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, 2006 and 2010. 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 Dane County NAACP, Monroe Noon Optimists, WI Farm Bureau, League of Women Voters,1,000 Friends, and the League of Conservation Voters. He is also a very involved Dad at Middleton High School.
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, consumer protection (the proud author of Wisconsin’s “Do Not Call” Law), justice, health insurance reform, proactive educational reforms, and the regulation of thirds party spending in elections.
Committee assignments for the 2011-2012 biennium include:
Senator Erpenbach has served on the following committees:
2009-2010: Senate Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief and Revenue (Chair), Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions and Tax Credits (Co-Chair), Commerce, Utilities, Energy and Rail, Education, Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform and Housing, Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties, Special Committee on Oversight of Senate Broadcasting
2007-2009: Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (Chair), Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions (Co-Chair), Senate Education Committee (Vice Chair), Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology (Vice Chair), Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism and Insurance
2005-2007: Agriculture and Insurance; Health, Children and Families, Aging and Long Term Care
2003-2005: Senate Organization Committee (Senate Minority Leader), Joint Legislative Organization Committee (Senate Minority Leader), Joint Committee on Employment Relations (Senate Minority Leader), Legislative Council Committee (Senate Minority Leader).
2001-2003: Senate Committee on 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), Legislative Council Study Committee on Open Records Law Review (co-chair), Legislative Council Study Committee on Condominium Law Review (co-chair).
1999-2001: Joint Committee on Information Policy (Member), Lambeau Field, Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Passenger Rail Service, Joint Committee on Retirement Systems, 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
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
Arc-Wisconsin Disability Association Inc, Elected Official Award 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
Wisconsin Counties Association, Outstanding Legislator Award, 2008
WI League of Conservation Voters, Conservation Champion 2007-2008
WI State Bar, Scales of Justice Award, 2008
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, Rebecca C. Young Leadership Award, 2009
Wisconsin Psychiatric Association, Friend of the WPA Award, 2009
State American College of Physicians Award, Legislator of the Year, 2009
State Progressive Leader, Progressive States Network, 2009
Friend of Wisconsin Dairy Industry, Dairy Business Association, 2010
Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, Friend of Family Medicine 2010
International Longshore & Warehouse Union,
Outstanding Efforts to Preserve the Rights of the Working Class, 2011
National Education Association, 2011 Friend of Education
Greater Milwaukee Committee, Recognition on SB 259, 2011
Wisconsin Builders Association, 2012 Friend of Housing
Wisconsin Academy of Physicians, Friend of Family Medicine 2012