David R. Hopkins | |
|---|---|
| Member of the
Wisconsin State Assembly from the 67th district | |
| In office January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Steven C. Brist |
| Succeeded by | Peggy Rosenzweig |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 24, 1938 Belmont, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | December 16, 2017 (aged 79) St. Augustine, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Gloria Ann Burris
(
m. 1962–2017) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Massachusetts ( B.S.) |
David R. Hopkins (May 24, 1938 – December 16, 2017) was an American engineer, businessman, and Republican politician. He served two years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Chippewa County.
Biography
Born in Belmont, Massachusetts, Hopkins graduated from Belmont High School and went on to the University of Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. [1] His work as an engineer brought him to Wisconsin, where he was employed first at Johnson Plastics Machinery, and then co-founded Extrusion Dies, Inc. [2]
He became involved with the Republican Party of Wisconsin and was an officer in The Conservative Caucus. [1] In 1978, he ran what was considered to be a longshot campaign for Wisconsin State Assembly, challenging incumbent Democrat Steven C. Brist. [3] He won a narrow 317 vote victory in the general election, taking 51% of the vote. [4] He went on to win reelection in 1980, but was defeated in a rematch with Brist in 1982, after the implementation of a court-ordered redistricting plan. [5] [6]
Shortly after the 1982 election, he relocated to Florida with his family and founded Complex, Inc., in St. Augustine, Florida. He remained there for the rest of his life. [7]
Personal life and family
Hopkins married Gloria Ann Burris in 1962. They had three children together. [1] [7]
David R. Hopkins died in St. Augustine in December 2017. [7]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly, 67th district (1978, 1980)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 7, 1978 | |||||
| Republican | David R. Hopkins | 6,335 | 51.28% | +21.29% | |
| Democratic | Steven C. Brist (incumbent) | 6,018 | 48.72% | ||
| Plurality | 317 | 2.57% | -37.44% | ||
| Total votes | 12,353 | 100.0% | -29.91% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | 42.57% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 1980 | |||||
| Republican | David R. Hopkins (incumbent) | 11,716 | 59.44% | +8.16% | |
| Democratic | Howard L. Olson | 7,995 | 40.56% | ||
| Plurality | 3,721 | 18.88% | +16.31% | ||
| Total votes | 19,711 | 100.0% | +59.56% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Wisconsin Assembly, 55th district (1982)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 2, 1982 | |||||
| Democratic | Steven C. Brist | 7,365 | 51.96% | ||
| Republican | David R. Hopkins | 6,809 | 48.04% | ||
| Plurality | 556 | 3.92% | |||
| Total votes | 14,174 | 100.0% | -6.51% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
References
- ^ a b c "Hopkins, David R. 1938". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "Eagle Point man to make run for Assembly". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. June 1, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hopkins beats Brist in 67th district". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. November 8, 1978. p. 2. Retrieved March 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1979). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 907, 925. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Wisconsin State AFL-CIO v. Elections Board, 543 F. Supp. 630 ( E.D. Wis. June 9, 1982).
- ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1983). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 890, 911. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c "David R. Hopkins". The St. Augustine Record. December 22, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2021 – via Legacy.com.
- ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 895, 916. Retrieved March 4, 2021.