WISCONSIN — Wisconsin lost two former state senators over the holiday.
Both former state Sen. Tim Cullen and George Petak have died.
Tim Cullen
Cullen, a former Democratic majority leader from Janesville, passed away on Monday, Dec. 23, according to the Tim Cullen Government Institute, an internship program started by Cullen. He was 80. His family told WisPolitics Cullen had been dealing with a heart condition before dying at a Madison hospital.
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“I am grateful for his dedication and commitment to the City of Janesville and the State of Wisconsin. On behalf of the more 100 hundred student interns and myself, rest in peace, Tim,” said Kate Bennett, program coordinator for the institute, in a post on Facebook.
Cullen served a total of 16 years in the state Senate. He was first elected to the state Senate in 1975 and served through 1987. During that time, he was also the majority leader for five years.
After being in the Senate, Cullen left to be the Health and Social Service secretary for former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson. He was in that from 1987-99 before going to work as an executive with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Cullen ended up returning to the state Senate in 2011, serving for a single term, where he helped advocate for new legislative maps.
“Former Sen. Cullen was a dedicated public servant who devoted much of his life to good governance and improving the state that raised him,” said Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in a statement. “Sen. Cullen always fought for working families, gave back to and supported kids in the Janesville area, and advocated fiercely for nonpartisan redistricting and access to the ballot box during both his time in the Wisconsin State Senate and beyond it. He spent much of his life working to end partisan gerrymandering and fighting for Wisconsin to have fair maps at long last. There is no doubt our state is better off because of Sen. Cullen and his service. Kathy and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and all those who knew him.”
George Petak
Petak died on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 4:50 a.m. in his sleep, his son shared in a Facebook post. He was 75.
“My Dad certainly fought the good fight and finished his race well. What a legacy he has left for all of us,” his son, Brian, said in part.
Petak was first elected to the state Senate in 1990. Four years following this, he ended up winning reelection.
Petak is best known for his change in position on a five-county sales tax, a vote widely considered to be one that kept professional baseball in Milwaukee. In 1995, he originally voted twice against the proposal, which later funded construction of Miller Park. But on the third vote, he changed his position.
In a statement on X, the Milwaukee Brewers called Petak a “dedicated public servant.”
“He loved Wisconsin and did so much to make it a better place, including his crucial support making it possible for the Brewers to call Milwaukee their home…” the statement said in part.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 24, 2024
However, Petak’s changed position led to a recall effort in the year following. He ended up losing that election to Democrat Kimberly Plache, flipping the control of the Wisconsin Senate. Petak was the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed via recall election.
In his years after serving in the Senate, he became the deputy director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and also serve as a government consultant and lobbyist.
Evers issued a statement regarding Petak’s death.
“Sen. Petak was a man of faith, courage, and principle. He truly had a servant’s heart, always leading with empathy and integrity to give back and do more for others. Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in mourning the loss of Sen. Petak and offer our sincerest sympathies to his wife, kids, loved ones, and the many whose lives he touched,” said Evers.