{{Short description|American meteorologist and politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | image_size = | honorific_prefix = | name = Jim Ott | honorific_suffix = | caption = | state = Wisconsin | state_assembly = Wisconsin | district = 23rd | term_start = January 3, 2007 | term_end = January 4, 2021 | predecessor = Curt Gielow | successor = Deb Andraca | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|6|5}} | birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list | University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (BS, MS) | Marquette University Law School (JD) }} | profession = Meteorologist, politician | spouse = Carol | children = 2 | website = [https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/23/ott Official website] <!-- military portion --> | allegiance = United States | branch = United States Army | service_years = 1970&ndash;1973 | unit = U.S. Army Security Agency | rank = | battles = Vietnam War | mawards = 30px Vietnam Campaign Medal }} '''Jim Ott''' (born June 5, 1947) is an American politician and former television meteorologist. A Republican, he was a seven-term member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing assembly district 23, serving from 2007 to 2021. Before being elected to the assembly, he was a broadcast meteorologist in Milwaukee for Journal Communications's ''WTMJ-TV'' and ''WTMJ-AM'' radio.<ref name="legis">{{cite web|url= http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/legislators/assembly/1597 |title= Representative Jim Ott |website= Wisconsin Legislature |accessdate= May 2, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/former-meteorologist-jim-ott-has-best-wishes-for-john-malan |title= Former meteorologist Jim Ott has best wishes for John Malan |work= WTMJ-TV |date= February 20, 2017 |accessdate= May 2, 2017}}</ref>

==Early life and career== Jim Ott was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Milwaukee's Washington High School in 1965.<ref name="legis"/> He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1970, and then joined the United States Army. He served three years in the Army with the U.S. Army Security Agency, including a tour in Vietnam in 1971&ndash;72.<ref name="campaign">{{cite web |url= http://www.votejimott.com/about-jim.html |title= About Jim |website= Jim Ott for State Assembly |accessdate= December 14, 2020 |archive-date= December 5, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201205061354/http://www.votejimott.com/about-jim.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> Following his Army service, he returned to school at UW&ndash;Milwaukee and obtained his master's degree in 1975.<ref name="legis"/>

After earning his master's degree, in 1976 he went to work as an on-air meteorologist for Journal Communications on their ''WTMJ-TV'' television and ''WTMJ-AM'' radio stations. He worked there for 30 years, leaving only when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2006. During his time at Journal Communications, he became a member of the unit holders' council, chairperson of stock and information committee, and employee representative on the board of directors.<ref name="campaign"/>

He returned to school and obtained his J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 2000.<ref name="legis"/>

While working as a meteorologist, he also served as adjunct faculty at University of Wisconsin–Parkside, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Cardinal Stritch University, Carroll University, and Marquette University Law School.<ref name="campaign"/>

==Political career== Following the April 2006 announcement that incumbent state representative Curt Gielow would not seek re-election in 2006, Ott declared his candidacy for office.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65261660/gielow-not-seeking-reelection/ |title= Gielow won't seek re-election |newspaper= The Capital Times |agency=Associated Press |date= April 5, 2006 |page= A12 |accessdate= December 14, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> In the Republican primary, Ott defeated John Wirth and went on to win the general election with 56% of the vote over Democrat Stanley F. Teplin.<ref name="2006gen">{{cite report |url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2006_FallElection_Results_Summary_0.pdf |title= Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 |publisher= Wisconsin State Elections Board |date= December 5, 2006 |page= 19 |accessdate= December 14, 2020 |archive-date= May 11, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220511100748/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2006_FallElection_Results_Summary_0.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> He went on to win re-election six times.

