Vilson Pedro Kleinübing

Born in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, his family later moved to Videira, where his father Waldemar Kleinübing would serve as mayor from 1966 until 1970. He held a mechanical engineering degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1968) and an economic engineering degree from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (1970).^[1]

In 1970 he became a member of Celesc and for six years was manager of the Distribution Department.^[2] He taught at the business and management school of Santa Catarina State University for eight years.^[3]

He served as a Federal Deputy from 1983 to 1987,^[1] Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of Santa Catarina,^[2] and Mayor of Blumenau from 1989 to 1990, the latter office of which he resigned from to run for Governor of Santa Catarina, which he won in 1991.^[1]

Kleinübing's administration saw a reduction of the cabinet from twenty-three to ten, the number of civil job positions being severed in half; and decreasing popularity stemming from the pay cuts that earned him the nickname of "mau patrão" (which is Portuguese for "bad boss") from his civil employees. He resigned from the office to take his seat in the Senate, where he would remain until his death.^[2][1]

In 1996, he participated in the CPI dos Títulos Públicos [pt], where the state government he had previously commanded had been implicated in.^[4]

Kleinübing died at the age of 54 on 23 October 1998 of lung cancer in Florianópolis. Geraldo Althoff [pt], his first alternate who had been elected in 1990, completed his term in the Federal Senate. He was buried in the Cemitério Jardim da Paz de Florianópolis [pt]. Vice President Marco Maciel attended the funeral as the president's representative.^[4]

He was a close friend of Esperidião Amin, and he helped with Amin's unsuccessful 1978 Federal Deputy campaign.^[2]

His son is João Paulo Kleinübing.^[1]