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Anthony Scully Earl (April 12, 1936 – February 23, 2023) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as the 41st governor of Wisconsin from 1983 until 1987.[1] Prior to his election as governor, he served as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration and secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the administration of Governor Patrick Lucey. He also served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Marathon County.

Key Information

Early life and career

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Earl was born in St. Ignace, Michigan, the son of Ethlynne Julia (Scully) and Russell K. Earl.[2] He graduated from Michigan State University in 1958 and earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago.[3] After four years in the U.S. Navy, including two years as a legal officer, Earl made his way to Wisconsin in 1965.[3] He was the district attorney of Marathon County, Wisconsin from 1965 to 1966, and the city attorney of Wausau, Wisconsin from 1966 to 1969.[3] That year, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, filling the seat vacated by David Obey, who was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives.[3]

In 1974, Earl left the Assembly to run for Wisconsin Attorney General, but was defeated in the primary by Bronson La Follette. Upon his defeat, then-Gov. Patrick Lucey named Earl secretary of the Department of Administration. Later, Earl became Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) where his list of accomplishments include addressing the State's surface water pollution.[4]

Governor of Wisconsin

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In 1982, Earl ran for governor when Lee S. Dreyfus unexpectedly declined to run for re-election, and soon the Wisconsin Democratic Party's hopes of reclaiming the governor's mansion became very real. As head of the state Department of Natural Resources, Earl was well-received as a staunch defender of the environment and a problem-solver. Earl used that reputation to defeat former Governor Martin J. Schreiber, in the Democratic primary for governor. Earl went on to defeat the Republican candidate, Terry Jodok Kohler, in a landslide victory.[3]

However, Earl's tenure as governor was a challenge from the start. By the time he took office, Wisconsin was marred by a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion and a 12% unemployment rate.[3] Earl signed legislation making the 5% sales tax permanent and also added a 10% surtax on state income tax which was later reduced. Once the state was fiscally sound, Earl passed initiatives improving the environment, education, and equal opportunity.[3] Earl appointed Doris Hanson, the State's first female to hold the office of secretary of the Department of Administration and Howard Fuller, the first African-American appointed to a cabinet position heading the Department of Employee Relations. Due to disagreements over healthcare reform, prison staffing, wage freezes, and other matters, Earl's relations with state labor Unions soured and made his tenure as governor all the more complicated.

After restoring the state following one of the worst economic predicaments in state history, Governor Earl was ousted after one term. State Assembly Minority Leader Tommy Thompson, a Republican, staunchly opposed Earl's policies and was elected in 1986 to the first of four consecutive terms.[3] Earl Bricker wrote an essay, "goodbye to Wisconsin Governor Tony Earl" bemoaning that Tommy Thompson had defeated Earl in the 1986 election, and that his "pro-family" stance may have given him wider demographic appeal than Earl's defense of gay and lesbian rights.

Post-gubernatorial career

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Earl served on the governing board of "Common Cause Wisconsin" from 1995 until 2005.[5] a non-partisan, non-profit citizen's lobby affiliated with national Common Cause. In 1990, Earl was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board and served until 1996. CC/WI promotes campaign finance reform, ethics and lobby reform, open meetings laws, voting rights, non-partisan redistricting, and other issues concerning the promotion and maintenance of accountable government. Earl also served on the board of the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation for many years until 2013.[6]

In July 2004, Earl was recognized at the 12th Annual Outreach Awards for his acknowledgment of the needs of the gay and lesbian community during his term in office; he received the organization's Political Courage Award. He served on the board of directors of the American Transmission Company which assumed ownership, operation, planning, maintenance, and monitoring of all the electrical transmission assets formerly owned by a number of Wisconsin utility companies, cooperatives, and municipal utilities. He was a past partner in one of the largest law firms (more than 400 lawyers) in Wisconsin, Quarles and Brady.[7] The Peshtigo River State Forest in Marinette and Oconto counties has been renamed Governor Earl Peshtigo State Forest according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. September 25, 2019, as reported in the Appleton Post-Crescent on September 26, 2019.

