Former state Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, assumed office as Dane County executive Tuesday after winning the office by a landslide two weeks ago.
Parisi beat conservative Dane County Board Executive Eileen Bruskewitz in the spring election with 70 percent of the vote. Bruskewitz blamed the loss on anger in the county toward Gov. Scott Walker.
Parisi is replacing former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who served in the office for 14 years before announcing in October she would step down.
Complications arose over when Falk would have to resign and whether the special election could be held in
April along with the other spring elections. She officially stepped down in December and was allowed to serve as interim county executive between January and April.
Parisi pledged during his campaigning to fiercely oppose Walker's policies on the county level.
