Representative Gerald D. Kleczka

Gerald Daniel Kleczka (November 26, 1943 – October 8, 2017) was an American politician and Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin, serving from 1983 to 2005 and, more specifically, from 1984 to 2005 as the representative of Wisconsin’s 4th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented a district that included the city of Milwaukee and, for much of his tenure, most of the southern half of Milwaukee as well as part of eastern Waukesha County. Over 11 terms in office, he participated actively in the legislative process and represented the interests of his constituents during a significant period in American political history.

Kleczka was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 26, 1943, and grew up in the city’s heavily Polish American south side, an area that would later form the core of his political base. He graduated from Milwaukee’s Don Bosco High School in 1961. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee for two years, pursuing higher education in his home city. After leaving the university, he worked as an accountant, gaining experience in financial matters that would later inform his legislative work, and he also served in the National Guard, fulfilling a period of military service.

Kleczka’s political career began in the Wisconsin Legislature. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1968 and served there from 1969 to 1974. In 1974 he won election to the Wisconsin State Senate, where he served from 1975 to 1984. During these years he built a reputation as a committed Democrat and an advocate for working-class and urban interests, reflecting the concerns of his Milwaukee constituency. His decade and a half in state office provided him with substantial legislative experience and positioned him as a natural successor when a vacancy arose in Congress.

Kleczka entered the U.S. House of Representatives through a special election triggered by the death of Representative Clement J. Zablocki. In the Democratic primary, he defeated Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann, and he went on to win the special election to Congress in 1984. Although he is often noted as serving from 1984 to 2005 representing Wisconsin’s 4th congressional district, his overall service in the House extended from 1983 to 2005, encompassing 11 terms. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process at the national level and contributed to the shaping of federal policy during a period that spanned the late Cold War, the end of the Reagan era, the Clinton administration, and the early years of the 21st century.

During his congressional career, Kleczka served on key committees, including the United States House Committee on Ways and Means and later the United States House Committee on the Budget. He was regarded as one of the more liberal members of Congress and was particularly known for his efforts to secure federal funding for education, poverty relief, and housing improvements, reflecting his long-standing concern for low-income and urban communities. For his first ten and a half terms, he represented a district that included most of the southern half of Milwaukee and part of eastern Waukesha County. Following the 2000 census, redistricting merged his district with the neighboring 5th District, which covered downtown and north Milwaukee and had been represented by fellow Democrat Tom Barrett. The reconfigured 4th District became a more compact district located solely in Milwaukee County and took in all of the city of Milwaukee, making it by far the most Democratic district in Wisconsin. Although the district retained Kleczka’s numerical designation, it was geographically and demographically more akin to Barrett’s former district. Barrett’s decision to run for governor effectively cleared the way for Kleczka to continue representing the newly drawn 4th District.

Kleczka’s years in Congress were marked by both personal challenges and a measure of personal candor. The pronunciation of his Polish surname often baffled colleagues; Representative Frank Annunzio of Illinois repeatedly mispronounced it to such an extent that Kleczka jokingly referred to him as “Rep. Annunciation.” At the same time, Kleczka faced serious issues with alcohol. He was arrested at least twice for drunk driving while in office. A 1995 arrest in Virginia, in which his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, prompted him to publicly acknowledge his alcoholism and seek treatment. He credited religion as an important factor in his recovery and continued to meet regularly with fellow recovering alcoholics, integrating his personal struggle and rehabilitation into his public life.

In 2004, Kleczka announced that he would retire from Congress and not seek reelection. He officially left office in January 2005 at the conclusion of his final term, having served ten full terms in the House after his initial special-election victory. He was succeeded by State Senator Gwen Moore, a fellow Democrat, who took over representation of the 4th District. Over the course of his congressional service, he was recognized for his long-standing advocacy on behalf of Milwaukee and for his role in securing federal support for social and economic programs. His contributions were acknowledged in various ways, including the conferral of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Marquette University in 2005.

After retiring from Congress, Kleczka moved with his wife to Middleton, Wisconsin, near Madison. He largely withdrew from public office but remained a figure of note in Wisconsin political history, particularly in connection with Milwaukee’s representation in Washington. Gerald Daniel Kleczka died on October 8, 2017, from natural causes at a care facility in the Madison, Wisconsin, area. His death marked the passing of a long-serving legislator whose career spanned local, state, and national office and who played a significant role in representing Milwaukee’s interests in the United States Congress.