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The Long View

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The Long View The nation’s longest L ongserving legislator Viewsays plenty has changed in 53 years, but not his love for the job. And he can still walk to work. “I find the work fascinating, stimulating and educational, and I absolutely enjoy every minute of it.” islative district he represents today. He comes always loved the process. “I simply enjoy it,” SENATOR FRED RISSER from a long line of public servants; the Ris- he says. ser family has been active in state politics for State Legislatures asked Risser about his more than four generations. experiences during his 52 years in office. BY MORGAN CULLEN While each generation of the family has represented districts from the capital area, STATE LEGISLATURES: WHAT IS THE SINGLE ike many incumbent legislators last none of them has been elected under the same BIGGEST CHANGE you’ve WITNESSED IN THE fall, Senator Fred Risser was re-elected party label. The senator’s great-grandfather, LEGISLATURE SINCE TAKING OFFICE DURING to the Wisconsin Senate for another Colonel Clement Warner, served as a union- THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION? four-year term in office. The only dif- ist member of the Senate in 1867 and 1868. SENATOR FRED RISSER: The diversity of the Lference is that Risser has been sworn in 12 His grandfather, Ernest Warner, served in the legislative body has completely changed times, making him the longest serving state Assembly in 1905 as a Republican, and his since I first took office. When I started out, legislator in the country. father Fred E. Risser, served in the Senate as the Legislature consisted completely of white He was first elected to the Wisconsin a Progressive from 1937 to 1948. men. Today, more than 25 percent of Wis- Assembly in 1956, when Dwight D. Eisen- Risser, a lifelong Democrat, has held a consin legislators are women, and minorities hower was president, where he served three number of leadership positions, including are represented in both chambers. Technol- terms before being elected to the Senate in Senate president, Senate co-majority leader ogy has also completely changed the Legis- 1962. and Senate minority leader. lature. It is hard for many people to imagine Born in 1927, Risser grew up on a family Although his role in the Legislature has that we conducted all our legislative work on farm just outside of Madison in the same leg- changed considerably over the years—his manual typewriters. Today, we all have fax party has lost and gained its majority eight machines, computers, the Internet and cell Morgan Cullen conducts demographic research for NCSL. times during his tenure in office—Risser has phones. Technology has completely changed MAY 2009 STATE LEGISLATURES 33 LONG-SERVING LEGISLATORS of, marriage. This bill did not pass in my SL: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE NEW LEG- first session, but I introduced the legislation (as of December 2008) ISLATORS? again, and it was signed into law. The first RISSER:The significance of a first impression 52 YEARS bill that I had passed was during my second cannot be overstated. It can set the tone for Senator Fred Risser, Wisconsin term. It made it possible for the city of Mad- your role as a legislator. A bad impression Senate, 46 years (1963-present) ison to construct the Frank Lloyd Wright can compromise your future success. Assembly, 6 years (1957-1962) Monona Terrace Community Convention Center on the shores of Lake Monona, two SL: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT BEING AN 47 YEARS blocks from the Capitol. The bill repealed a EFFECTIVE LAWMAKER? Delegate Lacey Putney, Virginia state law that had been passed in a previous RISSER: It is incredibly important to get along House, 47 years (1962-present) session by those who were opposed to the with your colleagues. You cannot afford to construction. hold grudges. You will not be successful 46 YEARS if you take an obstinate position on every Senator Norman R. Stone Jr., Maryland SL: WHAT HAS MOTIVATED YOU TO SEEK issue. Senate, 42 years (1967-present) REELECTION YEAR AFTER YEAR? House, 4 years (1963-1966) RISSER: I find the work challenging, stimulat- SL: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF ing and educational, and I absolutely enjoy THE LEGISLATURE? 42 YEARS every minute of it. Serving in the Legislature RISSER: The best part of the job is working Senator J. Frank Deem, West Virginia as long as I have was never something that with interesting and diverse groups of peo- Senate, 30 years (1965-1976; 1979- I consciously set out to achieve. It happened ple. I love getting out and talking to different 1982; 1995-present) incrementally over time. At the end of each groups, explaining the legislative process, House, 12 years (1955-1964; 1989-1990) legislative session, I realized there were more and encouraging citizens to participate in Representative John Martin, Maine issues to tackle and more challenges to over- state government. The worst part is the exces- Senate, 8 years (2001-2008) come. sive partisanship that I believe has trickled House, 34 years (1965-1996; 1999-2000; down from Washington, D.C. Also, the cost 2009-present) SL: HOW HAS THE ROLE OF A WISCONSIN LEGIS- of running for the Legislature has gotten way Senator David E. Nething, North LATOR CHANGED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS? too expensive. We have some races in Wis- Dakota RISSER: I used to tell people that I was a full- consin that run into the millions of dollars. I Senate, 42 years (1967-present) time attorney and a part-time legislator. Now believe this discourages a lot of good people I tell them I am a full-time legislator and a from running for office. 41 YEARS part-time attorney. The role of legislator has Senator Thomas “Tommy” Gollot, really become a full-time job. Most Wis- SL: WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT? Mississippi consin legislators serve in a full-time capac- RISSER: Nothing keeps me up at night any- Senate, 29 years (1980-present) ity and do not have an additional source of more. I don’t lose sleep on the Legislature. I House, 12 years (1968-1979) income. do understand the present challenges that our state faces, and I spend my waking moments 40 YEARS SL: FOUR GENERATIONS OF YOUR FAMILY HAVE working hard to fix them. Right now, we are Representative Tom Craddick, Texas SERVED IN THE WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLA- looking at a big budget deficit [estimated for House, 40 years (1969-present) TURE. WILL THE LEGACY CONTINUE? FY 2009 at $528 million] and many state Senator William Doyle, Vermont RISSER: I have three children, but they have employees are worried about losing their Senate, 40 years (1969-present) not expressed any interest in running for pub- jobs. Workers are feeling the effects of a Senator Michael O’Pake, Pennsylvania lic office. I also have three grandchildren of weakening economy just like in many other Senate, 36 years (1973-present) voting age, and I am hoping I can stimulate parts of the country. House, 4 years (1969-1972) an interest in public service in them. SL: WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IF Note: The number of years reflects completed years of SL: HAVE YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES GIVEN THE CHANCE? legislative service. CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR RISSER: Not much. I have considered the idea the way we conduct legislative affairs. CAREER? of running for higher office, but the timing RISSER: Not really. I represent a diverse dis- wasn’t right, and the opportunity never really SL: WHAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLA- trict that includes the University of Wiscon- presented itself. All in all, I am happy with TION YOU SPONSORED, AND WHAT WAS THE sin and the largest number of state employees my career and my accomplishments and how FIRST BILL YOU SPONSORED THAT WAS SIGNED in Wisconsin. Issues important to my district my life turned out. INTO LAW? always have been some of my top priori- RISSER: The first piece of legislation I spon- ties. I also have been particularly interested CHECK OUT more demographic infor- mationE about legislatures at www.ncsl.org/ sored was a bill to develop a waiting period in women’s issues and in the environmental magazine. prior to commencement of, or annulment movement in our state. 34 STATE LEGISLATURES MAY 2009.
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