Richard Shoemaker

Richard Shoemaker
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 10th district
In office
January 2, 1989 – October 2, 1989
Preceded byJames Harsdorf
Succeeded byWilliam Berndt
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 7, 1985 – January 2, 1989
Preceded byRaymond J. Moyer
Succeeded byAlvin Baldus
Constituency29th district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byErvin Conradt
Succeeded byRobert T. Welch
Constituency41st district
In office
January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byLa Verne Ausman
Succeeded byLolita Schneiders
Constituency69th district
Personal details
BornRichard Allan Shoemaker
June 11, 1951
DiedMarch 26, 2026(2026-03-26) (aged 74)
PartyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Linda Rhodes
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1969, divorced)​
  • Joanne Marshall
    ​
    (m. 2021)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Stout (B.S.)

Richard Allan Shoemaker (June 11, 1951 - March 26, 2026) was an American retailer and former Democratic politician from Menomonie, Wisconsin. He served for 9 months in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 10th district before resigning from office after being convicted of several misdemeanors. He previously served five terms in the Wisconsin state legislature representing all of Dunn County and parts of Eau Claire County, and later eastern Dunn County and northern St. Croix County.

Biography

Shoemaker was born on June 11, 1951, in Beloit, Wisconsin. He graduated from Menomonie High School in Menomonie, Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Shoemaker was married with two children. He died on March 26, 2026.

Career

Shoemaker was Supervisor of Dunn County, Wisconsin from 1976 to 1977 before serving as a member of the Assembly from 1978 to 1986. He was elected to the Senate in 1988. Shoemaker was a Democrat.

Shoemaker was convicted in 1989 of receiving illegal money from a lobbyist, failing to disclose a loan on financial disclosure statements, using his office for personal gain, defrauding his campaign committee and filing false campaign reports. He was charged campaign fund fraud and failure to disclose personal gains. He was found guilty and sentenced to 60 days in jail. (1988)

References

  1. ↑ "Shoemaker, Richard A. 1951". Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  2. ↑ "Richard Allan Shoemaker". Olson Funeral Home. March 26, 2026. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "21 state lawmakers convicted of crimes in past 35 years".
  4. ↑ "Madison Wisconsin State Journal Archives, Oct 3, 1989, p. 1". 3 October 1989.
  5. ↑ | Complaints and Investigations under Wisconsin’s Ethics Code | 1985-89 |