Personal life and death

[edit]

Tony Earl married Sheila Rose Coyle of Chicago, in the summer of 1962. They met while he was a student at the University of Chicago Law School.[8] They had four daughters together, and were married for more than 30 years before separating in 1995. Their divorce was finalized in 2003.[9] In 2011, Earl married Jane Nemke.[10]

Earl had a stroke on February 19, 2023, and died four days later, on February 23, at the UW Health University Hospital, 48 days short of his 87th birthday.[4]

Electoral history

[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly, Marathon 2nd district (1969, 1970)

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1969 Wisconsin Assembly Marathon 2nd District special election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Special Election, October 7, 1969
Democratic Anthony S. Earl 4,716 54.30% −3.75%
Republican Dorthea J. Baguhn 3,969 45.70%
Plurality 747 8.60% -7.49%
Total votes 8,685 100.0% -52.62%
Democratic hold
1970 Wisconsin Assembly Marathon 2nd District election[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 1970
Democratic Anthony S. Earl (incumbent) 11,182 70.85% +16.55%
Republican Thomas L. Miler 4,601 29.15%
Plurality 6,581 41.70% +33.10%
Total votes 15,783 100.0% +81.73%
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Assembly, 85th district (1972)

[edit]
1972 Wisconsin Assembly 85th District election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 7, 1972
Democratic Anthony S. Earl 14,432 100.0%
Total votes 14,432 100.0%
Democratic win (new seat)

Wisconsin Attorney General (1974)

[edit]
1974 Wisconsin Attorney General Election[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Party Primary, September 10, 1974
Democratic Bronson La Follette 132,538 40.85%
Democratic Anthony S. Earl 106,041 32.69%
Democratic Thomas M. Jacobson 50,678 15.62%
Democratic Gerald D. Lorge 35,165 10.84%
Total votes 324,422 100.0%

Wisconsin Governor (1982, 1986)

[edit]
Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1982[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Party Primary, September 14, 1982
Democratic Anthony S. Earl 268,857 45.87%
Democratic Martin J. Schreiber 245,952 41.96%
Democratic James B. Wood 71,282 12.16%
Total votes 586,091 100.0%
General Election, November 2, 1982
Democratic Anthony S. Earl
& James T. Flynn 		896,872 56.75% +11.86%
Republican Terry J. Kohler
& Russell A. Olson 		662,738 41.94% −12.43%
Libertarian Larry Smiley
& Gerald Shidell 		9,734 0.62%
Constitution James P. Wickstrom
& Diana K. Simonson 		7,721 0.49% +0.07%
Independent Peter Seidman
& Margo Storsteen 		3,025 0.19% +0.09%
Scattering 254 0.02%
Plurality 234,134 14.82% +5.34%
Total votes 1,580,344 100.0% +5.29%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing 24.29%
1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Party Primary, September 9, 1986
Democratic Anthony S. Earl (incumbent) 215,183 80.30%
Democratic Edmond Hou-Seye 52,784 19.70%
Total votes 267,967 100.0%
General Election, November 4, 1986
Republican Tommy Thompson
& Scott McCallum 		805,090 52.74% +10.80%
Democratic Anthony S. Earl (incumbent)
& Sharon Metz 		705,578 46.22% −10.53%
Labor–Farm Kathryn A. Christensen
& John Ervin Bergum 		10,323 0.68%
Independent Darold E. Wall
& Irma L. Lotts 		3,913 0.26%
Independent Sanford Knapp
& Verdell Hallingstad 		1,668 0.11%
Scattering 1 0.00%
Plurality 99,512 6.52% -8.30%
Total votes 1,526,573 100.0% -3.40%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 21.33%

U.S. Senate (1988)

[edit]
1988 United States Senate election in Wisconsin[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Party Primary, September 13, 1988
Democratic Herb Kohl 249,226 46.78%
Democratic Anthony S. Earl 203,479 38.19%
Democratic Edward R. Garvey 55,225 10.37%
Democratic Douglas La Follette 19,819 3.72%
Democratic Edmond Hou-Seye 5,040 0.95%
Total votes 532,789 100.0%

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tony Earl

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Anthony Scully "Tony" Earl (April 12, 1936 – February 23, 2023) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as the 41st from 1983 to 1987. Earl graduated from in 1958 and earned a J.D. from the in 1961, after which he served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1965. He entered politics as a member of the from 1969 to 1974, rising to , and later held positions as of the Department of Administration in 1975 and of the Department of Natural Resources from 1975 to 1980. During his single term as , Earl prioritized , including initiatives for clean air and management, and advanced gay rights by signing legislation in 1983 to decriminalize private sexual acts between consenting adults and establishing processes for addressing discrimination complaints against gay individuals. He lost re-election in 1986 to Republican amid economic challenges and policy debates. After leaving office, Earl practiced in Madison, chaired the Center for Clean Air Policy, directed the Protection Fund, and became a prominent advocate for and election reform.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Upbringing

