Jeremy Thiesfeldt

Jeremy Thiesfeldt (born November 22, 1966) is an American educator and politician from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 12 years, representing Wisconsin's 52nd Assembly district from 2011 through 2022. He also previously served on the Fond du Lac city council.

Early life, education, and career before politics Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on November 22, 1966, Thiesfeldt graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Martin Luther College in 1989. having previously taught at Winnebago Lutheran Academy. As of 2018 he was interim principal at Redeemer Lutheran School in Fond du Lac.

Political career Thiesfeldt was a member of the Fond du Lac city council from 2005 to 2010, and was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010 as a Republican. which encompasses Fond du Lac city, Fond du Lac town, Byron, Empire, Oakfield, and Taycheedah, and Oakfield, as well as part of Calumet. was reelected in 2014 without opposition; was reelected in 2016 with 63.76% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Czisny, and was reelected in 2018 with 61.63% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Kevin Booth. On December 9, 2021, he announced that he would not seek re-election.

Education Thiesfeldt chairs the Assembly Education Committee, and a member of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Standards Review Council, Thiesfeldt opposed Common Core State Standards. and in 2015 sponsored legislation allowing parents to opt-out from state standardized testing for their children.

In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin, Thiesfeldt signed onto a letter from 49 Republican members of the Assembly urging schools to re-open for in-person instruction.

Social issues Thiesfeldt opposes the legalization of marijuana, and in 2013, he and a fellow Fond du Lac Republican lawmaker, state Senator Rick Gudex, introduced a bill that would authorize county and municipal governments to prosecute marijuana possession cases that are dropped by prosecutors. Thiesfeldt and Gudex introduced the legislation after some Wisconsin district attorneys' offices adopted a policy of not pursuing criminal prosecutions for simple possession of small amounts of marijuana.

In 2013, Thiesfeldt proposed legislation to repeal Wisconsin laws on the manufacture, use, and sale of pepper spray.

Economic issues In 2011, Thiesfeldt proposed legislation to make Wisconsin state income taxpayers ineligible for the state's Homestead Credit if they or any household family member received any federal housing subsidy (such as a Section 8 voucher).

Thiesfeldt supports 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, which weakened public employee unions. He supported controversial state tax incentives for Foxconn's Wisconsin plant.

Personal life Thiesfeldt lives in Fond du Lac. He has been married since 1990 and has four children.