Ed Thompson

For other people named Ed Thompson, see Ed Thompson (disambiguation).
Ed Thompson
Mayor of Tomah
In office
April 15, 2008 – April 20, 2010
Preceded by Charles Ludeking
Succeeded by John Rusch
In office
2000–2002
Preceded by Bud Johnson[1]
Succeeded by Charles Ludeking
Personal details
Born Allan Edward Thompson
(1944-12-25)December 25, 1944
Elroy, Wisconsin
Died October 22, 2011(2011-10-22) (aged 66)
Tomah, Wisconsin
Political party Republican, Libertarian
Spouse(s) Kathy Nelson (19??–??); 4 children
Alma mater UW-Madison[2]
Religion Roman Catholic

Allan Edward "Ed" Thompson (December 25, 1944 – October 22, 2011) was an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin for two non-consecutive terms, and was the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 2002, receiving 11% of the vote in that race. He was elected to his first term as mayor of Tomah in April 2000, with 58% of the vote. He was again elected mayor of Tomah on April 1, 2008, by nearly a 2 to 1 margin against the incumbent, Charles Ludeking.[3]

Early life, education, and business career

Thompson was born in Elroy, Wisconsin. His mother, Julie (née Dutton), was a teacher, and his father, Allan Thompson, owned and ran a gas station and country grocery store. A graduate of Royall High School (1963), he was active in the drama department and competed in football, basketball, and track. After high school, Ed briefly attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison before enlisting in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he married Kathy Nelson; the couple settled in Elroy and had four children: Ann Marie, Kristin Beth, Allan Edward “Chip” Thompson, and Joshua Thompson.

Thompson was the owner of the Tee-Pee supper club, a restaurant in Tomah,[4] and was the subject of the documentary A Remarkable Man.[5] His older brother, Tommy Thompson, a Republican, was formerly Governor of Wisconsin and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Political experience

Tomah politics

In 2000, he defeated incumbent mayor Bud Johnson with 57% of the vote. He served only one two-year term.

On April 5, 2005, Thompson won an unexpected victory in the common council election in Tomah, Wisconsin. Thompson was not running for the position but was, unknown to him, the subject of a write-in campaign. He would receive 31 of 34 votes. His "opponent", John Buick, received one vote from Thompson himself. Thompson initially declined to accept the position, but later reconsidered. He was sworn in on April 15, 2005, and served two years on the Tomah common council.[6]

In 2008, Thompson took the place of outgoing mayor Charles Ludeking, whom he defeated in the mayoral election on April 1 by nearly a 2–1 margin. Thompson was sworn into office for his second (non-consecutive) two-year term as mayor of Tomah on April 15, 2008.[7]

2002 gubernatorial campaign

Thompson became the Libertarian party nominee in April and ran against Democrat Jim Doyle, the state Attorney General, and incumbent Republican Governor Scott McCallum, former Lieutenant Governor who had assumed the office in 2001 after Governor Tommy Thompson left to become U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The 2002 governor's race is considered by some to have been the most negative campaign in the state's history. In response Thompson, publicly critical of the negative campaigning of both major party candidates, became a more viable option for some voters, and garnered 10% of the vote. Doyle won the election with a plurality of 45% of the vote, becoming the state's first Democratic governor since Anthony Earl was defeated in 1986. Doyle was sworn in on January 6, 2003 at the State Capitol in Madison.

2010 State Senate campaign

Thompson announced in October 2009 that he would run as a Republican for the 31st district Wisconsin State Senate seat in 2010, against incumbent Kathleen Vinehout. The 31st District includes all of Trempealeau, Buffalo, Jackson and Pepin counties, and parts of Monroe, Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire and Clark counties.[8] On November 2, 2010, Vinehout defeated Thompson, who was still campaigning for the office, despite being recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2010.[9] On November 9, 2010, he requested a recount with only 352 votes separating Thompson from Vinehout.[10] On November 19, 2010, he conceded the election to Vinehout.[11]

Death

Ed Thompson died of pancreatic cancer on October 22, 2011, in Tomah.[12][13]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Jim Doyle 800,515 45.09
Republican Scott McCallum (incumbent) 734,779 41.39
Libertarian Ed Thompson 185,455 10.45

2008 race for Mayor of Tomah

2010 race for 31st District State Senator

References

  1. ↑ . February 16, 2000 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73970D51F2477&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ Official campaign website
  3. ↑ "Voters Elect New Tomah Mayor". WKBT.com. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  4. ↑ http://eatwisconsin.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/83/
  5. ↑ Capozzi, Robert (2006-06-20). "Review: A Remarkable Man". The Free Liberal.
  6. ↑ Thompson elected to Tomah city council
  7. ↑ Medinger, Paul (2008-04-15). "New officials to be sworn in Tuesday". Tomah Journal. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  8. ↑ Wall Street Journal coverage of 31st District race
  9. ↑ 31st district State Senate race
  10. ↑ Thompson requests recount
  11. ↑ Thompson concedes to Vinehout
  12. ↑ Notice of death of Ed Thompson
  13. ↑ La Crosse Tribune, Obituary of Allan Edward 'Ed' Thompson, October 22, 2011, pg. C8
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