MERCER, Wis. -- Sen. Robert Jauch, D-Poplar, told Mercer High School students that "defeat doesn't have to be permanent."

Jauch spoke to juniors and seniors in a U.S. government and politics class on Nov. 7.

The defeat referred to his first run for public office, when he lost to David Obey, D-Wausau, longtime U.S. Congressman.

Jauch, a state legislator for 28 years, said he "would not have won the second time if I hadn't lost the first time." The loss made him work harder to win election in 1982, he told students in Debbie Hohner's class.

Jauch stressed the importance of being civically engaged, but said it wasn't necessary to be an elected official to help the community.

Junior Kyle Hoffmeister asked Jauch what the first step in his political career was.

After serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, Jauch said he went to school in Eau Claire and was president of the student body and his dorm. He told students one of the first pieces of legislation he helped to pass decades ago was the Aging Schools Initiative.

It established committees to look at old schools in the north. Jauch said he helped legislate for school safety codes and improvements to buildings. Some buildings were condemned. It was one of his most satisfying experiences, he said.

Among his most recent achievements was helping Mercer receive a grant for downtown improvements. It is an example of how a small town in the Northwoods can get things accomplished, he said.