Martin J. Schreiber

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Martin James "Marty" Schreiber (born April 8, 1939) is a Democratic Party politician, publisher, and lobbyist who served as the Wisconsin lieutenant governor and the 39th governor of Wisconsin. (In 1977, he succeeded Patrick J. Lucey, when Lucey was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico by President Jimmy Carter).

Schreiber was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1956-1960) and law school at Marquette University.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Schreiber served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1963 to 1971. In 1970, he was elected lieutenant governor on the Lucey-Schreiber ticket.

During his political career, Schreiber focused on education, children’s issues, consumer protection, and the rights of workers and the elderly. He established a special nursing home residents’ ombudsman program, among the first of its kind in the nation.

In 1978, Governor Schreiber had the political misfortune of running for office during a period of double-digit interest rates, high cost-of-living increases, and loss of jobs. High inflation also caused local governments to raise property taxes, and forced state residents into higher income tax brackets.

Schreiber also campaigned in the shadow of former Governor Patrick Lucey and Lucey's record. Lucey was a popular, but sometimes controversial, governor with a liberal perspective on governing.

In 1977, Lucey left for his ambassadorial appointment near the end of his current term, leaving Mr. Schreiber only a few months to establish his own record before launching a bid for election.

Schreiber faced a divisive primary challenge by developer David Carley. Later, in the general election, political newcomer Lee S. Dreyfus, a populist Republican and skilled orator, waged an unconventional campaign and successfully attacked the Lucey-Schreiber record of taxes and big government. Schreiber lost 54% to 44%.

Schreiber again ran for the governor's office in 1982, but did not get past the Democratic primary, campaigning against Anthony S. Earl, former head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

In 1988, after leaving state government, Schreiber formed his own public affairs consulting firm, becoming a a successful lobbyist. He has built strong relationships with Wisconsin's U.S. senators and congressmen, state legislators, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General and key Milwaukee-area elected officials.

Mr. Schreiber also serves on the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees. His wife, Elaine, is a former Milwaukee public schoolteacher and sits on the board of the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, a Milwaukee non-profit organization focusing on family crisis intervention, and serving children, the elderly, and families in need.

Schreiber's father was a Milwaukee councilman from 1944 to 1976.