He was defeated for reelection by Democrat Deb Andraca on November 3, 2020.<ref name="2020gen">{{cite report |url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Statewide%20Results%20All%20Offices%20%28pre-Presidential%20recount%29.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= November 18, 2020 |accessdate= December 9, 2020 |page= 13 |archive-date= March 15, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210315220054/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Statewide%20Results%20All%20Offices%20%28pre-Presidential%20recount%29.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Mitchell |last1=Schmidt |title= 2020 election again shows lopsided Republican legislative maps |url= https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/2020-election-again-shows-lopsided-republican-legislative-maps/article_d0c11425-df16-5d0b-a3e8-4954e7897652.html |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=November 9, 2020 |accessdate=November 11, 2020 }}</ref>

==Personal life and family== Jim Ott is married with two adult sons, he and his wife reside in Mequon, Wisconsin. He has been a member of the Lumen Christi Catholic Parish in Mequon since 1986. He is a member of the American Legion and the American Meteorological Society.<ref name="campaign"/>

==Electoral history== ===Wisconsin Assembly (2006, 2008)=== {{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 23rd District Election, 2006<ref>{{cite report |url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2006_FallElection_Primary_Recount_Results_Summary.pdf |title= Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/12/2006 |publisher= Wisconsin State Elections Board |date= October 17, 2006 |page= 34 |accessdate= December 14, 2020 |archive-date= January 11, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210111173119/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2006_FallElection_Primary_Recount_Results_Summary.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="2006gen"/>}} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Republican Primary, September 12, 2006''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Ott |votes = 3,170 |percentage = 67.12% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = John Wirth |votes = 1,553 |percentage = 32.88% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 1,617 |percentage = 34.24% |change = }} {{Election box total |votes = 4,723 |percentage = 100.0% |change = }} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election, November 7, 2006''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Ott |votes = 13,284 |percentage = 56.09% |change = -42.62% }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Stanley F. Teplin |votes = 10,394 |percentage = 43.89% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 2,890 |percentage = 12.20% |change = -85.22% }} {{Election box total |votes = 23,682 |percentage = 100.0% |change = +19.01% }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | |winner = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

===Wisconsin Assembly (2018, 2020)===

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 23rd District Election, 2018<ref>{{cite report |url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Summary%20Results-2018%20Gen%20Election_0.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |page= 15 |accessdate= December 14, 2020 |archive-date= February 7, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200207221049/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Summary%20Results-2018%20Gen%20Election_0.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>}} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election, November 6, 2018''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Ott (incumbent) |votes = 18,321 |percentage = 51.93% |change = -43.64% }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Liz Sumner |votes = 16,939 |percentage = 48.01% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = |candidate = ''Scattering'' |votes = 21 |percentage = 0.06% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 1,382 |percentage = 3.92% |change = -87.22% }} {{Election box total |votes = 35,281 |percentage = 100.0% |change = +31.35% }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | |winner = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 23rd District Election, 2020<ref name="2020gen"/>}} | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election, November 3, 2020''' {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Deb Andraca |votes = 21,052 |percentage = 51.59% |change = +3.57% }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Ott (incumbent) |votes = 19,728 |percentage = 48.34% |change = -3.59% }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = |candidate = ''Scattering'' |votes = 30 |percentage = 0.07% |change = }} {{Election box plurality |votes = 1,324 |percentage = 3.24% |change = -0.67% }} {{Election box total |votes = 40,810 |percentage = 100.0% |change = +15.67% }} {{Election box gain with party link |winner= Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States) |swing = 7.16% }} {{Election box end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{CongLinks| votesmart= 67293}} *{{Ballotpedia|Jim_Ott}} *[https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/legislators/assembly/1817 Representative Jim Ott] at Wisconsin Legislature *[https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/23/ott Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231193754/https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/23/ott |date=2020-12-31 }} *[http://www.votejimott.com/ Campaign website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205055951/http://www.votejimott.com/ |date=2020-12-05 }} *[https://lumenchristiparish.org/ Lumen Christi Parish]

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before = Curt Gielow}} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 23rd district}} |years= January 3, 2007{{spaced ndash}}January 4, 2021}} {{s-aft|after = Deb Andraca }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ott, Jim}} Category:Living people Category:American television weather presenters Category:Journalists from Wisconsin Category:1947 births Category:Politicians from Milwaukee Category:Marquette University alumni Category:People from Mequon, Wisconsin Category:Catholics from Wisconsin Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature