Josh Zepnick


Josh Zepnick is a former Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 9th Assembly District from 2003 until 2019.

Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Zepnick received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. He has worked for the Milwaukee Jobs Initiative, the Milwaukee Community Service Corps, the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin, and the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and has been an aide to Wisconsin State Senator Bob Jauch and Congressman David R. Obey.

Legislative career

Zepnick has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly since 2003. He has been the minority caucus sergeant at arms since 2011. He currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Utilities, the Committee on Financial Institutions, the Committee on Interstate Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and Means. Zepnick previously served on committees on State and Federal Relations and State and Local Finance. He has served on Legislative Council Study Task Forces, the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment, and the Speaker's Task Force on Mental Health.
In 2009, Zepnick proposed a bill to require sobriety of bartenders and limit "all-you-can-drink" specials. In 2015, Zepnick admitted to drunk driving after he was arrested for a traffic violation in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
In 2017, two women accused Zepnick of kissing them against their will at political events. Zepnick apologized and says the episodes should not prevent him from serving in the Assembly. He was eventually removed from legislative committee assignments.
Zepnick ran for re-election in 2018 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Marisabel Cabrera.