Julie Lassa
Julie Lassa | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 24th district | |
| In office May 9, 2003 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Shibilski |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Testin |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 71st district | |
| In office January 2, 1999 – May 9, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | William Murat |
| Succeeded by | Louis Molepske |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 21, 1970 Stevens Point, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | John Moe |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
Julie M. Lassa (born October 21, 1970) is an American public administrator and Democratic politician from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She is the administrator of the Division of Agricultural Development at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, since 2025. She previously represented the Portage County region for 14 years in the Wisconsin Senate (2003–2017), and before that served four years in the state Assembly (1999–2003). During the Biden administration, she served as Wisconsin administrator for USDA Rural Development.
Early life and career
Julie Lassa was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and has spent most of her life in the Stevens Point area. She graduated from Stevens Point Area Senior High School and attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and public administration in 1993.
She served as the executive director of the Plover Area Business Association and as the chair of the Portage County Democratic Party.[1]
Lassa is a member of the Heart of Wisconsin Business and Economic Alliance, Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Business and Professional Women, and the Portage County, Wisconsin Business Council. Lassa was elected as a member of the Dewey Town Board from 1993 to 1994.
Political career
Lassa served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1998 through 2003. She successfully ran in 2003 for the Wisconsin Senate and served there until 2017.[2]
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Lassa ran against Republican nominee Sean Duffy for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, held by retiring Dave Obey.[3] She was endorsed by Mike Tate, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.[4] Duffy defeated Lassa with a strong showing in the November 2010 general election.
2011 Wisconsin protests
During the protests in Wisconsin, Lassa, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation.
Post-legislature
After leaving office, Lassa went to work for Stevens Point-based Sentry Insurance, as a lobbyist and regulatory advisor in Madison.[5] She remained there until 2021, when she was appointed Wisconsin state administrator for USDA Rural Development, under President Joe Biden.[6] Since the end of the Biden administration, she has been appointed administrator of the Division of Agricultural Development at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.[7]
Personal life
Lassa resides in Dane County, Wisconsin with her husband John Moe, former City Clerk for the City of Stevens Point, and their three children, Taylor, Madison, and Lily.[2]
References
- ^ "Julie Lassa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ a b "Julie Lassa, Wisconsin State Senator: District 24". Legis.state.wi.us. Archived from the original on 2010-07-17. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ Stein, Jason (May 10, 2010). "Lassa announces run for Obey's seat". JSOnline. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "Wisconsin Dems rally around Lassa to fill Obey's seat". The Minnesota Independent. August 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 13, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ Lesk, Sari (April 19, 2017). "Former Sen. Julie Lassa joins Sentry". Stevens Point Journal. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ^ "President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA and SBA". White House Press Office (Press release). November 4, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ^ "DATCP Announces Appointment of Julie Lassa as Administrator". Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (Press release). February 11, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
External links
- Senator Julie Lassa at the Wisconsin State Legislature
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Campaign contributions (2008) at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
- 24th Senate District, Senator Lassa in the Wisconsin Blue Book (2005–2006)