Strohl began his political career working as a legislative aide to Congressman Les Aspin, (WI-01), from 1971 to 1978.
Dorman had been indicted earlier in the year for misuse of state telephone credit cards, and was plagued by other controversies, including a nepotism scandal.
[2] Strohl's opponent in the 1978 general election was Sister Michelle Olley, the President of the Racine Unified School Board and a Catholic nun.
In 1989, Strohl ran into controversy when, as Majority Leader, he prevented a parental consent bill from coming to a vote on the Senate floor.
This was exploited in the 1990 election by Strohl's opponent, Racine Unified School Board Member George Petak.