He had never held a public office before being elected to the assembly in November, 1922, receiving 3,643 votes to 887 for Democrat Alex J. Roselik (portions of this district had been represented by William E. Jordan and portions by Stephen Stolowski prior to reapportionment; both were Socialists).
The youngest member of the legislature (he was just 22) he was appointed to the Assembly's standing committee on the judiciary.
[3] In June 1924, he graduated from Marquette's law school, and was working as acting assistant chief examiner for the City of Milwaukee civil service commission.
[4] He was re-elected in November 1924, with 3817 votes to 3051 for Republican B. J. Adamkiewicz; by this time, his occupation was listed as "secretary".
On July 28, 1923, he married Olive Wilson, an employee of the state tax commission.