Mark Gottlieb (politician)

Mark Gottlieb (born December 11, 1956) is an American civil engineer and Republican politician from Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. He served as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation through much of the administration of Governor Scott Walker. He previously served eight years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 60th Assembly district from 2003 to 2011. He was also mayor of Port Washington, Wisconsin, from 1997 to 2003. After leaving government, he became associate director of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation.

Early life and education
Mark Gottlieb was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 11, 1956. He graduated from Milwaukee's James Madison High School in 1974, then served in the United States Navy from 1974 to 1978. After leaving the Navy, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1981, and his master's degree in 1984. During his undergraduate studies in Milwaukee, Gottlieb became involved with the anti-abortion Students for Life and was president of the Milwaukee chapter in 1980.

Public office
Gottlieb first entered public office in 1991, when he was elected to the common council of Port Washington, Wisconsin. He ultimately served six years on the common council before being elected mayor in 1997. A major issue in the mayoral campaign was a city ordnance requiring children to wear helmets while biking. Gottlieb's opponent suggested the ordnance interfered with parental rights, while Gottlieb defended safety regulations. Gottlieb went on to serve six more years as mayor, leaving office in 2003.

In 2002, incumbent state representative Timothy Hoven resigned his seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly, creating a vacancy in the 60th Assembly district. Gottlieb entered the race to succeed him, defeating two opponents in the Republican Party primary. He faced no opposition in the November 2002 general election, and took office in January 2003. He was re-elected without opposition in 2004 and 2006.

He was elected to caucus leadership after the 2004 election, when he was named majority caucus vice chair for the 2005–2006 term. After the 2006 election, he was elected Speaker pro tempore for the 2007–2008 term.

In 2008, Gottlieb faced his only contested general election, defeating Democrat Perry Duman with 70% of the vote. The 2008 election did, however, usher in a Democratic majority in the Assembly. In the new Republican minority, Gottlieb was elected assistant minority leader for the 2009–2010 term. During that term, Gottlieb also served as the ranking member of the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems and a member of the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. He also served on the Assembly committees on Rules, on Urban and Local Affairs, and on Colleges and Universities.

Gottlieb was elected to a fifth term in the Assembly in 2010, but shortly after the election, he was named to the cabinet of the governor-elect, Scott Walker. Gottlieb was named as Walker's pick to become secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Gottlieb resigned from the Assembly on January 3, 2011, to assume that position.

Gottlieb served seven years as head of the Department of Transportation. He announced his resignation on December 27, 2016, taking effect on January 6, 2017. He was replaced by Dave Ross.

Later years
Since leaving government, Gottlieb has worked as associate director of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation.

Personal life and family
Mark Gottlieb was one of four sons born to Dr. Howard Gottlieb. Howard Gottlieb held a Ph.D. in biochemistry and was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Northwestern School of Medicine. The Gottliebs were Jewish, Mark Gottlieb was bar mitzvah May 22, 1964, at Beth Hillel Temple in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Mark Gottlieb and his wife, Linda, have four children.