http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/dave-hansen-jane-gb-s5.jpgHansen has served the people of Green Bay's 30th Senate District with honor and integrity since January 2001, helped everyone he could improve the quality of their lives and our community.

MADISON - On the eve of his retirement Wednesday, State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) thanked the people of the 30th Senate District for their support over the past twenty years.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of the 30th District and Northeast Wisconsin,” said Hansen. “During that time I’ve made a lot of new friends and met amazing people along the way. To be elected in 2000 and then re-elected five times since is something I never imagined would happen and I owe it all to the thousands of people who have supported me throughout my time in office.”

Hansen took office in January 2001 after beating then incumbent state senator Gary Drzewiecki. He went on to win a rematch in 2004 garnering over 54% of the vote. In 2008, he received over 60% of the vote against former Green Bay city council member Chad Fradette. In 2011 Hansen was the first state senator to face a recall election after Democratic senators went to Illinois to delay a vote on legislation that would remove collective bargaining rights for thousands of public employees. He handily won that election receiving over 60% of the vote. In 2012, after the Republicans gerrymandered the 30th District he received his highest vote percentage in a competitive election gaining over 54% of the vote against John Macco. In his final campaign in 2016 he defeated Eric Wimberger in a narrow win with President Trump at the top of the ticket.

“I am truly grateful for the support of the voters all these years. It tells me that when it comes down to it most people believe government has a role to play in helping people improve the quality of their lives and their communities.”

Before being elected to the State Senate Hansen served on the Brown County Board and worked as a truck driver for the City of Green Bay. He never forgot his blue collar roots or his work ethic and became a tireless fighter for working and low income families. He fought for Equal Pay, helping people refinance their student loans at lower interest rates, providing a secure retirement plan for private sector workers and improving workers’ rights. Among his successes for the 30th District, Hansen fought to keep Oconto’s nursing home open, to complete the conversion of Highway 41 to four lanes between Oconto and Marinette and to expand Interstate 41 in Brown and Winnebago Counties, and helped Marinette Marine win the LCS contract that has led to thousands of jobs being created in Northeast Wisconsin and around the state.

“Serving the people of the 30th District is the greatest honor of my life short of Jane agreeing to marry me. I enjoyed every minute of my career, even during those times when I was going through a tough campaign or things in Madison were not going the direction I would have liked because I enjoyed doing everything I could to help the people of the 30th District and the state.”

“Thank you to everyone in the 30th District for the past twenty years and my best wishes for a safe, healthy new year.”