Joel Kleefisch won't seek another term and says his lieutenant governor wife Rebecca may seek higher office some day

MADISON - Rep. Joel Kleefisch announced Monday he won't run for re-election this fall, joining nearly a dozen others in the Assembly who have made the same decision.

Kleefisch, a Concord Republican and the husband of Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, said he was the happiest he's ever been and was leaving now so he can spend more time with his two daughters — Ella Rose, 15, and Violet, 12. 

"My children have never known a parent outside of elected office," said Kleefisch, 46. "It's time they get at least one parent without a target on their back."

An avid hunter who has decorated his office with turkey, deer and an alligator, Kleefisch said he may consider a job promoting the outdoors or dealing with other issues he has worked on closely, such as helping people with disabilities and strengthening law enforcement. He did not rule out lobbying but said he was unlikely to run for office again. 

Kleefisch is a frequent visitor to the Capitol press room, sometimes decked out in camouflage, sometimes in a suit and tie and almost always vaping. On his stops, he frequently promotes legislation he is working on, performs dead-on impersonations of his legislative colleagues and shares anecdotes about his recent hunting excursions.

On Monday, Kleefisch touted legislation he has authored to simplify hunting and fishing regulations and crack down on opioid abuse and human trafficking.

"I'm in the rare blessed position to leave with nothing on the table," he said. 

He said he regretted that he had used alcohol for a time to help with "dulling difficulty" and was proud that he quit drinking seven years ago. He said he has lost 80 pounds since then. 

Kleefisch said he was confident he would have won election again and was open about the possibility his wife — on the ballot this year for a third term on a ticket with Gov. Scott Walker — eventually may seek higher office.

"Rebecca Kleefisch is an unbelievably remarkable woman," he said. "It would not surprise me if her talent and expertise doesn't one day tempt her into a run for the governor's office or beyond. I'd be more than thrilled and honored to be the man at her side should that ever happen."

In all, 11 members of the Assembly — eight Republicans and three Democrats — are not seeking re-election this fall. Five of those members are seeking higher office, while the others are getting out of politics.

A 12th seat — vacant since Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) stepped down in December — will be filled by special election in June.

The departures this year are in keeping with those from past sessions. So far, 11% of the members are not seeking re-election. From 1940 to 2012, typically 12% to 18% of Assembly members did not seek re-election, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.