Oct. 28, 2024 – Dan D. Gartzke is elected president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin.
In a special election that closed at noon on Friday, Oct. 24, 2024, Gartzke defeated David Lasker of Mauston by 1,417 votes to 1,006.
Gartzke (U.W. 1986) practices family law with Boardman & Clark LLP in Madison.
Gartzke immediately becomes president-elect, filling a vacancy in the position, followed by a one-year term as president starting on July 1, 2025, and a one-year term as past president, starting July 1, 2026.
“First, it has been a pleasure to campaign with David, and I greatly value the friendship we’ve developed. I was impressed with how many people knew him and liked him, and I’m glad to include myself in that group now,” Gartzke said.
“This has been something of a whirlwind campaign, but I have already learned much from the members I have been able to meet,” he said. “I am looking forward to following up and learning from lawyers in all parts of the state and in all practice areas as I ready myself for this leadership role.”
While campaigning, Gartzke said he plans to focus on the issue of attorney mentoring, and that opportunities for mentoring are critical to building the next generation of lawyers. “One of the things I learned in the campaign was there are a lot of programs out there that encourage mentoring, from the State Bar’s Ready. Set. Practice. program to the Association of Women Lawyers in Milwaukee are already doing the work to encourage effective mentoring, and I look forward to learning from them to continue their work,” Gartzke said.
“I will make mentorship a priority tool in improving the pool of lawyers in underserved areas, and in promoting professional civility,” he said in his campaign statement.
Learn more about Gartzke.
Why was This Special Election Needed?
The special election was required because of the following circumstances.
- The membership elected Jane Bucher as State Bar president-elect in April 2023. The president-elect serves a one-year term before serving a one-year term as president.
- Bucher announced in February 2024 that she applied for an open judicial seat on the Green County Circuit Court.
- In March 2024, Gov. Tony Evers appointed Bucher to the judicial seat.
- Under Wisconsin Supreme Court rules, judges cannot serve as State Bar officers or members of the State Bar’s Board of Governors.
- Bucher resigned as president-elect, leaving a vacancy.
- In April 2024, Ryan Billings won the election to serve as president-elect starting on July 1, 2024.
- In May, the State Bar’s Board of Governors appointed Billings to fill the vacancy at president-elect, for the remainder of Bucher’s term.
- This allowed Billings to become president on July 1, 2024, creating a vacancy in the president-elect position.
- The special election in October filled the vacancy.
