Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced on Wednesday he will retire from the position in May 2024.
Parisi’s retirement will trigger a special election to fill the seat until the next election scheduled for April 2025, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell told The Daily Cardinal. Parisi has served as county executive since 2011 and previously served as Dane County Clerk and a representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
In a press statement Wednesday, Parisi did not disclose why he decided to retire before the April 2025 election, but he said his tenure as county executive “has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
“I’m grateful beyond words for the trust my hometown has put in me over the past 12 years,” Parisi said. “This work has been purely a team effort, with my staff, county employees and our partners throughout the community rising to the occasion time and again to ensure our community’s values of watching out for one another and protecting our natural environment have been respected and acted upon.”
Parisi highlighted his role in addressing major issues the county has faced over the past decade, including climate change and food insecurity. While serving as county executive, he led initiatives to transition Dane County to renewable energy, expand the county’s mental health resources and provide more funding for food banks.
“There are a lot of challenges in the world today, but we have much to be grateful for in a community so full of empathy, talent and generosity,” Parisi said. “I’m forever grateful for the trust and opportunity to lead, advocate for and give voice to those who face challenges like behavioral health, racism, poverty, homelessness and addiction.”
McDonell said the date of the special election will depend on when in May Parisi will retire.
Francesca Pica is the city news editor emeritus for The Daily Cardinal. She has covered multiple municipal elections and is a leading reporter on Madison labor issues. Additionally, she served as a summer intern for The Capital Times and currently serves as a WisPolitics intern.
