A former radio personality and legislative assistant, Senator Erpenbach was elected to represent the 27th Senate District in November of 1998 and was re-elected in 2002. Jon’s Senate colleagues elected him Senate Democratic Leader in December 2002.  He served in that position until December 2004.

Jon began as a radio personality on two Madison area radio stations and also worked for a Milwaukee station.  He subsequently worked in both the State Assembly and State Senate in media relations and as communications director. An advocate for citizen involvement and campaign finance reform, Jon is a member of the Movin’ Out Board of Directors, NAACP, WI Hunting and Fishing Alliance, WI Farm Bureau, League of Women Voters of Dane County, and the Environmental Decade. He is also a very involved Dad at Sauk Trails Elementary School and Kromrey Middle School in Middleton.

Representing parts of Green, Rock, LaFayette and Dane counties, Jon’s Senate district is one of the most geographically diverse districts in the state. Since his inauguration in January 1999, he has worked to lead the Senate in the areas of personal privacy (the proud author of Wisconsin’s “Do Not Call” Legislation), small business health care reform, proactive educational reforms, and property tax relief.

 

Committee assignments for the 2007-2008 biennium include:


bullet point   Health and Human Services ( Chair )

bullet point   Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions ( Co-Chair )

bullet point   Education ( Vice Chair )

bullet point   Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology ( Vice Chair )

bullet point   Transportation and Tourism ( Member )

Committees on which Jon has served:

  • Senate Organization Committee (Senate Minority Leader);
  • Legislative Organization Committee (Senate Minority Leader);
  • Joint Committee on Employment Relations (Senate Minority Leader);
  • Legislative Council Committee (Senate Minority Leader);
  • Privacy, Electronic, Commerce and Financial Institutions (Chair);
  • Senate Committee on Agriculture & Insurance (Ranking Democrat)
  • Senate Committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care (Ranking Democrat)
  • Legislative Council Study Committee on Election Law Review (Member)
  • Senate Committee on Education (Member)
  • Senate Committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs (Member)
  • Senate Budget Committee (Member)
  • Joint Committee on Information Policy (Member)
  • Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Passenger Rail Service
  • Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Privacy
  • Census Board Education Committee
  • Reforming States Group-Milbank Foundation
  • Council on State Governments, Internet Privacy Task Force
  • Legislative Council Study Committee on Condominium Law Review and Open Records

Awards:

  • AFSCME Council 11 “Friend of the Public Sector” 1999-2000 Session
  • WI Academy of Family Physicians 2000 Health Care Leadership Award
  • WI Tavern League, “Distinguished Freshman Award, 2000
  • AFSCME Council 11 recognition for “contributions to good public policy”
  • WI Student Government Assn. appreciation for “Dedication to Students”
  • 2001 Friend of the Green Rock Audubon Society
  • Alzheimer’s Association, Legislator of the Year 2001
  • WI School Counselors, Jerome Henning Legislative Award, 2001
  • WI Builders Association, Friend of Builders 2002
  • WI Grocers, Friend of Grocers 2002
  • WI Counties Association, Outstanding Legislator Award, 2003-2004
  • WI Farm Bureau, Friend of Agriculture Award, 2003-2004
  • WI Department of Veterans Affairs, Outstanding Leadership Award, 2004
  • WI Farm Bureau, Friend of Agriculture Award, 2005-2006
  • League of Conservation Voters,Conservation Champion,2005-2006
  • Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives, Friend of Cooperatives Award, 2006