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Governor Jim Doyle - Wisconsin

On January 6, 2003, Jim Doyle was sworn in as Wisconsin’s 44th Governor. Doyle credits his parents for instilling in him at a young age the belief that politics and government are honorable professions and that public service is a way to improve people’s lives. Jim’s parents, Ruth and James E. Doyle, Sr., were founding members of the modern Democratic Party in Wisconsin.

Doyle is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He earned a law degree from Harvard University Law School in 1972. Doyle has followed in his parents’ footsteps and the family tradition of service. He and his wife, Jessica, served in the Peace Corps as teachers in Africa. He also worked as an attorney in a federally funded legal services office on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona.

Doyle served three terms as Dane County District Attorney from 1977-82, then left office and built his own private law practice, handling a wide range of civil and criminal cases.

Doyle was elected as Wisconsin’s Attorney General in 1990, and re-elected to the State’s top law enforcement position in 1994 and 1998. In winning his third four-year term, Doyle received more than 1.1 million votes, more than any candidate for State office in Wisconsin history.

As Attorney General, he has distinguished himself in office by fighting for people and fighting for change in Wisconsin. Doyle has been a national leader in fighting to improve public health. His lawsuit against the tobacco industry, which held tobacco companies responsible for the damages caused to Wisconsin residents, won the state a $6-Billion settlement.

He led a statewide school violence prevention initiative and was joined by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in creating a statewide Safe Schools Task Force.

He led the effort to restore public confidence in criminal sentencing by fighting for passage of the Truth in Sentencing law and fought to pass a strong sexual predator law. Jim instituted a criminal background check for handgun buyers, which has already prevented the sale of more than 3,300 handguns to convicted felons.

He has protected consumers from fraud and rip-offs, recently receiving national acclaim for fighting Publishers Clearinghouse’s victimization of senior citizens.

He has aggressively prosecuted polluters and won record fines.

Jim and his wife, Jessica, live in Madison. They have two sons, Gus and Gabe.