Todd Novak

Todd D. Novak (born April 23, 1965) is an American newspaper editor and politician.

Todd Novak
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 51st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded byHoward Marklein
Personal details
Born (1965-04-23) April 23, 1965
Cobb, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceDodgeville, Wisconsin, U.S.

Born in Cobb, Wisconsin and currently residing in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Novak was the government and assistant editor of the Dodgeville Chronicle newspaper from 1990 until his retirement in 2014. In 2012, Novak was elected mayor of Dodgeville, Wisconsin.[1]

In November 2014, Novak was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Republican by a 64-vote margin. The Democratic candidate, Dick Cates, did not seek a recount.[2]

On November 8, 2016, Novak was re-elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly by a margin of 723 votes, defeating Democrat Jeff Wright.[3]

In 2018, Novak defeated Jeff Wright for a second time. Novak was also successful in winning an Assembly District also won by Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

Novak is the first openly gay Republican to serve in the Wisconsin state legislature.[4] On taking office, became one of four openly LGBT members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, alongside Sen. Tim Carpenter (D–Milwaukee) and Reps. JoCasta Zamarripa (D–Milwaukee) and Mark Spreitzer (D–Beloit).

Although a Republican, Novak has positioned himself as an "independent voice" and has touted a bipartisan voting record, which is helpful in his liberal-learning district.[5]

Wisconsin State Assembly

For the 2019-2020 Legislative Cycle, Novak serves on the following committees[6]

  • Assembly Committee on Local Government (Chair)
  • Speakers Task Force on Water Quality (Chair)
  • Assembly Committee on Agriculture (Vice Chair)
  • Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice & Public Safety
  • Assembly Committee on Mental Health
  • Assembly Committee on Rural Development
  • Assembly Committee on Environment

In his inaugural term in the State Assembly, Novak authored a bill creating the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail which links the architects notable creations using existing roadways.[7]

On February 11, 2019, Speaker Vos appointed Novak chairman of a 16 member bipartisan task force on water quality. The task force was created to provide recommendations on assessing and improving the quality of surface water and groundwater throughout the state of Wisconsin. The task force has traveled extensively throughout the state, visiting the cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Janesville, Racine, Lancaster, LaCrosse, Mauston, Stevens Point, Menomonie, Tomahawk, Marinette, and Superior holding public hearings to gather information on specific concerns in the various regions of the state.[8]

Electoral History

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2018 Election for Wisconsin's 51st Assembly District
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Todd Novak (incumbent) 12,445 50.6% -.7%
Democratic Jeff Wright 12,113 49.3% +.6
Republican hold
2016 Election for Wisconsin's 51st Assembly District [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Todd Novak (incumbent) 13,912 51.3% +3.8%
Democratic Jeff Wright 13,189 48.7% +1.5%
Republican hold
2014 Election for Wisconsin's 51st Assembly District [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Todd Novak 10,619 47.5%
Democratic Dick Cates 10,560 47.2%
Libertarian Adam Laufenberg 1,177 5.3%
Republican hold

References

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