MADISON — Senator Howard Marklein was awarded the “2025-26 Friend of Towns” Award by the Wisconsin Towns Association at the Green County Towns Association Unit meeting in Monroe on Wednesday, May 27.

Joe Ruth, Government Affairs Director for the Wisconsin Towns Association, presented this prestigious award to Senator Marklein for his work supporting town governments and the citizens they represent.

“I am honored to receive the ‘Friend of Towns’ Award for the fifth time since I was elected to the State Senate,” Marklein said. “I am glad to be someone that town governments and residents can count on in the Legislature and I will continue to be a strong advocate for our towns in the future.”

Sen. Marklein received the “Friend of Towns” Award for his work to renew the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) and Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP) in the budget, his support of rural fire and EMS departments, and for authoring a bill to give local governments access to grant writing services.