Alderman Schmidt is a fourth generation resident of Franklin. His great grandfather, Fred Ludwig, began farming in Franklin in 1875. Doug began attending Franklin High School when it opened in 1962 and was a member of its first four-year graduation class in 1966. He studied journalism and political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications in 1973. From 1972 to 1989 he was employed as a managing editor for Community Newspapers, Inc.
In 1992, he became editor and publisher of the Ten Pin Journal, a monthly newspaper which circulates in bowling centers throughout the state. He also became a substitute teacher for Franklin School District #5 and the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint District in 2002.
In 2006, Doug joined the Franklin Historical Society board of directors and has served as its president since 2008, spearheading several improvements to the historic buildings in Lions Legend Park.
Doug has authored two books. “They Came to Bowl; How Milwaukee Became America’s Tenpin Capital” was published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press in 2007. In 2009, he compiled a photographic history of Franklin which was released by Arcadia Publishing as part of its Images of America series.
This is his first term as Franklin's 5th District Alderman.
April 2013 thru April 2016
Library Board, Board of Public Works, Personnel Committee, Quarry Monitoring Committee