Mark William Neumann (born February 27, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. He represented for two terms, from 1995 to 1999. In 2010, Neumann lost a bid to become the Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin. Neumann was a candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin to succeed Herb Kohl who was retiring. He came in third place during the 2012 Republican primary election on August 14, 2012.
Early life, education, and early career
Neumann was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, one of five siblings. His parents were Stella and Kurt Neumann. His father was an electrical engineer for General Motors and his mother was an executive assistant. Neumann graduated from East Troy High School in 1972. After high school, he briefly attended General Motors Institute (now Kettering University). In 1973, Neumann married Sue Link, his high school sweetheart, whom he met in Sunday school in the 4th grade. That same year, Neumann enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he graduated with honors in 1975, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. After graduating from Whitewater, Neumann moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where he taught mathematics at River Falls High School while attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, earning a Masters of Science in Supervision and Instructional Leadership. Neumann did additional post-graduate work at the University of Wisconsin.
After college, Neumann relocated to Milton, Wisconsin, where he began his career teaching Mathematics at Milton High School and Milton College, before the campus closed in 1982. Neumann is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. He started his first company in 1986 in his basement, building homes in the Milton and Janesville, WI areas. By 1991, Neumann's company was listed as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
1992
Neumann decided to run for the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992. He faced Congressman Les Aspin and lost 58% to 41%, while spending $700,000.
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| Primary Election
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election
1993 special election
Shortly after defeating Neumann, Aspin was appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense by President Bill Clinton in 1993. Just months after being defeated by over 17%, Neumann entered the special election to fill the seat vacated by Aspin. Neumann lost narrowly to his opponent, Peter Barca by only 675 votes; 49.3% to Barca's 49.9%.
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| Primary Election
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election
1994
After losing in both 1992 and 1993, Neumann once again entered the race for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. After losing to Peter Barca by 675 votes in the previous year, Neumann defeated Barca by 1,120 votes, becoming the first Republican to hold that seat since 1971. Neumann's victory was one of 52 Republican pick-up seats during the Republican Revolution.
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election
1996
Neumann won re-election by 4,260 votes in a close 1996 race against Lydia Spottswood.
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; background:#e9e9e9;"| General Election
Tenure
Neumann was sworn into the 104th United States Congress on January 3, 1995, when the Republican Party gained control of both houses for the first time since the 1950s. Neumann was assigned to the Appropriations committee, being the only freshman appointed to the committee that year. While on the committee, Neumann wrote his own version of the budget, which would produce a balanced budget by 1999. Neumann voted present in the election for Speaker of the House in 1997, instead of voting for Newt Gingrich.
In September 1995, Neumann introduced an amendment requiring congressional approval of troop deployment to Bosnia which failed to pass. Then, on September 29, he voted to defeat the $243 billion military appropriation, along with other freshman Members, because it did not contain his amendment. As punishment for his vote, Bob Livingston removed him from the committee. This was brief, and Neumann was eventually reassigned to the committee.
Neumann has been critical of LGBT rights in the past. In 1996, he commented to the New York Times that "if I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn't be permitted, but nobody's electing me God".