Louis Molepske
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Portage Circuit, Branch 2
Assumed office
August 1, 2022
Preceded byRobert J. Shannon
Portage County District Attorney
In office
January 7, 2013 – June 2022
Preceded byThomas B. Eagon
Succeeded byCass Cousins
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 71st district
In office
August 11, 2003 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byJulie Lassa
Succeeded byKatrina Shankland
Personal details
Born (1974-01-06) January 6, 1974
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Raquel Lynn Vechinski
​
​
(m. 2013)​
Children3
ResidenceStevens Point, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
Marquette University Law School
Professionattorney
WebsiteCampaign website

Louis John Molepske, Jr., (born January 6, 1974) is an American attorney, judge, and Democratic politician. He is a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Portage County, Wisconsin, since 2022. He previously served nine years as district attorney, and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for ten years before that.[1]

Early life and education

Louis Molepske was born and raised in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He graduated from Stevens Point Area Senior High School in 1993 and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He then attended Marquette University Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 2001.[2] While in high school, he wrote for a student section included in the Stevens Point daily newspaper, the Stevens Point Journal.[3]

Political career

After completing law school, he went to work in the city government of Stevens Point. He first worked as an assistant to his father, the city attorney, and then as an assistant to the mayor, Gary Wescott, and finally as a special prosecutor in the office of the district attorney, Tom Eagon.[4]

In 2002, incumbent state senator Kevin Shibilski was indicted for fraud, which led to his resignation and the election of state representative Julie Lassa as his replacement. Lassa's elevation created a vacancy in Wisconsin's 71st Assembly district, and Molepske chose to enter the race for the open seat.[4] He narrowly prevailed in the low-turnout special election, receiving 37% of the vote in a four-way race.[5] At the time he was sworn in, Molepske was the second youngest state legislator at 29 years old. He went on to win re-election four times.[6]

In the April 2012 election, Molepske's former boss, district attorney Tom Eagon, was elected a Wisconsin circuit court judge. Molepske soon announced that, rather than running for another term in the Assembly, he would instead run for district attorney. He faced only one opponent in the race, the senior assistant district attorney, Veronica Isherwood, in the Democratic primary.[7] Molepske won 65% of the vote in the primary and was unopposed in the general election.[8] He was re-elected without opposition in 2016 and 2020.

In the Fall of 2021, incumbent Wisconsin circuit court judge Robert J. Shannon filed his paperwork to indicate he would not run for re-election in 2022. Molepske entered the race for the judicial post; he defeated attorney Stephen W. Sawyer in the Spring general election and was sworn in in August 2022.[9]

Personal life and family

Louis Molepske is a fifth-generation resident of Portage County, Wisconsin. His father is also an attorney and was in public office as city attorney of Stevens Point;[4] his grandfather was a prominent realtor.[10]

Louis Molepske married Raquel Vechinski, a nurse practitioner from Wisconsin Rapids, in October 2013.[11] They have three children now and reside in Stevens Point.[6]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2003–2010)

Wisconsin Assembly, 71st District Special Election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Special Election, July 22, 2003[5]
Democratic Louis J. Molepske Jr. 2,628 37.09% -35.33%
Republican Jackie Szehner 2,492 35.17% +7.68%
Green Amy Heart 1,011 14.27%
Democratic Jo Seiser (write-in) 946 13.35%
Write-in 9 0.13%
Plurality 136 1.92% -43.01%
Total votes 7,086 100.0% -60.69%

Portage County District Attorney (2012, 2016, 2020)

Portage County, Wisconsin, District Attorney Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Primary, August 14, 2012[8]
Democratic Louis J. Molepske Jr. 4,077 64.86%
Democratic Veronica Isherwood 2,204 35.06%
Write-in 5 0.08%
Plurality 1,873 29.80%
Total votes 6,286 100.0%
General Election, November 6, 2012[9]
Democratic Louis J. Molepske Jr. 27,308 97.42%
Write-in 724 2.58%
Total votes 28,032 100.0%

Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge (2022)

Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge, Portage Circuit, Branch 2 Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
General Election, April 5, 2022[9]
Nonpartisan Louis J. Molepske Jr. 9,454 56.17%
Nonpartisan Stephen W. Sawyer 7,357 43.71%
Write-in 21 0.12%
Plurality 2,097 12.46%
Total votes 16,832 100.0%

References

  1. ↑ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 2011–2012,' Biographical Sketch of Louis Molepske, pg. 67
  2. ↑ Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2005). "Biographies" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2005–2006 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 67. ISBN 0-9752820-1-8. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ Molepske, Louis (June 8, 1992). "Grasamkee retires after 37 years". Stevens Point Journal. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Give the green light to change in politics". Stevens Point Journal. July 19, 2003. p. 6. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Results of Special General Election - 07/22/2003 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. August 4, 2003. p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  6. 1 2 "About DA Louis J. Molepske, Jr". Molepske for Judge. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Election Frenzy at national, state, local level". Stevens Point Journal. December 29, 2012. p. A10. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary - 8/14/2012 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. August 28, 2012. p. 88. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  9. 1 2 3 County by County Report 2022 Spring Election (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. May 18, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Louis C. Molepske". Stevens Point Journal. December 19, 2002. p. 2. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Vechinski-Molepske". Stevens Point Journal. October 14, 2013. p. A8. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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