André Jacque


André Jacque is a Republican politician from Wisconsin. He is a former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and is currently the senator for the 1st Senate District of Wisconsin.

Early life and career

Jacque was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and graduated from Green Bay Southwest High School. He earned his bachelor's degree from UW-Madison, and worked as a transit planning coordinator, communications director and a grant-writing consultant before beginning his political career.
Jacque was appointed to the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board in 2001, and served from 2001 to 2003. He serves on the board of the Green Bay Area Crimestoppers, Golden House Domestic Violence Shelter Community Leadership Council, Family and Childcare Resources of Northeast Wisconsin Board, Paul Van Handel Memorial Foundation Board for Families with Special Needs Children, the Wisconsin Council on Domestic Abuse, and the Wisconsin Small Business Environmental Council.

Political career

In 2010 Jacque was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent Wisconsin's 2nd Assembly District. He was reelected to the Assembly in 2012 and ran unopposed for reelection in 2014. In 2016 he also faced no major party opposition. Jacque is a member of the Brown County Taxpayers Alliance, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. On May 15, 2018 he won the Republican primary election for the vacant seat for the 1st Senate District; but was defeated in the June special election by Democrat Caleb Frostman. He later defeated Frostman in November 2018, winning a full two-year term in the Wisconsin State Senate.

Awards

Jacque was awarded the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's "Future 15" award in 2011 and again in 2018. He was the recipient of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence Legislative Champion Award, the American Conservative Union Defender of Liberty Award and the Wisconsin Counties Association Outstanding Legislator Award the same year. During the 2011–2012 session, Jacque was named the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Henry S. Baird Legislator of the Year, the Pro-Life Wisconsin 2012 Legislator of the Year, the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families Shining Star of Education Reform, and the Phillips Foundation 2012 Distinguished Young Conservative Leader of the Year. Following the 2013-14 legislative session, Jacque received the Wisconsin Towns Association Friend of Towns Award, the National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business Award, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform State Legislative Achievement Award, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association Law Enforcement Honor Roll recognition, and the first of three Wisconsin State Legislator of the Year Awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. During the 2015-2016 legislative session, Jacque received Wisconsin Family Council's William Wilberforce Legislator of the Year Award, the Brown County Crime Prevention Foundation's Crimefighter Award, and the Manitowoc County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition's IMPACT Recognition. In 2017, Jacque received the Wisconsin Independent Living Network's Relentless Badger for the Disabled Award.