COLORFUL MARCUS GUMZ DIES AT 77

Marcus J. Gumz, 77, a rural Baraboo farmer and frequent political
candidate whose irascible, yet joyful, approach to controversy added
color to Wisconsin politics for decades, died Friday in his town of
Fairfield farmhouse.

Gumz ran for public office so often that he was most often referred to
in press accounts as "perennial candidate Marcus J. Gumz."

He was that. But he was also a successful farmer who raised mint,
potatoes, hogs, beef cattle and corn on more than 2,000 acres in Sauk
and Columbia Counties, though even his farming sometimes caused
controversy.

In 1981, the Department of Natural Resources raided the farm because
Gumz was dredging ditches used to drain excess water from the
muckland, seized the dredgeline and arrested Gumz, who was later
hospitalized with a heart condition.

He sued the agency for $2 million, was eventually awarded $60,000 but
lost the award in federal appeals court.

He also tried to run for senator against Herb Kohl in 2000 and again
for senator in 2004 against Russ Feingold, failing to win the
Republican Party's nomination in either primary. He ran in the
Republican primary for governor in 2002 but lost again. At the time of
his death, he was hoping to run against Kohl this fall.

In the late 1990s, Gumz rented his farm to activist Ben Masel for use
as a "Weedstock Festival" promoting music and the use of marijuana.
That festival was essentially ended when Sauk County passed an
ordinance, one Gumz challenged in court.

"Everybody's got a hobby, and suing people is Marcus' hobby," Gene
Wiegand, administrative coordinator for Sauk County, said in 1999.
Wiegand dealt with many Gumz lawsuits over the years.

Among Gumz's eight children is Rep. Sheryl Albers, R-Reedsburg. In
addition to Albers, Gumz is survived by daughters Jolande Gumz, Scotts
Valley, Calif.; Joy Gumz, Incline Village, Nev.; Heidi James, Poway
Calif.; Diane Gumz, Portland, Ore.; Melanie Gumz, Plymouth, Mich., and
by sons Matthew Gumz, Baraboo, and Mark Gumz, Madison.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mountain Faith Church, Lake
Delton. Friends may call Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Redlin
Funeral Home, Baraboo, and Saturday after 10 a.m. at the church.