Eric Genrich

Eric Genrich
Eric Genrich
Born	8 10, 1979
Birthplace	Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation	Politician, librarian
Known for	Mayor of Green Bay; former Wisconsin State Assembly member (90th District)
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA) University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (MLIS)
Spouse(s)	Emily A. Kelley
Children	2

Eric Genrich (Template:IPAc-en; born October 8, 1979) is an American politician serving as the 48th mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin, a position he has held since April 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Genrich previously represented the 90th Assembly District in the Wisconsin State Assembly from January 2013 to January 2019, serving three consecutive terms. Born and raised in Green Bay, Genrich built a career in public service rooted in his hometown, first working as a librarian before entering electoral politics. His tenure as mayor has been marked by challenges including the management of municipal elections during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when he became a prominent voice among Wisconsin mayors calling for the postponement of the state's April 7 spring election. Genrich won the mayoral office in April 2019, defeating opponent Patrick Buckley by a substantial margin in the general election.

Early Life

Eric Genrich was born on October 8, 1979, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He grew up in the city, developing ties to the community that would later become central to his political career. Details regarding his parents, siblings, and childhood are not extensively documented in public records. Genrich's upbringing in Green Bay, one of Wisconsin's oldest and most historically significant cities, situated him in a community with a strong tradition of civic engagement and local governance. His decision to remain in and eventually seek public office in his hometown distinguished him as a politician with deep local roots.

Education

Genrich pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, completing a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree. His graduate training in library and information science led him to a career as a librarian before he transitioned to full-time political service. The MLIS degree reflected an interest in public access to information and community-oriented service, areas that would inform aspects of his later work in government.

Career

Early Career

Before entering politics, Genrich worked as a librarian, a profession consistent with his graduate education in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. His work in this field provided him with experience in public service and community engagement. The specifics of his library career, including the institutions where he was employed and the duration of his service, are not extensively detailed in available public records.

Wisconsin State Assembly (2013–2019)

Genrich entered electoral politics in 2012 when he ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly seat representing the 90th District, which encompasses much of the city of Green Bay. The seat had been held by Republican Karl Van Roy, who announced his retirement from the Assembly. The redistricting that followed the 2010 census, formalized through 2011 Wisconsin Act 43, redrew the boundaries of Assembly districts throughout the state, including the 90th District.

Genrich won the 2012 general election held on November 6, 2012, securing the 90th District Assembly seat as a Democrat. He took office on January 7, 2013, succeeding Van Roy in the seat. Genrich represented the district through three terms, also winning re-election in the November 4, 2014 general election.

During his time in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Genrich served as a legislator representing Green Bay's interests in the state capital of Madison. His tenure in the Assembly spanned the 2013–2014, 2015–2016, and 2017–2018 legislative sessions. As a Democratic member of the Assembly during a period when Republicans held majority control of both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature and the governorship (under Scott Walker), Genrich operated as a member of the minority caucus for the entirety of his Assembly service.

Genrich's term in the Assembly concluded on January 7, 2019, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Staush Gruszynski, who won the 90th District seat in the November 2018 election after Genrich chose not to seek re-election in order to pursue the Green Bay mayoral race.

2019 Mayoral Campaign

On March 12, 2018, Genrich formally announced his candidacy for mayor of Green Bay, seeking to succeed two-term Republican incumbent Jim Schmitt, who was not running for re-election. Genrich's decision to run for mayor represented a shift from state-level to municipal politics, though both positions allowed him to serve his home community of Green Bay.

The mayoral election followed Wisconsin's nonpartisan municipal election format, with a primary election held on February 19, 2019, followed by a general election on April 2, 2019. Genrich advanced through the primary to face Patrick Buckley in the general election.

In the April 2, 2019 general election, Genrich won decisively, easily defeating Buckley to become the 48th mayor of Green Bay. The victory was notable for placing a Democrat in the mayor's office after the tenure of Republican Jim Schmitt. Genrich was inaugurated on April 15, 2019, officially beginning his service as mayor.

Mayor of Green Bay (2019–present)

Genrich assumed the office of mayor on April 15, 2019, taking over leadership of Wisconsin's third-largest city. As mayor, he serves as the chief executive of the city, presiding over municipal government operations and representing Green Bay in regional and state affairs.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Election Controversies

One of the most significant challenges of Genrich's early tenure as mayor was the COVID-19 pandemic, which arrived in Wisconsin in early 2020 and had profound implications for the administration of the state's April 7, 2020 spring election. Genrich emerged as one of several Wisconsin mayors who publicly urged the postponement of the election due to public health concerns.

The situation became particularly acute in Green Bay, where the city faced a severe shortage of poll workers as election day approached. Many of the city's regular poll workers, who tended to be older adults, withdrew from service due to health concerns related to the pandemic. Green Bay was among the municipalities that declined offers of Wisconsin National Guard assistance to supplement poll workers, a decision that attracted public attention and debate.

In an extraordinary legal step, the City of Green Bay, under Genrich's leadership, filed a federal lawsuit seeking to delay Wisconsin's April 7 election. The lawsuit argued that conducting the election during the pandemic posed unacceptable risks to public health and would result in voter disenfranchisement due to the difficulties of in-person voting under pandemic conditions. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, and the city proceeded with preparations for the April 7 election.

The broader statewide controversy over the April 7 election culminated in Governor Tony Evers issuing an executive order to shut down the election on the eve of the scheduled date. However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the governor's order, and the election proceeded as originally scheduled on April 7, 2020. The episode highlighted tensions between public health imperatives and electoral procedures, and Genrich's role in the controversy placed him among the most visible municipal leaders advocating for election postponement.

Continued Mayoral Service

Following the tumultuous events of 2020, Genrich continued to serve as mayor of Green Bay. The city's official website lists him as the current mayor, overseeing municipal operations including public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and city planning. As the leader of a city with a population of over 100,000 in its metropolitan area, Genrich's responsibilities encompass a broad range of urban governance issues.

Personal Life

Eric Genrich is married to Emily A. Kelley, and the couple has two children. The family resides in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Genrich has lived for the majority of his life. Genrich's decision to build both his personal and professional life in his hometown of Green Bay reflects his long-standing connection to the community. Beyond these publicly documented facts, Genrich has maintained a relatively private personal life, with limited details about his family available in public records.

Recognition

Genrich's election as mayor of Green Bay in 2019 represented a notable political achievement, as he transitioned from state legislative service to the leadership of one of Wisconsin's largest and most prominent cities. His role during the 2020 election controversy brought him attention from state and national media outlets, as Green Bay's federal lawsuit to delay the April election was covered by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Public Radio, and regional television stations. While specific awards or formal honors received by Genrich are not extensively documented in available sources, his visibility as a municipal leader during the pandemic established his profile beyond the Green Bay metropolitan area. His service in both the Wisconsin State Assembly and as mayor positions him as one of the more experienced Democratic officeholders in northeastern Wisconsin.