, Mark & Vetterkind, Riley (January 6, 2019). "Evers' Cabinet". Wisconsin State Journal. p. A8. Retrieved October 25, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
  19. ^ Barish, Lawrence S. & Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.) (1989). "Elections". State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 907, 922. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Barish, Lawrence S. & Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.) (1993). "Elections". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 919. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  21. ^ Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.) (1997). "Elections". State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 888–889. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  22. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000. Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. p. 8. Retrieved October 25, 2021.

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