Ozanne Wins Re-Election As Dane County District Attorney

Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne won a second term in office Tuesday night.

Ozanne defeated Democratic primary challenger Bob Jambois in Tuesday night’s partisan primary. There is no Republican challenger in the fall’s general election so Ozanne has officially secured another four-year term in office.

In his acceptance speech, the incumbent highlighted his work creating a restorative justice program in Dane County. The program keeps young offenders out of jail and provides them rehabilitation services.

“That is the possibility of the future, that is what we are bringing,” he said in his election night remarks. “And it will save resources—but, more importantly, it will save people.”

Ozanne also decried Wisconsin’s incarceration rate, particularly of African-American men, which is among the highest in the nation. He said the state should work to become a national leader in restorative justice.

The race had been a tense one with Jambois hitting Ozanne for not appearing in court more often. Jambois also alleged Ozanne had poor office leadership skills and was responsible for a high number of recent lawyer resignations.

Ozanne said those accusations went too far, and made the race too political.

“I don’t think it’s a place for politics,” Ozanne said. “I think that the job that we do within the district attorney’s office is too important … It should never be disrupted with accusations that attack its integrity.”

Ozanne had secured a number of high profile endorsements for his re-election bid, including U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.