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Cathy Stepp
8th Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
In office
January 3, 2011 – August 31, 2017
GovernorScott Walker
Preceded byMatthew J. Frank
Succeeded byDan Meyer
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byKimberly Plache
Succeeded byJohn Lehman
Personal details
Born
Catherine L. O'Donnell

(1963-08-17) August 17, 1963 (age 60)
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePaul Stepp
Children2
ResidenceBranson, Missouri

Catherine L. "Cathy" Stepp (née O'Donnell; born August 17, 1963) is an American government administrator and former Republican politician. She is the city administrator of Branson, Missouri, and previously served as regional administrator (midwest) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump. Earlier, she was secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the cabinet of governor Scott Walker, and served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Racine County.

Biography

Stepp was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and graduated from Oak Creek High School in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in 1981.[1] After marrying, she joined the home-building firm of her husband, known as First Stepp Builders, in Racine, Wisconsin, and became co-owner of the company. Through the business community, she rose in prominence in local affairs, and in 2000 she was appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson to the state's Natural Resources Board, which oversees the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.[2]

In 2002, Stepp successfully challenged Democratic Senator Kimberly Plache for Plache's Racine County-based State Senate seat. From 2003 until 2007, Stepp served as a Republican in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 21st Senate district.[3] Stepp was only the second Republican to win an election in the Racine County Senate district in the previous 50 years. She announced in 2005 that she would not run for re-election in 2006, saying she wanted to devote more time to her family.[4] She was succeeded by Democrat John Lehman.[5]

In January 2011, Governor Scott Walker appointed Stepp to be his Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).[6] During her tenure, Stepp rolled back environmental oversight and regulation.[7]

In August 2017, it was announced that Stepp would be resigning to become a deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.[8] Stepp supported Trump at rallies in Wisconsin, and has questioned the existence of climate change.[9]

Stepp resigned from the EPA in January 2020, and moved to Missouri, where she worked for a clean water non-profit and an ecological restoration company. She was hired as city administrator of Branson, Missouri, in 2022.[10]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (2002)

Wisconsin Senate, 21st District Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, September 10, 2002[11]
Republican Cathy Stepp 5,462 77.17%
Republican John W. Knuteson 1,613 22.79%
Scattering 3 0.04%
Plurality 3,849 54.38%
Total votes 7,078 100.0%
General Election, November 5, 2002[12]
Republican Cathy Stepp 25,367 50.68% +6.14%
Democratic Kimberly Plache (incumbent) 24,594 49.14% -6.32%
Scattering 89 0.18%
Plurality 773 1.54% -9.38%
Total votes 50,050 100.0% +1.48%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2005). "Biographies" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2005–2006 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 60. ISBN 0-9752820-1-8. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Local voice for the outdoors". Racine Journal Times. May 19, 2000. p. 21. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Cathy Stepp
  4. ^ Gutsche Jr., Robert (October 4, 2005). "Stepp won't seek re-election". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2007). "Biographies". State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-9752820-2-1. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. ^ DNR Secretary
  7. ^ Hawthorne, Michael. "Trump EPA pick for Chicago office cut enforcement, scrapped climate change information in Wisconsin". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  8. ^ Bauer, Scott (29 August 2017). "Wisconsin DNR secretary Cathy Stepp leaving agency for EPA job". TwinCities.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  9. ^ Verburg, Steven. "Secretary Cathy Stepp leaving DNR to join Donald Trump's EPA". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  10. ^ Wert, Jason (October 3, 2022). "Cathy Stepp hired as Branson City Administrator". Branson Tri-Lakes News. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  11. ^ Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/10/2002 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. September 24, 2002. p. 19. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  12. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 9. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.

External links

Wisconsin Senate Preceded byKimberly Plache Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 21st district January 2003 – January 2007 Succeeded byJohn Lehman Government offices Preceded byMatthew J. Frank Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources January 3, 2011 – August 31, 2017 Succeeded byDan Meyer
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