Gwen Moore
Gwendolynne Sophia Moore (born April 18, 1951) a Democrat from Wisconsin, is a Congresswoman representing Wisconsin's 4th Congressional district (map). She was born in Racine, Wisconsin, though she calls Milwaukee, Wisconsin home.
Political Career
Moore was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004. She defeated Republican Gerald Boyle in the general election. Prior to being elected to the United States Congress, Moore worked as a legislative analyst for a state agency, a city development specialist and has volunteered for Volunteers In Service to America. She served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1989-1992 and in the Wisconsin Senate from 1993-2004. Moore was the first black woman to be elected to the Wisconsin senate. Moore is one of a handful of African-Americans in the 2004 freshman class of the House and is the first black person and only the second woman to have been elected to serve Wisconsin in Congress. Though Moore is seen as a reliable party loyalist, she also embraces the notion that businesses need incentives to create jobs. However, she also believes the federal government should play a significant role in tackling difficult local problems. She has expressed an interest in shaping the coming debate on welfare. Congresswoman Moore was appointed to two prestigious committees upon entering Congress: Financial Services Committee and Small Business Committee.
Family & Background Moore was the eighth of nine children. Her father was a factory worker while her mother worked as a public school teacher. Congresswoman Moore attended Marquette University as an expectant mother dependent on welfare to put food on the table. She recalled on her campaign website: "I was on welfare and just shy of 19 when my first daughter was born, but I was encouraged to take advantage of my ability and drive and remained in school." She graduated with a BA in Political Science. Moore is single and has three children. One of them, Sowande Ajumoke Omokunde, was arrested in connection with the election day tire-slashing of Republican Party vehicles in Milwaukee on November 1, 2004. He was charged with a felony in connection with the event on January 24, 2005. [1]
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