Former Ashland D.A. nominated as DOT lead

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The transition team for President-Elect Donald Trump announced Monday that he has chosen former Ashland resident Sean Duffy, 53, as a member of his cabinet in the new administration starting directly after current President Joe Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, 2025.

“I am pleased to announce that former Congressman Sean Duffy, from the great state of Wisconsin, is nominated to serve as the Secretary of Transportation,” stated Trump in the Monday report. “Sean has been a tremendous and well-liked public servant, starting his career as a district attorney for Ashland, Wisconsin, and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.”

Trump added, “During his time in Congress, Sean was a respected voice and communicator in the Republican Conference, advocating for fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and rural development. Admired across the aisle, Sean worked with Democrats to clear extensive legislative hurdles to build the largest road and bridge project in Minnesota history.”

Moreover, noted the President-Elect, “As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Sean played a key role in shaping and strengthening economic policies, and ensuring transparency and accountability in government programs. Sean’s leadership extended to championing the needs of families, farmers, and small businesses, especially in rural communities.”

Trump also said of Duffy, “He will prioritize excellence, competence, competitiveness and beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams serve our economy without compromising our national security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) for pilots and air traffic controllers.”

According to his biographical profile, Duffy was born in Hayward, Wisconsin. He received a marketing degree from St. Mary’s University and a J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

He and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, lived in Ashland when Duffy served there as District Attorney from 2002 to 2010.

He then, from 2011 to 2019, served as a U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s seventh congressional district. He and his family moved to Weston, Wisconsin — a suburb of Wausau — during that time.

After serving in a number of TV roles in his early career, Duffy joined Fox News as a commentator in 2020 and now co-hosts with Dagen McDowell “The Bottom Line,” a Fox Business show that premiered on Jan. 23, 2023. Duffy’s wife also works for Fox, co-hosting on the weekend morning news.

Trump closed his Monday announcement as follows: “The husband of a wonderful woman ... and the father of nine incredible children, Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely and with peace of mind.”