Steven Foti

Steven M. Foti (born December 3, 1958) is an American lobbyist and Republican politician from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He served 22 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1983–2005), and was majority leader for four terms, from 1997 to 2005. He now works as a lobbyist for Michael Best Strategies.

Foti was one of several state legislators charged in a 2002 scandal in which public employees were found to have been performing campaign work. Foti pleaded to a misdemeanor, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, and ordered to reimburse the state $300,000 in staff salaries and benefits.

Career
Steven Foti was born and raised and lived much of his life in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He graduated from Oconomowoc High School and went on to attend University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, but did not complete a degree. He worked as a real estate salesman and bartender before serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 22 years. In the fall of 2002, Foti and other legislative leaders were ensnared in a caucus scandal. He was charged with one felony count for using his public office to campaign on state time. He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 60 days in jail with two years of probation.

After leaving the Wisconsin Legislature in 2005, Foti became a lobbyist.