LWV League of Women Voters of California
Santa Barbara County, CA November 7, 2000 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for William J. "Bill" Wagener

Candidate for
Director; Santa Maria Public Airport District

This information is provided by the candidate

William Wagener, born in Wisconsin in 1945, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science.

William Wagener's Father was a city Councilman, and Republican, his grandfather, Dr. Nicholas Z. Wagener ran for State House, as a democrat in 1912. and his great grandfather, Sheriff William Wagener was elected Sheriff in a Midwestern County in 1874, but died from gangrene after a gunshot wound. Politics seems to flow in his veins. Another great grandfather, was a County Supervisor for decades and founder of a "Democrat" newspaper in the 1880's.

Honorably Discharged and decorated for service in II corp of Viet Nam, 865th GG Detachment, in September 1969.

Ran for State Senate in Wisconsin in 1970 & 1974, and for state Assembly in 1972 as a Republican. Migrated to California to attend Law School in 1975, in Los Angeles. Left the Republican Party, because of their pork barrel practices of increasing taxes and decreasing individual liberty in 1975. Also, because of Pres. Richard Nixons, proposal to have students spie on their parents and report their parents to school teachers & authorities, for any Tax evasions, and non-conformity to Government rules. Ran in 1980 for Congress. Sold Real Estate and was a property manager for years, in Los Angeles and Santa Maria.

Loves to Sing in Barbershop Quartets, authored two genealogical books. Spent a total of 9 years as a Scoutmaster in Wisconsin & California. Still believes in being "thrifty" especially with the taxpayers money. Did Consulting in Environmental matters, and environmental sales.

Published a ragtag 8 page independant newspaper in another state to bring down a what Mr. Wagener considered a corrupt Mayor & corrupt County Sheriff. With the last issue successful, the Mayor did not run for office again, and died 4 years later. The elected Sheriff lost his post in a Republican Primary narrowly, after the publication and circulation of the last issue, then ran as a write in against his own deputy and lost largely in the November election. Mr. Wagener spent considerable amount of his own resources to "clean up the County and the town", and returned to California. After years of effort to get local Comcast Cable monopoly to run local PUBLIC ACCESS TV, Mr. Wagener has finally got Comcast to honor the 15 year old provision for public ACCESS in Santa Maria, with his brand new Issue oriented TV show on CH. 22 "On Second Thought", which should start to run on CH.22 in late October.

Mr. Wagener is the feistist candidate running locally, and will FIGHT, for individual liberty and STOP the obscene waste of taxpayers money. And to provide a safe & secure privately managed retirement fund for all residents and workers in the district, which no government entity can borrow from.

Married to Carole Wagener, registered Physical Therapist, (who is herself running for Santa Maria-Bonita School Board), since 1968. Father of children from grade school to post college. Two sons have graduated from St. Joseph's High School.

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ca/sba Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 18, 2000 11:42
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