About Mark Opitz

Mark Opitz is a longtime Middleton resident and dedicated public servant. Learn more about Mark below!

Mark with Alder Lisa Janairo at the start of the Good Neighbor Festival parade. Mark chairs the festival's parade committee and organizes the line-up each year.

Since November, Mark has attended over half a dozen city meetings to help prepare for serving on the Council. (Pictured here is the January 21 public open house pertaining to updating the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.)

Middleton Resident Since 1991

Mark has lived in apartment, townhome, and single-family residences in various Middleton neighborhoods
Resident of District 6 for over 22 years

Career

Worked as a city planner for Middleton for 26 years, from 1999 until retiring in June 2025. Before that, he worked as an analyst in the Wis. Dept. of Transportation.
Currently employed as a substitute teacher and working primarily at MHS and the two middle schools, I particularly enjoy filling in for social studies, German, Spanish, and music teachers.

Electoral Experience

Middleton Alderperson (District 3 in southeastern Middleton) from 1995 until 1999
Dane County Supervisor (District 26) from 1998-2010
Middleton Alderperson (District 6 in north-central Middleton) since April 2026

Other Community Service

Appointed to the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization from 2008-2025 as a representative of small cities and villages. Served five years as the policy board's chairperson.
Current member of Middleton Hills Neighborhood Association Board of Directors.
Good Neighbor Festival Trustee for 15+ years (president in 2020 & 2021)
Middleton VIPS (Volunteer in Police Service)
Middleton Optimists Club member
Middleton Good Neighbor Award recipient in August 2025

Personal Background

Married with two adult children. The children have left the house, so now Charlie and Lucy (two cats) keep us company.
Longtime member of Middleton Community Church
Born in Minnesota; raised by German immigrants

Other Interests

Volleyball (weekly games)
Bicycling as both a commuter and for recreation / fitness
Downhill skiing, especially in the Rockies!
Travel, both within the U.S. and overseas
Board and card games (especially Cribbage, Euchre, Sheepshead)
Networking / socializing

That day in July 2023 when Mark decided to bike from Middleton to Milwaukee via the Glacial Drumlin Trail. (Fortunately, his wife was willing to give him a ride back!). Mark also enjoys commuting by bike. During the winter, he enjoys going downhill skiing, although he intends to wax his cross-country skis one of these days.