Anthony S. "Tony" Earl was born on April 12, 1936, in , a on the state's Lower Peninsula serving as the gateway to the Upper Peninsula. He was the son of Russell K. Earl, who owned and operated a local , and Ethlynne Julia Scully. His father was described as an outspoken Democrat whose political engagement likely influenced Earl's early exposure to partisan discourse. Raised in St. Ignace, Earl experienced a childhood centered on in a rural setting with limited economic opportunities beyond basic trades and . He participated in activities such as swimming, skating on local waters, and Boy Scouts, which emphasized and community involvement amid the town's modest amenities. These experiences in a "marvelous place to grow up" but one constrained for long-term livelihoods shaped his practical outlook, later reflected in his focus on during . Earl completed his secondary education at La Salle High School in St. Ignace, providing a foundation for his subsequent academic pursuits at . This upbringing in a working-class, Democratic-leaning household in instilled values of stewardship and resilience, evident in his later environmental and fiscal policies as .

Academic and Professional Training

Anthony S. Earl completed his at La Salle High School in . He then attended , where he earned a degree in 1958. Encouraged by a college advisor, Earl pursued legal studies at the , graduating with a degree in 1961. Following , Earl served as a in the United States from 1961 to 1965, gaining experience in military legal proceedings during his four-year active-duty commission.

Pre-Gubernatorial Political Career

State Assembly Service

Anthony S. Earl was elected to the in 1969, representing Marathon County as a Democrat. He secured reelection in 1970 and 1972, serving three terms through 1974. Earl ascended to the position of Assembly majority leader, holding it from 1970 to 1974. In this leadership role, he influenced Democratic priorities in the during a period of party control, though specific legislative accomplishments from his Assembly tenure are not prominently documented in contemporaneous records. His service ended in 1974 when Governor appointed him to an executive position, marking his transition from legislative to administrative roles.

Tenure as Attorney General

Tony Earl sought election as Wisconsin Attorney General in 1974, leaving his seat in the state Assembly to pursue the Democratic nomination. He was defeated in the September 10 primary by Bronson C. La Follette, a former state senator and the eventual winner of the general election, who served four terms from 1975 to 1987. Following the loss, Governor Patrick Lucey appointed Earl as Secretary of the Department of Administration, positioning him for subsequent roles in state government. Earl did not hold the Attorney General position or run for it again prior to his successful 1982 gubernatorial campaign.

Gubernatorial Election and Administration

1982 Campaign and Victory

Incumbent Republican opted not to seek re-election in 1982, opening the race for the governorship of . Anthony S. Earl, then a Madison-based attorney and former (1975–1983), entered the Democratic primary leveraging his experience in state government and emphasis on environmental protection from his prior role as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (1975). The Democratic primary on September 14, 1982, featured a competitive field, with defeating former Acting Governor —who had served briefly in 1977 after Patrick Lucey's resignation—and James B. Wood. portrayed as insufficiently experienced for the executive role, securing 268,857 votes (45.9 percent) to 's 245,952 (42.0 percent) and Wood's 71,282 (12.2 percent). In the general election, Earl faced Terry Kohler, a Republican businessman and heir to the Kohler plumbing fixture fortune who had won his party's nomination. Earl's platform highlighted fiscal prudence amid post-recession recovery, strengthened environmental regulations, and opposition to nuclear power proliferation, aligning with a statewide nuclear freeze referendum that passed overwhelmingly and amplified anti-nuclear . He also made as the first major candidate to actively solicit support from the gay community, addressing civil rights in campaign outreach. Earl won on November 2, 1982, with 896,872 votes (56.8 percent) against Kohler's 662,738 (42.0 percent), achieving a decisive margin that returned the governorship to Democratic hands after eight years of Republican control. The victory, exceeding 50,000-vote leads in key urban counties like and Dane, underscored public priorities for economic stabilization and resource conservation over Kohler's business-oriented appeals.

Fiscal and Economic Policies

Upon taking office in January 1983, Tony Earl faced a $1 billion state budget deficit and an unemployment rate of 12 percent amid a national . To address the shortfall, Earl prioritized balancing the budget through revenue increases rather than deep spending cuts, signing legislation that implemented temporary surcharges on taxes and corporate taxes, alongside making a one-percentage-point hike—originally enacted as temporary by predecessor Dreyfus in 1982—permanent. These measures raised approximately $500 million in additional revenue over the biennium but drew criticism for burdening taxpayers during economic hardship, earning Earl the moniker "Tony the Taxer" from opponents. Earl's administration also introduced gas tax indexing in the 1983-85 budget, linking annual adjustments to inflation via the , which resulted in two automatic increases during his term to fund transportation without recurring legislative battles. This policy aimed to ensure stable funding for roads and bridges but contributed to perceptions of fiscal overreach, as it embedded automatic growth independent of conditions. Overall, these actions stabilized state finances, closing the deficit without default, though they prioritized short-term over relief, setting the stage for political backlash in a manufacturing-dependent slow to recover.

