View source for Kitty Rhoades

{{Short description|American politician (1951–2016)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Kitty Rhoades
| governor            = [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]]
| termstart2          = January 4, 1999
| office2             = Member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]<br>from the 30th district
| predecessor         = Dennis Smith
| successor           = [[Linda Seemeyer]]
| alma_mater          = [[University of Wisconsin–River Falls]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Illinois State University]] ([[Master of Education|MEd]])
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| termend             = June 18, 2016
| birth_name          = Kitty Richie
| termstart           = February 22, 2013
| office              = Secretary of the [[Wisconsin Department of Health Services]]
| death_place         = [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| birth_place         = [[Hudson, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| death_date          = June 18, 2016 (aged 64)
| birth_date          = April 7, 1951
| termend2            = January 3, 2011
| predecessor2        = [[Sheila Harsdorf]]
| successor2          = [[Dean Knudson]]
}}

'''Kitty Rhoades''' (née '''Richie''') (April 7, 1951 – June 18, 2016) was an American politician. She served as a member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]], where she represented the 30th district, before serving as Secretary of the [[Wisconsin Department of Health Services]].

== Early life and education ==
Born in [[Hudson, Wisconsin]], Rhoades received a bachelor's degree from the [[University of Wisconsin–River Falls]] and a master's degree in education from [[Illinois State University]].

== Career ==
Rhoades worked as an educator, small business owner, and consultant. In 1998, she was elected to the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>''Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008'', Biographical Sketch of Kitty Rhoades, p. 39.</ref>

In the 1990s, Rhoades proposed the term ''Winnesota'' to describe Wisconsin's [[St. Croix County, Wisconsin|St. Croix]] and [[Pierce County, Wisconsin|Pierce]] Counties, which border [[Minnesota]] and are within the  [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]]'s [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul]] Metropolitan Area. According to Rhoades, "I still call my area Winnesota. We are in Wisconsin, but it sure is hard to remember it."<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=402665 
 |title=Welcome to Minnesota: Twin Cities workers find comforts of home in St. Croix, Wisconsin's fastest-growing county 
 |author=Bill Glauber 
 |date=February 18, 2006 
 |publisher=[[The Milwaukee Journal]] 
 |accessdate=2007-10-11 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814125803/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=402665 
 |archivedate=August 14, 2007 
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

Rhoades retired from the state Assembly in 2010,<ref>[http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=189445 Rhoades Retires From Wisconsin Assembly] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928235637/http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=189445 |date=2011-09-28 }}</ref> and took a position with the administration of then-Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] in 2011 as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health Services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/pressreleases/2011/010411Leadership.htm |title=Health Services Announces New Leadership Team |accessdate=2013-07-10 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212174142/http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/pressreleases/2011/010411Leadership.htm |archivedate=2012-02-12 }}</ref> In February 2013, following the resignation of Dennis Smith, she was appointed Secretary.<ref>Andy Rathburn, "Gov. Walker appoints Kitty Rhoades to top Wisconsin health post". ''St. Paul Pioneer Press''. February 22, 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kitty Rhoades appointed secretary of the Department of Health Services|url=https://www.rivertowns.net/lifestyle/health/1277791-kitty-rhoades-appointed-secretary-department-health-services|website=RiverTowns|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>

== Death ==
Rhoades died on June 18, 2016, in [[Madison, Wisconsin]] from pneumonia.<ref>[http://www.wisn.com/politics/wisconsin-health-services-secretary-kitty-rhoades-dies-at-65/40119294 Wisconsin health services secretary Kitty Rhoades dies at 65]</ref><ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?pid=180398070 Kitty (Richie) Rhoades-obituary]</ref>

