Meet Joe
Joe Parisi is the newly elected Dane County Executive, the chief elected official for Dane County.
With a population of over 490,000 and an annual county budget of nearly $500 million, Dane is
Wisconsin’s second largest county. Madison is the county seat.
Joe believes in leading the Dane County Way – working with people to find solutions to the
challenges ahead. As Dane County Executive, Joe’s focus will be on prioritizing economic
development and clean energy job creation, protecting the most vulnerable among us,
and preserving our environment.
Prior to being elected Dane County Executive, Joe served in the Wisconsin State Assembly,
representing Madison’s east side, Monona, McFarland, the Town of Blooming Grove, and the
Town of Dunn. Joe was also the Dane County Clerk for 8 years, first elected to that post
in 1996. Joe has served as President of the Board of Directors, and as a volunteer tutor,
at Operation Fresh Start - a program working with at-risk youth. He also served on the
Board of Directors of the Goodman Community Center.
Joe was born in Middleton and has lived in Dane County his entire life. Joe and his wife,
Erin Thornley, raise their two daughters on Madison’s east side.
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