{{Short description|American lobbyist and politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{infobox officeholder | name = Steven Foti | office = Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly | term_start = January 6, 1997 | term_end = January 3, 2005 | predecessor = Scott R. Jensen | successor = Michael Huebsch | office1 = Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | constituency1 = 38th Assembly district | term_start1 = January 4, 1993 | term_end1 = January 3, 2005 | predecessor1 = Stephen Nass | successor1 = Joel Kleefisch | constituency2 = 33rd Assembly district | term_start2 = January 7, 1985 | term_end2 = January 4, 1993 | predecessor2 = Robert Goetsch | successor2 = Daniel P. Vrakas | constituency3 = 66th Assembly district | term_start3 = January 3, 1983 | term_end3 = January 7, 1985 | predecessor3 = Mary Wagner | successor3 = Cloyd A. Porter | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|12|3}} | birth_place = Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Anne||2005|end=div}} | children = 3 | education = | occupation = Lobbyist }} '''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.<ref name="best">{{cite web|url= https://michaelbeststrategies.com/about/steven-foti/ |title= Steven "Mickey" Foti |website= Michael Best Strategies |accessdate= January 15, 2024 }}</ref>
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.<ref name="wihist">{{cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS7831 |title= Foti, Steven M. 1958 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate= January 15, 2024 }}</ref> He worked as a real estate salesman and bartender before serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 22 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://madison.com/news/local/foti-guilty-in-scandal-at-capitol-former-gop-majority-leader-must-repay-300-000-in/article_117585e3-bd47-5ac4-a08e-757bf457eae1.html |title= Foti Guilty in Scandal at Capitol. Former GOP Majority Leader must repay $300,000 in aide's salary, benefits |last= Hall |first= Dee J. |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= January 14, 2006 |accessdate= January 15, 2024 }}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://madison.com/news/local/foti-term-is-twice-what-state-sought-judge-says-ex/article_de6549d4-554d-531b-b86b-fc2369b1f13c.html ''Foti Term Twice What State Sought'', by Jason Stein, Madison.com, Mar 28, 2006, retrieved June 25, 2020]</ref><ref>[https://lacrossetribune.com/stories/news/assembly-leaders-charged-with-misconduct-in-office/article_770ef0d9-4368-5624-84b4-22a6e74dc535.html ''Assembly leaders charged with misconduct in office'', by the Associated Press, Oct 19, 2002, retrieved June 25, 2020]</ref>
After leaving the Wisconsin Legislature in 2005, Foti became a lobbyist.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Walters |first1=Steven |last2=Forster |first2=Stacy |date=March 4, 2006 |title=Foti tells of caucus' campaign work: He says Jensen, an old friend, gave out assignments |journal=The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://michaelbeststrategies.com/about/steven-foti/ Steven "Mickey" Foti] at Michael Best Strategies
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before = Mary Wagner }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 66th district}} |years= January 3, 1983{{spnd}}January 7, 1985 }} {{s-aft|after = Cloyd A. Porter }} {{s-bef|before = Robert Goetsch }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 33rd district}} |years= January 7, 1985{{spnd}}January 4, 1993 }} {{s-aft|after = Daniel P. Vrakas }} {{s-bef|before = Stephen Nass }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 38th district}} |years= January 4, 1993{{spnd}}January 3, 2005 }} {{s-aft|after = Joel Kleefisch }} {{s-bef|before = Scott R. Jensen }} {{s-ttl|title = Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly |years= January 6, 1997{{spnd}}January 3, 2005 }} {{s-aft|after = Michael Huebsch }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foti, Steven}} Category:People from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Category:Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Wisconsin politicians convicted of crimes Category:Catholic politicians from Wisconsin Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature
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