Environmental and Regulatory Initiatives

Earl's administration emphasized pollution control, culminating in the signing of Wisconsin's Law on April 23, 1986, which established some of the nation's strictest emission standards for utilities and capped statewide emissions at 500,000 tons annually by 1995, with interim targets and compliance timetables. The measure required power plants to install or switch to low-sulfur , driven by evidence of deposition damaging Wisconsin's lakes, forests, and soils from Midwestern coal-fired plants. In regional efforts, as chair of the Council of Governors from 1984 to 1986, Earl led the adoption of the first comprehensive water management principles in 1985, promoting coordinated policies to prevent diversion of basin water and address shared pollution challenges across eight states and two Canadian provinces. These principles laid groundwork for future agreements like the 1986 Charter, emphasizing sustainable use and ecosystem protection amid concerns over exports to water-scarce regions. Regulatory actions included directing the in October 1986 to sue the federal government for failing to curb interstate air pollution from and other states contributing to Wisconsin's problem, highlighting Earl's push for enforceable cross-border standards. His prior role as Department of Natural Resources secretary informed these initiatives, focusing on empirical monitoring data rather than unsubstantiated claims, though critics argued the acid rain caps imposed economic burdens on utilities without guaranteed federal reciprocity.

Social Policy Reforms

During his tenure as governor, Tony Earl signed the Wisconsin Marital Property Act into law on April 4, 1984, which established community property principles effective January 1, 1986, thereby classifying marital assets as jointly owned and requiring equal division upon divorce or death, aiming to provide greater financial equity for non-wage-earning spouses, particularly women. This reform departed from Wisconsin's prior common law system, which often disadvantaged homemakers by treating property as separate based on title or acquisition. Earl also advanced pay equity through the implementation of comparable worth policies in , appointing a in 1984 to evaluate disparities between male- and female-dominated occupations of similar value, such as versus maintenance roles, leading to adjustments that increased compensation for affected female workers by an estimated 5-10% in targeted classifications. These measures, enacted amid broader national debates on gender-based gaps, prioritized job evaluation over market rates but faced criticism for potentially distorting labor incentives without addressing underlying productivity differences. In the realm of , Earl signed the Consenting Adults Bill in 1983, decriminalizing private sexual conduct between adults, including homosexual acts, which had previously been prosecutable under sodomy laws, thereby aligning state statutes with evolving privacy norms while reducing criminalization of consensual behavior. He further issued an establishing a grievance process for complaints based on within state agencies and advocated for legislative bans on such bias, though broader protections did not pass during his term. These steps positioned as moderately progressive on LGBTQ+ issues at the time, predating federal developments like Lawrence v. Texas (2003). Earl's administration defended existing welfare structures against proposed cuts, emphasizing maintenance of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits amid federal pressures, but initiated no major overhauls, contrasting with subsequent reforms under that imposed work requirements. On education, he urged local school boards in October 1984 to prioritize statewide reforms over parochial control, supporting increased funding and standards, though specific legislative outcomes remained limited by fiscal constraints.

Criticisms and Electoral Defeat

Tax Increases and Economic Critiques

Upon assuming office in 1983, Tony Earl confronted a $1 billion state budget deficit amid a national with Wisconsin's rate at 12 percent. To address the shortfall, Earl signed legislation in his first months implementing increases, including making permanent a temporary one-percentage-point hike enacted by his predecessor to reach 5 percent, alongside temporary surcharges on and corporate taxes. These measures, combined with spending restraints, eliminated the deficit and produced a modest surplus by 1986, while restoring solvency to compensation and transportation funds depleted under prior administrations. Additionally, Earl approved gas tax indexing in the 1983-85 budget, a bipartisan mechanism tying annual adjustments to ; this automatically raised the twice during his term—first by 3 cents per gallon in and again in 1985—generating revenue for but drawing fire for compounding motorist costs amid strain. Critics, including business groups and Republican opponents, argued the hikes exacerbated Wisconsin's and crises by burdening taxpayers and deterring in a state already lagging national recovery trends. The tax policies earned Earl the derisive nickname "Tony the Taxer" from political adversaries, notably his 1986 challenger , who campaigned on fiscal restraint and portrayed the increases as fiscally irresponsible amid persistent high and slow growth. Economists and commentators later noted that while the measures stabilized state finances without long-term permanence—the surcharge was repealed early—their timing in a downturn fueled perceptions of anti-growth priorities, contributing to Earl's narrow defeat despite earlier bipartisan negotiations. Some analyses attributed additional critiques to Earl's limited private-sector experience, suggesting it hindered agile responses to industrial job losses exceeding 100,000 during his tenure.

