Patty Schachtner
Patty Schachtner | |
|---|---|
Schachtner in 2022, Parnell Prairie Reserve Park, Somerset, Wisconsin | |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 10th district | |
| In office January 26, 2018 – January 4, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Sheila Harsdorf |
| Succeeded by | Rob Stafsholt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1, 1960 Somerset, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joe |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College |
| Occupation | medical examiner, politician, emergency medical technician |
Patty Rivard Schachtner (born April 1, 1960) is an American Democratic politician and medical examiner from Somerset, Wisconsin. She was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Wisconsin's 10th Senate district from 2018 until 2021.
Early life and career
Schachtner was born in Somerset, Wisconsin, in April 1960. She was raised on a family farm and attended Somerset High School, graduating in 1978. After graduating, she attended Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC, now Northwood Technical College), where she trained as an emergency medical technician and later worked as an EMT and EMS adult educator.[1]
In addition to her work in emergency medical services, Schachtner served in local government and education roles, including as a member of the Somerset School Board and as a town supervisor in Star Prairie, Wisconsin. She also taught as an EMT educator at WITC.[2]
In 2002, Schachtner began working with the St. Croix County Medical Examiner’s Office as a deputy medical examiner.[3] In January 2011, she was appointed chief medical examiner for St. Croix County, a position she held until April 2025.[4]
During her tenure, Schachtner’s work focused on death investigation, suicide prevention, and the professionalization of the county medical examiner system. Her role examining deaths by suicide and working with affected families was cited in regional and national reporting addressing the public health dimensions of suicide and mortality.[5][6]
She also led initiatives emphasizing dignity and empathy in the handling of unclaimed remains and oversaw the adoption of new technologies, including the use of virtual autopsy imaging in certain cases as an alternative to traditional autopsies.[7][8]
State Senate
In 2017, after accepting a position within the Scott Walker administration, Sheila Harsdorf resigned her seat in the Wisconsin Senate to become Wisconsin's Secretary of Agriculture. Due to the opening, Schachtner and two other Democrats filed to succeed her, with Schachtner defeating John Calabrese by a 46 point margin. Going into the general election she was considered an underdog, but on January 16, 2018, she defeated Republican nominee Adam M. Jarchow, a state legislator, by a large margin, in a district that Donald Trump had won in 2016 by over 17 points in an election mired by very low turnout.[9] She became the first Democrat to represent the 10th district since Alice Clausing left office in 2001.
Alongside her service as state senator, Schachtner also serves on various local boards and organizations within Somerset and engages in advocacy for victims of sexual and domestic violence.
In the 2020 election, Schachtner lost her bid for election to a full term to representative Rob Stafsholt by a twenty-point margin.[10]
Post-legislative career
After her defeat, Schachtner served as one of Wisconsin's 10 electors in the Electoral College, voting for Democratic Joe Biden.[11]
In 2022, Schachtner ran for the 28th Assembly district against Gae Magnafici.
Personal life and family
Schachtner is married and has 6 children and 13 grandchildren.[1]
Schachtner's son, Travis, ran for State Assembly in 2014 against Adam Jarchow in the 28th Assembly district.[12]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Senate (2018, 2020)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Primary[13] | Dec. 19 (2017) |
Patty Schachtner | Democratic | 3,898 | 70.54% | John Rocco Calabrese | Dem. | 1,365 | 24.70% | 5,526 | 2,533 |
| Reuben Helge Herfindahl | Dem. | 260 | 4.71% | |||||||||
| Special[14] | Jan. 16 | Patty Schachtner | Democratic | 12,249 | 54.60% | Adam Jarchow | Rep. | 9,909 | 44.17% | 28,427 | 2,340 | |
| Brian J. Corriea | Lib. | 273 | 1.22% | |||||||||
| 2020 | General[15] | Nov. 3 | Rob Stafsholt | Republican | 61,914 | 59.91% | Patty Schachtner (inc) | Dem. | 41,410 | 38.83% | 103,353 | 20,504 |
Wisconsin Assembly (2022)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | General[16] | Nov. 8 | Gae Magnafici (inc) | Republican | 16,494 | 62.48% | Patty Schachtner | Dem. | 9,901 | 37.51% | 26,397 | 6,593 |
References
- ^ a b "Senator Patty Schachtner". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "State Senator Patty Schachtner". Wisconsin State Legislature. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Schachtner takes medical examiner helm". Republican Eagle. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Schachtner takes medical examiner helm". Republican Eagle. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "The Frontlines of Death by Suicide and a Quest to Prevent It". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Wisconsin medical examiners face emotional toll of coronavirus deaths". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Empathy and grace, even in death". Western Wisconsin News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "St. Croix medical examiner skips the scalpel, moves to virtual autopsy scans". KSTP-TV. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Richmond, Todd. "Dem Schachtner Beats Jarchow to Take Senate Seat". Associated Press. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ^ Lindquist, Eric (4 November 2020). "Stafsholt rolls to victory over Schachtner in 10th Senate District". www.leadertelegram.com. Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Dolby, Nuha (December 7, 2020). "Who are Wisconsin's electors? These are the 10 people who'll cast the state's Electoral College votes Dec. 14". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Foley, Micheal (October 30, 2024). "State Assembly District 28: Schachtner running for rural families". Republican Eagle. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2017 Special Primary State Senate District 10 - 12/19/2017 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 27, 2017. p. 1. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2018 Special Election State Senate District 10 - 1/16/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. January 25, 2018. p. 1. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. pp. 4–5. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 30, 2022. p. 15. Retrieved July 16, 2025.