|
| Affiliation | Republican |
|
| Name | Marc Gumz |
| Address |
Baraboo, Wisconsin , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
August 23, 1928
|
| Died | June 16, 2006
(77 years)
|
| Contributor | User 490 |
| Last Modifed | David
Jan 19, 2021 08:25pm |
| Tags |
Army -
|
| Info | Marcus J. Gumz, 77, a rural Baraboo farmer and frequent political candidate whose irascible, yet joyful, approach to controversy added color to Wisconsin politics for decades, died Friday in his town of Fairfield farmhouse.
Gumz ran for public office so often that he was most often referred to in press accounts as "perennial candidate Marcus J. Gumz."
He was that. But he was also a successful farmer who raised mint, potatoes, hogs, beef cattle and corn on more than 2,000 acres in Sauk and Columbia Counties, though even his farming sometimes caused controversy.
In 1981, the Department of Natural Resources raided the farm because Gumz was dredging ditches used to drain excess water from the muckland, seized the dredgeline and arrested Gumz, who was later hospitalized with a heart condition.
He sued the agency for $2 million, was eventually awarded $60,000 but lost the award in federal appeals court.
He also tried to run for senator against Herb Kohl in 2000 and again for senator in 2004 against Russ Feingold, failing to win the Republican Party's nomination in either primary. He ran in the Republican primary for governor in 2002 but lost again. At the time of his death, he was hoping to run against Kohl this fall.
In the late 1990s, Gumz rented his farm to activist Ben Masel for use as a "Weedstock Festival" promoting music and the use of marijuana. That festival was essentially ended when Sauk County passed an ordinance, one Gumz challenged in court.
"Everybody's got a hobby, and suing people is Marcus' hobby," Gene Wiegand, administrative coordinator for Sauk County, said in 1999. Wiegand dealt with many Gumz lawsuits over the years.
Among Gumz's eight children is Rep. Sheryl Albers, R-Reedsburg. In addition to Albers, Gumz is survived by daughters Jolande Gumz, Scotts Valley, Calif.; Joy Gumz, Incline Village, Nev.; Heidi James, Poway Calif.; Diane Gumz, Portland, Ore.; Melanie Gumz, Plymouth, Mich., and by sons Matthew Gumz, Baraboo, and Mark Gumz, Madison.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mountain Faith Church, Lake Delton. Friends may call Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Redlin Funeral Home, Baraboo, and Saturday after 10 a.m. at the church.
[Link] |
 | BOOKS |
 |
|
| Title |
Purchase |
Contributor |
|
| Start Date |
End Date |
Type |
Title |
Contributor |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
|