1986 Re-Election Loss

In the held on November 4, Republican challenger defeated incumbent Democratic Tony Earl, securing 805,090 votes (52.74%) to Earl's 705,578 (46.2%). Thompson, previously the Republican in the , campaigned aggressively on reducing state spending and opposing new taxes, capitalizing on voter dissatisfaction with Earl's fiscal record. Earl's defeat stemmed primarily from backlash against the substantial tax increases he enacted early in his term to address a $1 billion budget deficit and 12% unemployment rate inherited from his predecessor. These measures, including hikes in income, sales, and property taxes totaling over $500 million annually, succeeded in stabilizing state finances and generating a surplus by 1986, but they drew widespread criticism for burdening taxpayers amid ongoing economic recovery. Thompson effectively branded Earl as "Tony the Taxer" in advertisements and rallies, framing the increases as unnecessary government overreach despite Earl's arguments that they were essential for averting deeper cuts to services and . Additional factors included Earl's controversial proposal to site a new state prison in , which alienated urban voters and fueled perceptions of poor policy judgment. While Earl highlighted achievements like reductions to around 6% and investments in , these were overshadowed by Republican gains in a midterm cycle favoring , with Thompson winning key suburban and rural districts by wide margins. The loss marked the end of Democratic control of the governorship, which Republicans held for the next 20 years.

Policy Implementation Challenges

Earl's administration grappled with formidable barriers in deploying fiscal measures against a backdrop of a nearly $1 billion shortfall inherited upon taking office in January 1983. Implementing spending restraints and efficiency reforms required navigating entrenched bureaucratic structures and resistance from stakeholders, including unions protective of established compensation and staffing levels, while preserving core services amid federal policy-induced economic pressures. These efforts were compounded by high interest rates and a national , delaying anticipated revenue stabilization and complicating the rollout of targeted reallocations. Tax policy execution posed additional hurdles, as the enactment of a permanent elevation—building on a prior temporary measure—and a short-term surcharge demanded legislative coordination in a Democratic-controlled assembly, yet triggered immediate compliance and collection strains in local jurisdictions strained by peaking at 12%. Public sector evasion risks and administrative overhead for surcharge tracking further impeded seamless integration, with early indicators showing uneven enforcement across revenue departments. Although these steps yielded a modest surplus by 1986 and enabled early repeal of the surcharge, the initial phase underscored causal linkages between fiscal stringency and diminished administrative agility in resource-strapped agencies. In environmental and regulatory spheres, advancing initiatives like enhanced protections and the 1986 Law encountered industry pushback, manifesting in protracted permitting delays and compliance disputes with manufacturing sectors wary of added operational costs during economic contraction. Business lobbies contested regulatory stringency, arguing it exacerbated job losses in affected sectors, which slowed agency-level enforcement and necessitated iterative adjustments to balance ecological mandates with economic viability. Similarly, social reforms such as comparable worth adjustments for employees involved complex job evaluations prone to disputes over valuation methodologies, prolonging rollout and straining departmental budgets already under fiscal scrutiny. These implementation frictions highlighted tensions between policy ambition and practical execution amid resource constraints and stakeholder contention.

Post-Gubernatorial Activities

After his single term as governor ended on January 5, 1987, Anthony S. Earl returned to private legal practice in , where he opened his own law firm. Specializing in , Earl leveraged his gubernatorial experience in regulatory and conservation matters to advise clients on compliance, policy, and litigation issues. Earl's post-gubernatorial legal work emphasized and air quality standards, aligning with his prior administration's initiatives such as strengthened controls and land preservation efforts. He maintained an active bar membership with the State Bar of Wisconsin for nearly six decades, reflecting sustained professional engagement until health limitations in later years. This phase of his career intersected with broader , though his primary focus remained billable legal services in environmental domains rather than full-time public roles.

