Jim Ott
Jim Ott | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 23rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 4, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Curt Gielow |
| Succeeded by | Deb Andraca |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 5, 1947 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Carol |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Mequon, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Meteorologist, politician |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1970–1973 |
| Unit | U.S. Army Security Agency |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | File:Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Jim Ott (born June 5, 1947) is an American politician and former television meteorologist. A Republican, he was a seven-term member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing assembly district 23, serving from 2007 to 2021. Before being elected to the assembly, he was a broadcast meteorologist in Milwaukee for Journal Communications's WTMJ-TV and WTMJ-AM radio.[1][2]
Early life and career
[edit | edit source]Jim Ott was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Milwaukee's Washington High School in 1965.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1970, and then joined the United States Army. He served three years in the Army with the U.S. Army Security Agency, including a tour in Vietnam in 1971–72.[3] Following his Army service, he returned to school at UW–Milwaukee and obtained his master's degree in 1975.[1]
After earning his master's degree, in 1976 he went to work as an on-air meteorologist for Journal Communications on their WTMJ-TV television and WTMJ-AM radio stations. He worked there for 30 years, leaving only when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2006. During his time at Journal Communications, he became a member of the unit holders' council, chairperson of stock and information committee, and employee representative on the board of directors.[3]
He returned to school and obtained his J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 2000.[1]
While working as a meteorologist, he also served as adjunct faculty at University of Wisconsin–Parkside, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Cardinal Stritch University, Carroll University, and Marquette University Law School.[3]
Political career
[edit | edit source]Following the April 2006 announcement that incumbent state representative Curt Gielow would not seek re-election in 2006, Ott declared his candidacy for office.[4] In the Republican primary, Ott defeated John Wirth and went on to win the general election with 56% of the vote over Democrat Stanley F. Teplin.[5] He went on to win re-election six times.
He was defeated for reelection by Democrat Deb Andraca on November 3, 2020.[6][7]
Personal life and family
[edit | edit source]Jim Ott is married with two adult sons, he and his wife reside in Mequon, Wisconsin. He has been a member of the Lumen Christi Catholic Parish in Mequon since 1986. He is a member of the American Legion and the American Meteorological Society.[3]
Electoral history
[edit | edit source]Wisconsin Assembly (2006, 2008)
[edit | edit source]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Primary, September 12, 2006 | |||||
| Republican | Jim Ott | 3,170 | 67.12% | ||
| Republican | John Wirth | 1,553 | 32.88% | ||
| Plurality | 1,617 | 34.24% | |||
| Total votes | 4,723 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 7, 2006 | |||||
| Republican | Jim Ott | 13,284 | 56.09% | −42.62% | |
| Democratic | Stanley F. Teplin | 10,394 | 43.89% | ||
| Plurality | 2,890 | 12.20% | -85.22% | ||
| Total votes | 23,682 | 100.0% | +19.01% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Wisconsin Assembly (2018, 2020)
[edit | edit source]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 6, 2018 | |||||
| Republican | Jim Ott (incumbent) | 18,321 | 51.93% | −43.64% | |
| Democratic | Liz Sumner | 16,939 | 48.01% | ||
| Scattering | 21 | 0.06% | |||
| Plurality | 1,382 | 3.92% | -87.22% | ||
| Total votes | 35,281 | 100.0% | +31.35% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 3, 2020 | |||||
| Democratic | Deb Andraca | 21,052 | 51.59% | +3.57% | |
| Republican | Jim Ott (incumbent) | 19,728 | 48.34% | −3.59% | |
| Scattering | 30 | 0.07% | |||
| Plurality | 1,324 | 3.24% | -0.67% | ||
| Total votes | 40,810 | 100.0% | +15.67% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | 7.16% | |||
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Profile at Vote Smart
- Jim Ott at Ballotpedia
- Representative Jim Ott at Wisconsin Legislature
- Official website Archived 2020-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
- Campaign website Archived 2020-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
- Lumen Christi Parish
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- Living people
- American television weather presenters
- Journalists from Wisconsin
- 1947 births
- Politicians from Milwaukee
- Marquette University alumni
- People from Mequon, Wisconsin
- Catholics from Wisconsin
- United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
- Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature