Meet County Executive Joe Parisi

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi
Joe Parisi has called Dane County home his entire life. He sought out public service as a way to give back to a community that has given so much to him. Joe was first elected as County Executive, the chief elected leader of Dane County, in 2011 after 6 years in the State Assembly and 8 years as Dane County Clerk. Joe’s priority is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to the opportunity to succeed. He believes investing in people pays big dividends. Joe knows this can work because he experienced it.
Now Joe believes it is his turn to give back to ensure that our children’s generation has access to the same opportunities that were available to him. Joe and his wife, Erin Thornley Parisi, raised their two daughters on Madison’s east side. With a population of more than 500,000 and an annual county budget of $600 million, Dane is Wisconsin’s second largest county. Dane County has the highest private sector job and population growth in Wisconsin.
While In Office, Joe Has:
- Led efforts to clean up our lakes and protect our environment
- Created the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change to increase the use of renewable energy and lower our community’s carbon footprint
- Created the Tamara G. Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion
- Created school-based mental health teams to get kids the help they need
- Increased funding to combat homelessness and create more affordable housing
- Balanced Dane County’s budget while creating a $40+ million rainy day fund
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View Joe's 2023 Budget & Initiatives
The 2023 budget prioritizes investments in life’s basic needs, housing, mental health supports, restorative justice, conservation initiatives, addressing climate change, and more.