== Electoral history ==

=== Wisconsin State Assembly (1998–2008) ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Election
!Date
! colspan="4" |Elected
! colspan="4" |Defeated
!Total
!Plurality
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" |[[1998 Wisconsin State Assembly election|1998]]
|Primary<ref name="2012gen">{{cite report |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A4K4QRBLSRUNJE8R/full/ADLF26SJ7FPGWE9A |title=District Vote for Representatives to the Assembly - Primary elections, 1997 - 1998-Continued |date= |publisher=[[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |page=880 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |accessdate= |year=1999 |chapter=Elections |editor-first1=Lawrence S. |editor-first2=Patricia E. |editor-last1=Barish |editor-last2=Meloy}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|Sep. 8}}
|{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |2,788
| align="right" valign="top" |68.25%
|{{nowrap|Jay Griggs}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| align="right" valign="top" |1,297
| align="right" valign="top" |31.75%
| align="right" valign="top" |4,085
| align="right" valign="top" |1,491
|-
| valign="top" |General<ref name="2016gen">{{cite report |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A4K4QRBLSRUNJE8R/full/AFGF6GBIHIFFNB8R |title=District Vote for Representatives to the Assembly - Special and General Elections, 1998 |date= |publisher=[[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau]] |page=882 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |accessdate= |year=1999 |chapter=Elections |editor-first1=Lawrence S. |editor-first2=Patricia E. |editor-last1=Barish |editor-last2=Meloy}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 3}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |9,755
| align="right" valign="top" |57.29%
|{{nowrap|James R. Johnson}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
|7,272
|42.71%
| align="right" valign="top" |17,027
| align="right" valign="top" |2,483
|-
! valign="top" |[[2000 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2000]]
| valign="top" |General<ref>{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_09c2e2a3-1386-4ff9-aad8-3248bf6bb3c5/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 |date=May 10, 2001 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=20 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |via=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 7}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |17,303
| align="right" valign="top" |62.76%
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Laurie J. Lundgaard}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| align="right" valign="top" |10,247
| align="right" valign="top" |37.17%
| align="right" valign="top" |27,568
| align="right" valign="top" |7,056
|-
! valign="top" |[[2002 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2002]]
| valign="top" |General<ref>{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_ae534b25-9fc6-4986-b261-7c785e581f09/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 |date=December 2, 2002 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=21 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |via=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 5}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |12,563
| align="right" valign="top" |69.01%
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Bob Feickert}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| align="right" valign="top" |5,635
| align="right" valign="top" |30.95%
| align="right" valign="top" |18,205
| align="right" valign="top" |6,928
|-
! valign="top" |[[2004 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2004]]
| valign="top" |General<ref>{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_dcaf3106-7971-45d7-9e8b-3b169afa2f9a/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 |date=December 1, 2004 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=20 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |via=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 2}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |20,540
| align="right" valign="top" |61.09%
|{{nowrap|Tom Parent}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
|13,071
|38.87%
| align="right" valign="top" |33,624
| align="right" valign="top" |7,469
|-
! valign="top" |[[2006 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2006]]
| valign="top" |General<ref>{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_e8d5fe23-b646-48ba-acb0-3b70c311a0fd/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 |date=December 5, 2006 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=21 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |via=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 7}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |12,790
| align="right" valign="top" |57.40%
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Dan Gorman}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| align="right" valign="top" |9,479
| align="right" valign="top" |42.54%
| align="right" valign="top" |22,282
| align="right" valign="top" |3,311
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" |[[2008 Wisconsin State Assembly election|2008]]
| valign="top" |Primary<ref>{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_2f634ffc-968c-450f-ab4e-58861dc3c70a/ |title=Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/09/2008 |date=September 29, 2008 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=40 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |via=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Sep. 9}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |2,432
| align="right" valign="top" |86.70%
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Bob Hughes}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| align="right" valign="top" |372
| align="right" valign="top" |13.26%
| align="right" valign="top" |2,805
| align="right" valign="top" |2,060
|-
| valign="top" |General<ref>{{cite report |url=https://whs.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_900da12b-ee42-4eec-82a0-7978ab858db3/ |title=Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 |date=December 1, 2008 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=19 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |via=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Nov. 4}}
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Kitty Rhoades (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="right" valign="top" |19,729
| align="right" valign="top" |54.74%
| valign="top" |{{nowrap|Sarah A. Bruch}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| align="right" valign="top" |16,278
| align="right" valign="top" |45.17%
| align="right" valign="top" |36,041
| align="right" valign="top" |3,451
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* ''Follow the Money'' - Kitty Rhoades
**[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=110268 2008] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=87588 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=68300 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=8569 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=58814 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=56848 1998] campaign contributions
*[http://www.wisdc.org/pro08-103675.php Campaign 2008] campaign contributions at ''Wisconsin Democracy Campaign''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhoades, Kitty}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Hudson, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin&ndash;River Falls alumni]]
[[Category:Illinois State University alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]