Democrat Joe Sheehan raises over $30,000 in two months

Biggest campaign donors include Alex Lasry, David Sachse, John W. Miller and members of the Ross family

Joe Sheehan

SHEBOYGAN — In two months, the former Superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District raised over $30,000 for his campaign for the State Assembly.

Joe Milton Sheehan, a Democrat, announced in April he would be running for the 26th Assembly District. His campaign reported collecting $30,638.12 in donations from 191 individuals and five special interest groups including a labor union and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Out of the 191 individuals who donated to Sheehan, 54 do not live within Sheboygan County. Sheehan accepted donations from 25 individuals who live outside the State of Wisconsin which totaled $1,291.¹ The largest out-of-state donation came from Donald Phillips of San Francisco, California who donated $500. Other donations came from California, New York, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Minnesota.

Sheehan had served as the Superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) since 1999 and retired in 2018. Seven current and former school board members have donated to Sheehan’s campaign. When Sheehan retired, his salary was $175,000.² Just days after retiring from SASD, he was named the Executive Director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation. His compensation was $94,926 in that newly created role.³ If elected, Sheehan would earn over $57,000 per year plus benefits.

Republican Amy Binsfeld, who will face Sheehan in the general election on November 5th, has reported raising $10,272.

Largest donations

• $1,000 from John W. Miller of Fox Point, Wisconsin
  Venture Capitalist and former CEO of Miller St. Nazianz Implement

• $1,000 from Kurt Kober of Sheboygan
  General Manager/Vice President at The Honest Company

• $1,000 from Jeffrey Meessmann of Boulder Junction, Wisconsin

• $500 from Alex Lasry of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Milwaukee Bucks executive

• $500 from Madeleine Lubar of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  Board Member of Planned Parenthood

• $500 from John C. Miller of Kohler
  Retired chairman of Miller St. Nazianz Implement

• $500 from Clara Ross of Sheboygan
  Owner of Ross Glove, sister to Hugh Ross

• $500 from Hugh Ross of Sheboygan
  Vice President of Ross Glove, brother to Clara Ross

• $500 from Janet R. Ross of Sheboygan
  mother to Clara and Hugh Ross⁴

• $500 from Joel Lubbers of Sheboygan

• $300 from Geralyn Leannah of Sheboygan
  Retired from the Sheboygan Area School District,

Notable donors

• $250 from Kathie Norman of Sheboygan
  Wife of Bob Norman, owner of KEES, Inc.

• $250 from David R. Sachse of Sheboygan
  Owner of Landmark Consultants, former owner of Polar Ware and father of Richard Sachse, owner of Miesfeld's Triangle Market and HTT, Inc.⁵

• $250 from Mary Lynne Donohue of Sheboygan
  SASD School Board Member

• $200 from Ryan Burg of Sheboygan
  Former SASD School Board Member

• $200 from Marcia Reinthaler of Sheboygan
  Former SASD School Board Member

• $100 from Dr. Jeffrey W. Britton of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
  Pediatrician at Aurora Health Care

• $50 from Peter Madden of Sheboygan
  SASD School Board Member

• $50 from Leah Hibl of Sheboygan
  SASD School Board Member

• $50 from Kay Robbins of Sheboygan
  SASD School Board Member and retired teacher

Sources

1. July 2024 Campaign Finance Report
Wisconsin Ethics Commission

2. Sheboygan schools extend Sheehan's contract
The Sheboygan Press

3. Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation
Pro Publica

4. Ross Glove Co. v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue
CaseText

5. Miesfeld’s partners with the Sachse family
Baker Tilly