Advocacy for Reforms

Following his defeat in the 1986 gubernatorial election, Earl returned to private legal practice in , where he specialized in and continued to advocate for policy reforms emphasizing transparency and . He chaired for Clean Air Policy, promoting initiatives to address air quality and climate-related challenges through market-based mechanisms and interstate cooperation. In the realm of democratic governance, Earl emerged as a prominent voice for and reforms. In 1996, he reorganized of , a nonpartisan organization focused on curbing the influence of , strengthening and lobbyist regulations, expanding open meetings laws, protecting voting rights, and implementing nonpartisan processes. He served on the group's governing board from 1995 to 2005, using his platform to push for structural changes aimed at reducing partisan and enhancing . These efforts positioned him as an outspoken proponent of "good governance" reforms, prioritizing empirical accountability over entrenched interests. Earl's post-gubernatorial work also extended to broader civic reforms, including service on the board of the Joyce Foundation, where he supported measures to safeguard the ecosystem and bolster democratic institutions against undue influence. His advocacy consistently drew on his executive experience to argue for evidence-based policies that mitigated fiscal opacity and , though critics noted the challenges in achieving legislative traction amid polarized state .

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Anthony S. Earl married Coyle in 1962; she served as Wisconsin's during his governorship from 1983 to 1987. The couple divorced in 2003. Earl later married Jane M. Nemke in 2011. Earl and his first wife had four daughters: Julia, , (married name Shore), and Kitty (married name Earl-Torniainen). At the time of his death in 2023, he was survived by these daughters and 11 grandchildren.

Health and Death

Anthony S. Earl suffered a over the weekend of February 18–19, 2023, and was subsequently hospitalized at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. He died on February 23, 2023, at the age of 86 from complications of the , passing peacefully while surrounded by family members. No prior major health conditions were publicly reported in the period leading up to his death.

Electoral History

Wisconsin State Assembly Elections

Anthony S. "Tony" Earl entered elective office by winning a special election to the on October 7, 1969, for the Marathon County 2nd District seat vacated by David Obey upon his election to the . As the Democratic nominee, Earl defeated Republican opposition to secure the position, beginning his legislative service immediately thereafter. Earl was reelected to a full two-year term in the November 3, 1970, , continuing his representation of the district amid a statewide contest where Democrats maintained a slim majority in . He successfully defended the seat again in the November 7, 1972, election, aligning with Democratic gains in the legislature during that cycle. These victories positioned Earl as a rising figure, leading to his selection as starting in 1970, a role he held through 1974. Earl did not seek reelection in 1974, instead accepting an appointment as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration under , marking the end of his Assembly tenure after three election wins.

Wisconsin Attorney General Election

In 1974, following his service as Democratic in the , Anthony S. Earl resigned his seat to seek the Democratic nomination for . Earl competed in a crowded primary field that included Bronson C. La Follette, Thomas M. Jacobson, and Edward Nager. He finished second with 106,041 votes, representing 32.69% of the total primary vote of 324,392. La Follette won the nomination with 132,538 votes (40.86%), advancing to the general election where he defeated Republican Robert W. Warren. Jacobson's third-place showing yielded 50,678 votes (15.62%), while Nager received 35,135 votes (10.83%).
CandidatePartyVotesPercentage
Bronson C. La FolletteDemocratic132,53840.86%
Anthony S. EarlDemocratic106,04132.69%
Thomas M. JacobsonDemocratic50,67815.62%
Edward NagerDemocratic35,13510.83%
Earl's primary loss marked his first major statewide electoral defeat, though it did not end his political career.

Gubernatorial Elections

In the 1982 Democratic primary for governor held on September 14, Earl, then serving as , defeated former in a closely contested race, positioning himself as an underdog candidate bolstered by anti-nuclear power activism amid concerns over . Earl won the general election on November 2, 1982, against Republican Terry Kohler, the nominee succeeding retiring Lee Dreyfus, securing 896,872 votes or 56.76% of the total to Kohler's 662,738 votes or 41.94%. Earl sought re-election in 1986 without a contested Democratic primary, advancing directly to the general as the . On November 4, 1986, Republican challenger Tommy G. Thompson defeated Earl, capturing 805,090 votes or 52.74% to Earl's 705,578 votes or 46.22%; Thompson's campaign emphasized tax hikes implemented under Earl's administration, deriding him as "Tony the Taxer."

