Brad Pfaff

Bradley Pfaff (born 1967/1968) is an American politician and government official. A Democrat, he is a member of the Wisconsin State Senate for the 32nd senate district. The 32nd district comprises La Crosse and Crawford counties, as well as most of Vernon County and the southern half of Monroe County.

Brad Pfaff
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byJennifer Shilling
Acting Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
In office
January 7, 2019 – November 5, 2019
Appointed byTony Evers
Preceded bySheila Harsdorf
Succeeded byRandy Romanski (acting)
Personal details
Born1967/1968 (age 52–53)
La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Betty
Children2
ResidenceOnalaska, Wisconsin
WebsiteCampaign website

Pfaff was the Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in the administration of Wisconsin Governor-elect Tony Evers for most of 2019. The Republican controlled State Senate rejected his appointment ten months into his term.[1] Pfaff subsequently worked as Director of Business and Rural Development for the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Pfaff previously served as the Wisconsin state executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency and USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs during the Obama administration.[2]

Early life and education

Pfaff was born and raised on a farm in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Pfaff was an instructor at Marymount University in government studies. He holds a master's degree in public administration from George Mason University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Career

Pfaff served more than 12 years on the congressional staff of Congressman Ron Kind, assisting the congressman with agriculture and rural development issues. In 2004, Pfaff was a candidate for the 32nd district of the Wisconsin State Senate. He was a member of the Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development Council.[3] He also served on the staff of United States Senator Herb Kohl and for Wisconsin State Representative Virgil Roberts. Pfaff was elected to serve on the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors in 2007.[4]

Obama Administration

In 2009 Pfaff was appointed the Wisconsin State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency at the USDA.[5] In 2015, Pfaff was appointed to serve as the USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs,[6] a position responsible for the implementation and delivery of all Title 1 crop commodity programs and the Conservation Reserve Program.[7] After President Obama left office in 2017, Pfaff rejoined the staff of Congressman Ron Kind as Kind's deputy chief of staff.[8]

Evers Administration

In December 2018, Governor-elect Evers announced his nomination of Pfaff to serve as secretary of DATCP for the State of Wisconsin,[9] subject to confirmation by the Wisconsin State Senate.[10][11] On Nov. 4, 2019, the Senate voted 19-14 along party lines to deny Pfaff’s nomination.[1] One week after the Senate vote, it was announced that Pfaff had been hired to serve as Director Of Business and Rural Development for the Wisconsin Department of Administration.[12]

State Senate

In the 2020 general election, Pfaff was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in the 32nd senate district. Pfaff replaced Democrat Jennifer Shilling, who resigned in May 2020 and endorsed Pfaff as her successor.[13] Pfaff defeated former state senator Dan Kapanke—who had previously represented the district—in a close contest in the general election.[14]

References
  1. Schmidt, Mitchell (November 7, 2019). "Senate Republicans vote to fire Ag Secretary Brad Pfaff". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  2. "Brad Pfaff and Stan Gruszynski appointed to key state USDA posts". eCALS. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  3. staff, Tribune. "Pfaff named state executive director for the Farm Service Agency". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-01-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. rmial@lacrossetribune.com, RICHARD MIAL /. "Brad Pfaff to head state Farm Service Agency". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  6. "Obama makes 2 Wisconsin ag appointments". Twin Cities. 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  7. "Pfaff to run farm programs at FSA in round of USDA personnel changes | The Hagstrom Report". www.hagstromreport.com. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  8. "Pfaff Returns To Wisconsin Roots". Farm Report. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  9. "Governor-elect Tony Evers names picks for Transportation, Agriculture, Insurance". FOX6Now.com. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  10. "Tony Evers announces four new cabinet appointments". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  11. "Governor-elect Evers announces more Cabinet appointments". CBS58. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  12. Anderson, Andrea (2019-11-11). "Fired Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Brad Pfaff Gets New Job In Evers Administration". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  13. "Sen. Shilling: Endorses Brad Pfaff for state Senate". State Senator Jennifer Shilling (Press release). La Crosse, Wisconsin. Retrieved December 16, 2020 – via Wispolitics.com.
  14. Schmidt, Mitchell; Meyerhofer, Kelly (November 4, 2020). "GOP supermajority unlikely in Wisconsin Legislature as precincts report". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
Wisconsin State Senate
Preceded by
Jennifer Shilling		 Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 32nd district
January 4, 2021 – present		 Incumbent
Government offices
Preceded by
Sheila Harsdorf		 Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
January 7, 2019 – November 5, 2019		 Succeeded by
Randy Romanski (acting)
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