Kimberly Plache

Kimberly Plache (born January 4, 1961) is a retired American public administrator and Democratic politician from Racine, Wisconsin. She served six years as a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 21st Senate district from 1996 to 2003; she was first elected to the Senate by defeating incumbent George Petak in a June 1996 recall election—this was the first successful recall of a Wisconsin state legislator. She previously served four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1989–1996).

After leaving elected office, she worked for 20 years for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, retiring as deputy executive director in 2024. During those years, she also served on the Racine Unified School Board from 2009 to 2016.

Early life and education Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Plache graduated from William Horlick High School in 1979. In 1984, she received her bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Wisconsin–Parkside.

Career Shortly after her college graduation, Plache was hired as a legislative aide by her representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Jeffrey A. Neubauer. When Neubauer chose not to run for re-election in 1988, Plache ran and was elected to succeed him in the Assembly.

She was re-elected in 1990, 1992, and 1994.

In October 1995, Racine County's representative in the Wisconsin Senate, George Petak, ran into controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.

Petak's deciding vote supported a 0.1 percent sales tax increase for the five counties in the proposed stadium's vicinity, including Racine. Petak faced immediate outrage in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. The petition was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.

Plache decided to run in the recall and faced no competition in the Democratic primary. In June, she defeated Petak, making him the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election.

Plache was re-elected to a full term in the senate in 1998, defeating Racine Unified School Board Member David Hazen. Plache sought re-election again in 2002, but was narrowly defeated by Republican Cathy Stepp.

After leaving office, she began working as a community relations officer for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. She was employed there for the next 20 years, rising to the role of deputy executive director.

While working for WHEDA, in 2009 Plache resumed interest in electoral politics when she ran in the special mayoral election in Racine, following the resignation and indictment of the previous mayor. She did not advance from the primary, but later that year, she was elected to an at-large seat on the Racine Unified School Board. She ultimately served on the school board until 2016, when the Republican majority in the Wisconsin Legislature passed special legislation to abolish at-large seats specifically for the Racine School District. She ran for re-election in the same district as fellow incumbent Julie McKenna, but lost by 101 votes.

Personal life Plache married Paul Hable in October 1999. They live in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and they have one daughter.

Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly (1988–1994) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1988 Primary Democratic 2,846 59.56% Dem. 1,932 40.44% 4,778 914 General Democratic 11,796 62.76% Rep. 6,703 35.66% 18,796 5,093 Ind. 297 1.58% 1990 General Democratic 7,484 62.75% Rep. 4,443 37.25% 11,927 3,041 1992 General Democratic 14,244 61.28% Rep. 8,999 38.72% 23,243 5,245 1994 General Democratic 9,504 59.74% Rep. 6,406 40.26% 15,910 3,098

Wisconsin Senate (1996–2002) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1996 Recall Democratic 21,045 51.22% Rep. 19,318 47.02% 41,088 1,727 Lib. 725 1.76% 1998 General Democratic 27,353 55.46% Rep. 21,967 44.54% 49,320 5,386 2002 General Republican 25,367 50.68% Dem. 24,594 49.14% 50,050 773

Racine Mayor (2009)

Racine School Board (2009–2016)