John J. Maurer, a Kenosha, Wisconsin native, served in the Wisconsin State Senate (Democrat) from 1975 until 1984. Born on July 11, 1922, Maurer attended Kenosha High School and, later, Marquette University. Prior to his victory in the special election of April 1975, Maurer had a career in commercial aviation, and had served in a variety of public capacities: Pleasant Prairie town supervisor (1961-1963), Pleasant Prairie town chairperson (1969-1975), and board member of the Kenosha County Democratic Party. He also was involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Maurer served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945), and was chairperson of the Air Line Pilots Association.
In the Senate, Maurer served on the committees on Commerce, Natural Resources, and Urban Affairs during his first term. In 1977 he became chairman of the Urban Affairs Committee, and served on the Governor's Commission on the Problems of Deaf People. Also in 1977, Maurer began serving on the Joint Committee on Finance, later becoming its vice-chair. Beginning in 1981 Maurer joined the Committee on Transportation as well as the Committee on Aging, Business, and Financial Institutions. Throughout his legislative career, Maurer was active on several additional advisory and Legislative Council committees.
Maurer declined to run for re-election in 1984. He later became Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the State of Wisconsin.
