State Public Officials And Liaisons

Health Services, Department of

The state agency legislative liaisons report lists the names of each state agency's salaried officers and employees whose normal duties include attempting to influence state legislation, and each legislative liaison's title, phone number, email address, approximate percentage of time the person spends on legislative activity, and the general area(s) of legislative action that the person attempted to influence.

Agency Users: Use the buttons on the page to edit your agency's legislative liaison report. You can add new legislative liaisons, or edit or remove existing legislative liaisons. By clicking on the "certify" button you are certifying that all of the information listed on the agency's report is accurate and complete. This certification satisfies the requirements listed in WIS. STAT. §13.695.

Date Last Certified/Updated: 1/9/2026

Current Agency Legislative Liaisons: 13

SA
Syed Abbas
Deputy Legislative Director

6087706720
syed.abbas@dha.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$90,000.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
6% - 25%

Start Date
3/11/2024

General Lobbying Area
General
AB
Anthony Baize
Inspector General
Office of the Inspector General
(608) 266-7436
anthony.baize@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$132,454.40

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
4/3/2016

General Lobbying Area
Inspector General
AB
Anna Benton
Deputy Division Administrator
Division of Public Health
(608) 266-5151
anna.benton@dhs.wiscosnin.gov
Annual Salary
$112,985.60

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
10/24/2022

General Lobbying Area
Public Health
AE
Arielle Exner
Legislative Director

6086223917
arieller.exner@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$104,000.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
26% - 50%

Start Date
7/14/2024

General Lobbying Area
General
AF
Andy Forsaith
Budget Director
Office of Policy and Budget
(608) 266-7684
Andrew.Forsaith@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$112,528.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
7/1/2013

General Lobbying Area
budget
WH
William Hanna
State Medicaid Director
Division of Medicaid Services
715.254.5374
william.hanna@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$129,001.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
8/14/2023

General Lobbying Area
Medicaid
KJ
Kirsten Johnson
Secretary

608-266-9622
kirstenl.johnson@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$155,813.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
6% - 25%

Start Date
2/27/2023

General Lobbying Area
Healthcare
MM
Marlia Mattke
Assitant Administrator
Division of Medicaid Services
(608) 266-9749
Marlia.Mattke@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$111,508.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
1/13/2012

General Lobbying Area
Medicaid services
AM
Amy McDowell
Administrator
Division of Enterprise Solutions
(608) 266-8445
Amy.McDowell@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$132,600.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
4/28/2019

General Lobbying Area
General, Enterprise Services
DS
Deb Standridge
Deputy Secretary

(608) 867-4459
debra.standridge@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$145,204.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
9/13/2021

General Lobbying Area
General
GS
Gynger Steele
Administrator
Division of Care and Treatment Services
608-400-1481
gynger.steele@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$140,796.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
1/3/2023

General Lobbying Area
Mental Health
PT
Paula Tran
State Health Officer and Administrator Division of Public Health

(608) 886-3109
paula.tran@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$138,028.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
8/22/2021

General Lobbying Area
Public Health
KW
Krista Willing
Assistant Administrator
Division of Medicaid Services
(608) 266-2469
Krista.E.Willing@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Annual Salary
$111,508.00

Time Spent on Legislative Activity
1% - 5%

Start Date
6/11/2017

General Lobbying Area
Medicaid