Former Gard aide named Vrakas chief of staff
Waukesha - Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas has named as his new chief of staff Ellen Nowak, a former staffer to then Republican state representative and Assembly Speaker John Gard.
Nowak spent nearly 10 years working in the state Legislature as chief of staff and legal counsel to Gard. She also served as Gard's campaign manager in the second of his two campaigns against U.S. Rep. Steve Kagan, an unsuccessful challenge to the Democrat's 2008 re-election bid.
Before her work in Madison, Nowak practiced law specializing in business litigation with the law firm of Mallery & Zimmerman in Milwaukee. Her most recent position was as director of government affairs for School Choice Wisconsin, a nonprofit group advocating in favor of vouchers for low-income students in Milwaukee to attend the school of their choice. She was licensed as a lobbyist for the group from April 14 to Nov. 18 of this year.
Nowak began her duties as Vrakas' chief of staff, with a salary of $88,500, on Monday. She succeeds Allison Bussler, who left the job to become Waukesha County's public works director.
Nowak, of Mequon, expects to relocate to Waukesha County.
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