Waukesha County executive appoints chief of staff

Published on: 8/24/2011

Waukesha - Shawn Lundie, a former staff assistant to three Republican lawmakers, has been hired as chief of staff for Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas.

Lundie, 38, worked in the district and Washington offices of U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner from 1998 to 2005, including as his district coordinator in Brookfield. He was chief of staff for state Sen. Ted Kanavas from 2005 until the end of last year, when Kanavas left office. Since then he has worked in the office of 33rd District Sen. Rich Zipperer.

"I grew up in Delafield and all of my work experience has been serving elected officials in Waukesha County," Lundie said.

The Kettle Moraine High School graduate first knew Vrakas as his state representative, a position Vrakas held from 1990 until his election as county executive in 2005.

Succeeds Nowak

Lundie, who started his post Wednesday, succeeds Ellen Nowak, a former chief of staff and legal counsel to two state Republican assembly leaders. She was appointed to the Public Service Commission by Gov. Scott Walker in mid-June.

Vrakas said Nowak's legislative connections in Madison were used effectively as a new state budget was shaped. Lundie's experience at the federal and state governments will benefit Waukesha County, Vrakas said.

Lundie will be paid $82,500 a year, Vrakas said.