Jeremy Thiesfeldt (born November 22, 1966) is an American educator and politician from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 12 years, representing Wisconsin's 52nd Assembly district from 2011 through 2022. He also previously served on the Fond du Lac city council.
Early life, education, and career before politics Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on November 22, 1966, Thiesfeldt graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Martin Luther College in 1989.
Thiesfeldt is a former teacher,Todd Richmond, Assembly panel considers mandatory cursive bill, Associated Press (November 6, 2019). having previously taught at Winnebago Lutheran Academy.Sarah Razner, Fond du Lac, Dodge County results: Thiesfeldt, Schraa, Born re-elected; referendums pass, Fond du Lac Reporter (November 6, 2018). As of 2018 he was interim principal at Redeemer Lutheran School in Fond du Lac.Sharon Roznik, Wisconsin legislator, school principal deletes tweet about guns, apologizes, Fond du Lac Reporter (February 16, 2018).
Political career Thiesfeldt was a member of the Fond du Lac city council from 2005 to 2010, and was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010 as a Republican. Thiesfeldt is the assemblyman for the 52nd Assembly District,Sarah Razner, Fond du Lac detective, Knowles fire chief receive First Responder of the Year awards, Fond du Lac Reporter (October 11, 2019). which encompasses Fond du Lac city, Fond du Lac town, Byron, Empire, Oakfield, and Taycheedah, and Oakfield, as well as part of Calumet. He was reelected in 2012 with 60.65% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Paul G. Czisny;G.A.B. Canvass Reporting System, Canvass Results for 2012 P Residential and General Election - 11/6/2012 , Wisconsin Elections Commission, p. 21. was reelected in 2014 without opposition;G.A.B. Canvass Reporting System, Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 , Wisconsin Elections Commission, p. 20. was reelected in 2016 with 63.76% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Czisny,WEC Canvass Reporting System: Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 , Wisconsin Elections Commission, p. 20. and was reelected in 2018 with 61.63% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Kevin Booth.Canvass Results for 2018 General Election , Wisconsin Elections Commission, p. 22. On December 9, 2021, he announced that he would not seek re-election.
Education Thiesfeldt chairs the Assembly Education Committee,Jeremy Thiesfeldt Outlines School Accountability Bill, Here & Now, PBS Wisconsin (January 9, 2015).Sharon Roznik, Will cursive become a lost art form? Not if these Wisconsin lawmakers can help it, Fond du Lac Reporter (October 14, 2019). and a member of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Standards Review Council, In 2012, Thiesfeldt sponsored legislation, passed by the Republican-controlled Assembly, that would allow schools to teach abstinence-only sex education, as opposed to comprehensive sex education.Scott Bauer, Assembly passes abortion, sex ed. bills, Associated Press (March 14, 2012). Thiesfeldt opposed Common Core State Standards.Shawn Johnson, Teachers, School Administrators Turn Out To Support Common Core, Wisconsin Public Radio (March 6, 2014).Chris Rickert, Political opposites find common ground on testing, Common Core, Wisconsin State Journal (May 12, 2015). and in 2015 sponsored legislation allowing parents to opt-out from state standardized testing for their children. In 2019, Thiesfeldt introduced a bill in the state Assembly that would compel Wisconsin public schools and charter schools to teach cursive handwriting, at an estimated annual cost of $1.7 million to $5.95 million in student materials and some additional sum for teacher training.
In 2018, the day after 17 students and staff members were fatally shot at a high school in Florida, Thiesfeldt posted a tweet linking to an article on the on conservative website PJ Media that romanticized a past era when "high school kids rode the bus with rifles and shot their guns at high school rifle ranges." After a backlash, Thiesfeldt deleted the post, issued an apology for what he called a "poorly timed and insensitive" tweet, and said that he did not believe "that children should be able to bring guns to school."
Public health In the Assembly, Thiesfeldt opposed legislation to repeal a provision allowing parents to send their children to school without vaccinations on grounds of "personal conviction"; Thiesfeldt asserted that the legislation would infringe on parental rights.Hintz, Thiesfeldt debate vaccine waiver bill on 'UpFront', WisPolitics News (May 6, 2019).Rose Schmidt, GOP lawmaker aims to block vaccine waiver bill, WMSN-TV (May 6, 2019).
In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin, Thiesfeldt signed onto a letter from 49 Republican members of the Assembly urging schools to re-open for in-person instruction.Victor Jacobo, Assembly GOP letter to schools pushes opening for in-person classes, WDJT-TV (August 7, 2020).
Social issues Thiesfeldt opposes the legalization of marijuana,Sharon Roznik, 52nd Assembly race pits incumbent Jeremy Thiesfeldt against newcomer Kevin Booth, Fond du Lac Reporter (October 20, 2018). and in 2013, he and a fellow Fond du Lac Republican lawmaker, state Senator Rick Gudex, introduced a bill that would authorize county and municipal governments to prosecute marijuana possession cases that are dropped by prosecutors.Steven Elbow, GOP lawmakers don't want pot scofflaws to go unpunished, The Capital Times (June 5, 2013). Thiesfeldt and Gudex introduced the legislation after some Wisconsin district attorneys' offices adopted a policy of not pursuing criminal prosecutions for simple possession of small amounts of marijuana. Thiesfeldt states that he supports the "legitimate, regulated medical use of marijuana" and also voted for CBD oil, which he believes "has therapeutic use."
Thiesfeldt opposes legal recognition of same-sex marriage; after the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that there was a constitutional right to same-sex unions, Thiesfeldt opposed the decision, saying that it was wrongly decided and that "marriage is a state matter."Jessie Opoien, Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage legal, Scott Walker calls decision 'grave mistake', The Capital Times (June 26, 2015).
In 2013, Thiesfeldt proposed legislation to repeal Wisconsin laws on the manufacture, use, and sale of pepper spray.Jack Craver, Wisconsin Republicans seek to deregulate pepper spray, The Capital Times (October 14, 2013).
Economic issues In 2011, Thiesfeldt proposed legislation to make Wisconsin state income taxpayers ineligible for the state's Homestead Credit if they or any household family member received any federal housing subsidy (such as a Section 8 voucher).Mike Ivey, Biz Beat: GOP wants to end Homestead credit for low-income renters, The Capital Times (October 31, 2011).
Thiesfeldt supports 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, which weakened public employee unions. He supported controversial state tax incentives for Foxconn's Wisconsin plant.
Personal life Thiesfeldt lives in Fond du Lac. He has been married since 1990 and has four children.
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