U.S. Senate Campaign

Following his defeat in the 1986 gubernatorial election, Earl announced his candidacy for the open U.S. Senate seat in on February 23, 1987, positioning himself as a progressive Democrat seeking to succeed retiring incumbent , who had held the position since 1957. Earl's campaign emphasized , economic fairness, and opposition to the Reagan administration's policies, drawing on his gubernatorial record of bipartisan reforms while appealing to the party's left wing. The Democratic primary, held on September 13, 1988, featured a crowded field including Earl, owner and supermarket heir Herbert Kohl, former 1986 candidate Ed Garvey, and Wisconsin . Kohl, entering politics for the first time, self-financed much of his effort with over $3.2 million from personal funds, enabling extensive advertising that highlighted his business success and moderate stance, which contrasted with Earl's established but tax-increase-associated image from his governorship. Earl, relying on traditional fundraising and party support, criticized Kohl as an unelected outsider but struggled to match the spending disparity. Earl finished second in the primary with 203,479 votes (38.18%), behind 249,226 (46.78%), while Garvey received 70,198 (13.17%) and La Follette 6,671 (1.25%). The loss ended 's electoral ambitions, attributed by observers to Kohl's financial dominance and voter preference for a fresh face amid national Democratic gains that year; Kohl went on to win the general election against Republican Engeleiter.

Legacy and Assessment

Enduring Achievements

Earl's leadership in environmental conservation, particularly regarding the , stands as one of his most lasting contributions. As chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, he spearheaded the signing of the Charter on February 11, 1985, by the governors of eight states and premiers of two Canadian provinces, establishing the first regional commitment to manage and protect the shared water resources of the against diversions and excessive consumption. This non-binding agreement laid foundational principles for cooperative water quality management and conservation, influencing subsequent binding frameworks such as the Great Lakes— Basin Water Resources Compact ratified in 2008, which continues to govern allocations and prevent harmful diversions across the region. In , Earl enacted the Wisconsin Marital Property Act, signed into law on April 4, 1983, which transformed into the ninth with rules effective January 1, 1986, granting equal ownership rights to marital assets for both spouses regardless of wage-earning status and strengthening financial equity in marriages. This reform addressed longstanding disparities favoring titled owners, particularly benefiting non-working spouses, and remains a core element of Wisconsin's framework. Complementing this, Earl advanced pay equity through implementation of comparable worth principles, raising compensation for female-dominated state jobs to align with male-equivalent roles based on skill and responsibility, a policy that endured in state employment practices despite political shifts. Earl also pioneered state-level protections against discrimination based on , issuing an in 1983 that created a complaint process for individuals in state employment and establishing the Governor's Council on and Lesbian Issues to advise on policy. These measures represented early institutional steps toward inclusion, predating broader federal recognitions and influencing subsequent expansions of anti-discrimination statutes in Wisconsin public sector operations.

Long-Term Policy Impacts and Critiques

Earl's fiscal policies, enacted to address a $1 billion state budget deficit and 12% rate upon taking office in January 1983, included making a temporary increase permanent, imposing an surcharge, and implementing gas tax indexing that automatically raised rates twice during his term. These measures, combined with spending cuts, balanced the budget and produced a modest surplus by the end of his term in 1987, while restoring solvency to the compensation and transportation funds. Long-term, the tax hikes stabilized state finances amid national recessionary pressures but drew criticism for exacerbating , with opponents arguing they imposed a heavier burden on residents and contributed to slower recovery compared to tax-restraint approaches in other states. In environmental policy, Earl advanced regional cooperation by chairing the Council of Great Lakes Governors in 1985 to establish the first comprehensive water management framework, building on the council's 1983 formation. This initiative fostered ongoing interstate efforts to protect resources, influencing subsequent agreements on , control, and conservation that persist through the evolved Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers organization. His emphasis on , rooted in prior service as Department of Natural Resources , prioritized issues like preservation and control that remain central to Wisconsin's environmental agenda decades later, earning praise for proactive governance amid industrial pressures. Critiques of these policies were limited, though some interests contended that stringent regulations increased compliance costs without commensurate economic benefits. Other reforms, such as the 1983 marital property act granting equal division rights to spouses regardless of , have had enduring effects on Wisconsin by promoting equity in asset distribution and influencing national discussions on property rights in proceedings. Similarly, initiatives to raise pay for female state employees addressed wage disparities, contributing to gradual improvements in equity metrics tracked by state agencies post-1980s. These policies faced conservative critiques for expanding government intervention in private matters, potentially discouraging workforce participation or complicating fiscal trade-offs, though empirical data on direct causal links remains sparse.

