David Travis

For the javelin thrower, see Dave Travis. For the British radio and television presenter, see Dave Lee Travis.
David Travis
Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office
January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995
Preceded byThomas A. Hauke
Succeeded byScott Jensen
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 7, 1985 – January 5, 2009
Preceded byCarol Roessler
Succeeded byKelda Roys
Constituency81st district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byMarlin Schneider
Succeeded byMark D. Lewis
Constituency93rd district
In office
January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byPeter D. Bear
Succeeded byJohn T. Manske
Constituency37th district
Personal details
Born (1948-09-21) September 21, 1948 (age 76)
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceMadison, Wisconsin
Education
Occupationpolitician

David M. "Dave" Travis (born September 21, 1948) is a retired American communications consultant and Democratic politician. He served 30 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Dane County, and was majority leader of the Assembly from 1991 to 1995.

Biography

Travis was born September 21, 1948. He earned his bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and went on to earn his master's from the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also attended Madison Area Technical College and Bindl Flight School, in Waunakee, Wisconsin, where he earned a private pilot's license.[1]

After receiving his bachelor's degree, Travis went to work as an administrative assistant for the Wisconsin Senate Democratic Caucus. By 1974, he had risen to become staff director for the caucus.[2]

In 1978, incumbent assemblymember Peter D. Bear announced he would run for Wisconsin State Senate, creating a vacancy in Wisconsin's 37th Assembly district.[3] Travis decided to run in the Democratic primary, and prevailed in a field of five candidates that included future Wisconsin Senate Democratic leader Charles Chvala.[4]

Over the next five years, Wisconsin would go through two significant redistrictings. In 1982, after the Legislature and Governor failed to agree on a map reflecting the 1980 United States census, a federal court ordered the implementation of their own map, which was designed to punish incumbent legislators. Travis' district shifted from a mostly urban district on Madison's north side to the new 93rd Assembly district, which was composed of most of northwestern Dane County. He survived a competitive general election and returned to office in 1983, where the new Legislature set about creating a new redistricting plan to override the court-ordered plan. Under the new map, Travis resided in the new 81st Assembly district, which would be his constituency for the remainder of his career. He was re-elected twelve more times in the 81st district.

Travis announced in May 2007 that he would not run for a 16th term in the Assembly.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Travis, David M. 1948". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Caucus Staffs Admit Abuse Potential". The Capital Times. June 5, 1974. p. 27. Retrieved October 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Peter Bear to run for State Senate". Wisconsin State Journal. December 22, 1977. p. 4. Retrieved October 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 906, 925. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Travis won't seek Assembly re-election". Wisconsin State Journal. May 17, 2007. p. 3. Retrieved October 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 37th district
January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 93rd district
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 81st district
January 7, 1985 – January 5, 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly
January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995 		Succeeded by