WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/17/2009) - Former State Representative Terri McCormick of Appleton has announced her bid to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in the Wisconsin Eighth Congressional District. The seat is currently held by Representative Steve Kagen, M.D. (D-Appleton). Kagen has represented the 8th District since 2007. He was preceeded by Republican Mark Green (1999-2006), Democrat Jay Johnson, and Republican Toby Roth (1989-1996). WisconsinReport.com has more.

59 year old Steve Kagen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and on the Subcommittees on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Citing a need for common sense citizen legislators to be elected rather than career politicians, Terri McCormick is vowing to take on special interest groups, promote term limits, reform the health care system and work to grow our economy to create jobs if elected.

“Our country is at a crossroads and it has become clear that we are spending beyond our means. What tough choices will the politicians make?” she asked. “Many politicians won’t help grow the economy while voting for new social programs and raising taxes on individuals and businesses,” she said.

McCormick’s legislative priorities in Congress will include working to cut government spending, reducing the national debt, expanding educational opportunities, reforming the health care system, increasing transparency and accountability in Congress and introducing federal term limits legislation.

With a track record that includes reducing health care costs for businesses and pioneering Wisconsin’s charter school legislation, McCormick is no stranger to achieving legislative results.

“My time as a State Representative has enabled me to understand the nuts and bolts of the concerns residents in this district have – an anti-competitive economy, a burdensome tax and regulatory climate and the growing disconnect between the political class and common people,” McCormick said.

McCormick served in the Wisconsin State House, representing district 56 including parts of Appleton and Oshkosh, from 2000 to 2006. In 2006, she upheld her original term limits pledge of three terms and ran for U.S. Congress, but lost in the primary. She was also a Truman Scholar and is a small businesswoman and author.

“I am running on a platform of freedom and prosperity. I encourage all who are concerned about the direction in which our country is headed – and the freedoms we are losing here at home – to join in this campaign,” McCormick said.

Terri McCormick is a public policy and leadership innovator. She is the President of the McCormick Dawson CPG, Ltd., a marketing and public relations firm. Terri McCormick was a self-term limited State Representative to the Wisconsin State Legislature from 2000 to 2006. She is a Wisconsin Truman Scholar. She lives in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Her recently released book, ‘What Sex Is a Republican?’ Stories from the Front lines of American Politics and how you can change the way things are’ offers all Americans an inspiring and personal message in her memoir ‘What Sex Is a Republican?’ McCormick reports from the front line of politics that our future depends on finding ‘integrity leaders’ to replace the career politicians infecting our system if we are to return to the basic foundation laid by our founding fathers and forefather.

Prior to being elected to the Wisconsin Legislature from 2000-2006 McCormick founded Wisconsin’s Charter School Laws. Her Public Policy work has won numerous state and national awards; the Eisenberg Award – Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office; the Scales of Justice Award – Wisconsin State Bar; Best Practice Award – Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.; as well as numerous other recognitions for her pioneering work in the state’s first competitive prescription drug purchasing pool which has created opportunities for individuals with Badger Care, Senior Care.

Terri McCormick was the U.S. Delegate to the International Peace Institute at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. McCormick is a graduate of the 2002 Bowhay Institute, in Legislative Leadership Development. Currently, Terri McCormick has taken doctorate level coursework in Public Policy and Administration.

McCormick further holds a Bachelor’s Degree, Magna cum Laude, Political Science and European Studies, University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, as well as a Master’s Degree in Administrative Leadership, Highest Honors at Marian University Fond du Lac, WI. Additional Terri McCormick holds an Education Certificate from Lawrence University, Appleton WI as well as credentials in graduate work in political theory at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario.