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About J.B. Van Hollen
 J.B. (John) Van Hollen was elected Attorney General in November 2006 by pledging to "fight crime and restore integrity" to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ).
Fighting off a difficult year for Repubulicans, J.B. Van Hollen delivered one of the few bright spots for the GOP by becoming the only Republican in the nation to win a statewide seat held by a Democrat in 2006. Van Hollen's campaign performed eight percentage points higher than the top of the ticket as voters rejected his opponent's liberal activist agenda for the Department of Justice.
Committed to seeking justice, Attorney General Van Hollen has followed through on his pledge to return the DOJ to its intended role as the state's law firm and top law enforcement agency; no abuses of power; no loopholes; and no lawyering gimicks. J.B. is delivering on his campaign promises by relying on his family and faith, his vision for the office he holds, his commitment to public service and his deep roots in Wisconsin.
J.B. grew up in the Northern Wisconsin where he developed an appreciation for the great outdoors, family and community, and a dedication to public service.
The son of John C. Van Hollen and Rosella Van Hollen, J.B. grew up with two sisters in northern Wisconsin, in the Chetek area and later in the Town of Delta in Bayfield County. J.B.'s father served in the legislature and then as Governor Tommy Thompson's first Northern Representative.
Although he was courted by several law firms, Van Hollen chose instead to begin a career in public service. J.B. began his distinguished career as an Assistant State Public Defender in Spooner, Wisconsin. In 1991 Van Hollen became a federal prosecutor as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
In 1993 Governor Tommy Thompson appointed Van Hollen to the position of District Attorney in Ashland County. Nearly six years later, Van Hollen resigned to pursue other professional interests, but was called to service again when Governor Thompson appointed him to serve as Bayfield County District Attorney. Van Hollen was later elected to the position, enjoying bi-partisan support as the county's only elected Republican.
Van Hollen received overwhelming support and endorsements from district attorneys and the law enforcement community from both political parties when President George W. Bush appointed him to the position of US Attorney for Wisconsin's Western District in 2002, the chief federal law enforcement officer for two-thirds of Wisconsin.
By working with all 44 counties in his district, Van Hollen developed relationships that culminated in several large and successful law enforcement actions. Most notably Van Hollen coordinated a large and successful sting operation in Hayward, cracking down on gangs, drugs, and guns. Using more than 100 members of law enforcement at multiple levels, dozens of search warrants were executed simultaneously and dozens were arrested with the average federal prosecution resulting in a multiple year federal prison sentence. The case even led to information which helped to solve a homicide.
Fighting off a difficult year for Repubulicans, J.B. Van Hollen delivered one of the few bright spots for the GOP by becoming the only Republican in the nation to win a statewide seat held by a Democrat in 2006.
Van Hollen also initiated Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal effort to reduce violent gun crime by enforcing the numerous laws already on the books. In its first year, Van Hollen worked in Rock County to prosecute individuals for gun crimes ranging from being a felon in possession of firearms or ammo to use of firearms during violent felonies, resulting in an average prison sentence of more than five years. Van Hollen later expanded the effort to Dane County and several multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement groups in rural Wisconsin. Firearms prosecutions nearly tripled during his tenure.
A fiscal conservative, Van Hollen underspent his budget during all three of his years as U.S. Attorney. During this time, the number of criminal cases filed by Van Hollen's office increased by 15% in 2002, 7% in 2003 and 23% in 2004 totaling a 53% increase during his tenure.
Van Hollen's recreational pursuits include running, biking, swimming, skiing, basketball and golf. He has run two marathons and completed the 2003 Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon in Madison. An avid hunter, Van Hollen has been a member of Ducks Unlimited, Grouse Unlimited, National Rifle Association, Wisconsin Sporting Heritage, Inc., and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
J.B., wife Lynne and their children, Byron and Madelyn, live in Waunakee. J.B. Van Hollen graduated from St. Olaf College in 1988 with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics. He earned his law degree two years later from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
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Paid for by Van Hollen for Attorney General, Margaret Farrow, Treasurer
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