Kitty Rhoades Explained

Kitty Rhoades (née Richie) (April 7, 1951 – June 18, 2016) was an American politician. She served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, where she represented the 30th district, before serving as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Early life and education

Born in Hudson, Wisconsin, Rhoades received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and a master's degree in education from Illinois State University.

Career

Rhoades worked as an educator, small business owner, and consultant. In 1998, she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Republican.^[1]

In the 1990s, Rhoades proposed the term Winnesota to describe Wisconsin's St. Croix and Pierce Counties, which border Minnesota and are within the U.S. Census Bureau's Minneapolis-Saint Paul Metropolitan Area. According to Rhoades, "I still call my area Winnesota. We are in Wisconsin, but it sure is hard to remember it."^[2]

Rhoades retired from the state Assembly in 2010,^[3] and took a position with the administration of then-Governor Scott Walker in 2011 as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health Services.^[4] In February 2013, following the resignation of Dennis Smith, she was appointed Secretary.^{[5] [6]}

Death

Rhoades died on June 18, 2016, in Madison, Wisconsin from pneumonia.^{[7] [8]}

Electoral history

Wisconsin State Assembly (1998–2008)

Year	Election	Date	Elected				Defeated				Total	Plurality
1998	Primary[9]			Republican	2,788	68.25%		Rep.	1,297	31.75%	4,085	1,491
	General[10]			Republican	9,755	57.29%		Dem.	7,272	42.71%	17,027	2,483
2000	General[11]			Republican	17,303	62.76%		Dem.	10,247	37.17%	27,568	7,056
2002	General[12]			Republican	12,563	69.01%		Dem.	5,635	30.95%	18,205	6,928
2004	General[13]			Republican	20,540	61.09%		Dem.	13,071	38.87%	33,624	7,469
2006	General[14]			Republican	12,790	57.40%		Dem.	9,479	42.54%	22,282	3,311
2008	Primary[15]			Republican	2,432	86.70%		Rep.	372	13.26%	2,805	2,060
	General[16]			Republican	19,729	54.74%		Dem.	16,278	45.17%	36,041	3,451

External links

• Follow the Money - Kitty Rhoades
  • 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions
• Campaign 2008 campaign contributions at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

Notes and References

1. Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008, Biographical Sketch of Kitty Rhoades, p. 39.
2. News: Welcome to Minnesota: Twin Cities workers find comforts of home in St. Croix, Wisconsin's fastest-growing county . Bill Glauber . February 18, 2006 . . 2007-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070814125803/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=402665 . August 14, 2007 . dead .
3. http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=189445 Rhoades Retires From Wisconsin Assembly
4. Web site: Health Services Announces New Leadership Team . 2013-07-10 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120212174142/http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/pressreleases/2011/010411Leadership.htm . 2012-02-12 .
5. Andy Rathburn, "Gov. Walker appoints Kitty Rhoades to top Wisconsin health post". St. Paul Pioneer Press. February 22, 2013.
6. Web site: Kitty Rhoades appointed secretary of the Department of Health Services. RiverTowns. en. 2020-05-16.
7. http://www.wisn.com/politics/wisconsin-health-services-secretary-kitty-rhoades-dies-at-65/40119294 Wisconsin health services secretary Kitty Rhoades dies at 65
8. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?pid=180398070 Kitty (Richie) Rhoades-obituary
9. District Vote for Representatives to the Assembly - Primary elections, 1997 - 1998-Continued . . 880 . October 7, 2024 . 1999 . Elections . Lawrence S. . Patricia E. . Barish . Meloy.
10. District Vote for Representatives to the Assembly - Special and General Elections, 1998 . . 882 . October 7, 2024 . 1999 . Elections . Lawrence S. . Patricia E. . Barish . Meloy.
11. Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 . May 10, 2001 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . 20 . October 7, 2024 . Wisconsin Historical Society.
12. Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 . December 2, 2002 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . 21 . October 7, 2024 . Wisconsin Historical Society.
13. Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 . December 1, 2004 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . 20 . October 7, 2024 . Wisconsin Historical Society.
14. Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 . December 5, 2006 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . 21 . October 7, 2024 . Wisconsin Historical Society.
15. Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/09/2008 . September 29, 2008 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . 40 . October 7, 2024 . Wisconsin Historical Society.
16. Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 . December 1, 2008 . Wisconsin State Elections Board . 19 . May 3, 2024 . Wisconsin Historical Society.