References

  1. https://www.nga.org/governor/anthony-s-earl/
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/23/us/politics/tony-earl-dead.html
  3. https://apnews.com/2a3a130f15f0f5a6c33fc8e80f836fae
  4. https://fox11online.com/news/state/anthony-earl-wisconsin-governor-death-stroke-1983-1987-democratic-party-lgbtq-rights-environmentalism-dnr-secretary
  5. https://ourliveswisconsin.com/article/gay-and-lesbian-by-official-order/
  6. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/02/26/op-ed-the-legacy-of-tony-earl/
  7. https://www.law.uchicago.edu/news/tony-earl-61-1936-2023
  8. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/23/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-dies-at-age-86-after-suffering-stroke/69924369007/
  9. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS7272
  10. https://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/Pages/General-Article.aspx?ArticleID=29624
  11. https://www.wpr.org/politics/tony-earl-former-governor-wisconsin-dies-age-86
  12. https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/former-gov-tony-earl-a-champion-for-equal-rights-and-conservation-dies-at-86/article_3d553784-72b8-5366-89c9-f539f2c04238.html
  13. https://www.wxow.com/news/former-wi-governor-tony-earl-passes-away/article_d9bd5e02-b397-11ed-af72-d32a5b0b1dff.html
  14. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/15/us/businessman-leads-in-wisconsin-race.html
  15. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1982&f=0&off=5&elect=1
  16. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/09/15/seasoned-liberals-win-support-of-democrats-in-wis-minn/fc3d1654-5c14-47f7-83a2-6010a628d2f5/
  17. https://captimes.com/opinion/john-nichols/opinion-anti-nuke-movement-helped-propel-tony-earl-to-governorship/article_c01addaf-5523-5774-a0e2-88bbed338aec.html
  18. https://ourliveswisconsin.com/article/we-did-not-surrender/
  19. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1982&f=0&off=5&elect=0
  20. https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/amphtml/1982/0916/091634.html
  21. https://www.wpr.org/economy/gas-tax-indexing-how-bipartisan-idea-ended-bipartisan-unraveling
  22. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2023/02/27/remembering-tony-earl-when-a-governor-brought-everyone-to-the-table/
  23. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/04/24/wisconsin-gets-tough-on-acid-rain/
  24. https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5568&context=mulr
  25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3984725
  26. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.2307/3984725
  27. https://www.gsgp.org/about-us/history/
  28. https://glpf.org/blog/remembering-tony-earl/
  29. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/10/12/pollution-battle-between-wisconsin-and-its-neighbors-drifting/
  30. https://api.law.wisc.edu/repository-pdf/uwlaw-library-repository-omekav3/original/d04756a8a40ad4ca848596aa85464f34053afe8a.pdf
  31. https://captimes.com/news/government/tony-earl-41st-governor-of-wisconsin-dies-at-86/article_4a7c312e-116e-5507-8cfc-c8b2f588a7b2.html
  32. https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1892&context=mulr
  33. https://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/dps/pdfs/dp118499.pdf
  34. https://www.edweek.org/education/wisconsin-governor-urges-boards-to-support-reforms/1984/10
  35. https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0203/020324.html
  36. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1986&f=0&off=5&elect=0
  37. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-has-died-at-age-86/
  38. https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-dies-at-86/
  39. https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_9ed68ffc-b3ba-11ed-9631-cb9ba20a90ec.html
  40. https://ballotpedia.org/Tony_Evers
  41. https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/api/collection/uwmpost/id/19141/download
  42. https://apnews.com/article/politics-wausau-lgbtq-people-tommy-thompson-obituaries-a8e0318378014caf8ff295f41a5933b1
  43. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2009/related/public_hearing_records/sc_transportation_tourism_forestry_and_natural_resources/bills_resolutions/09hr_sc_ttfnr_sb0113_pt05.pdf
  44. https://www.joycefdn.org/news/joyce-mourns-director-emeritus-gov-tony-earl
  45. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDMA/bulletins/34aa9b4
  46. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/34a3c1e
  47. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249788987/anthony-scully-earl
  48. https://www.wsaw.com/2023/02/23/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-dies-86-following-stroke/
  49. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1974&f=0&off=9&elect=1
  50. https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/ap-online/2023/02/23/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-has-died-at-age-86
  51. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/09/14/team-owner-kohl-wins-wisconsin-senate-nod/16a96087-ed7c-4f4e-9c27-f78a4db65a63/
  52. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/09/14/kohl-wins-wisconsin-democratic-senate-race/
  53. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1988&f=0&off=3&elect=1
  54. https://www.captimes.com/news/government/tony-earl-41st-governor-of-wisconsin-dies-at-86/article_4a7c312e-116e-5507-8cfc-c8b2f588a7b2.html
  55. https://gsgp.org/about-us/history/
  56. https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/former-wisconsin-gov-tony-earl-remembered-as-first-environmental-governor
  57. https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2025/05/06/wisconsin-supreme-court-tommy-thompson/83456382007/
  58. https://isthmus.com/opinion/opinion/politics-be-damned/
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