Interview by Liz Moore

At the recent Democratic Oktoberfest, we were treated to great “Bavarian and Slovenian” music as we enjoyed meeting new friends and greeting long-term acquaintances. The music makers were PCDCC member Joe Mlakar and his brother John. I was curious where Joe had learned to play such fun music and why hadn’t we heard him previously.

Joe says his family history ensured that he learned the “polka” style of toe-tapping music. His grandfather and father had a musical history nurtured in their heritage country, Slovenia, and shared it with their community when his grandparents settled in Chisholm, Minnesota after World War I and his parents in Fontana, California in 1960.

Throughout his life Joe has served his country, serving in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve at March Air Reserve Base where he spent 29 years in the aircraft maintenance field before retiring in 2010.

And... throughout all his careers and moves he played banjo with his father and two of his brothers who played accordion. His love of music came from his late father who is in the Polka Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio where the largest concentration of Slovenian-Americans reside. The honor is due to be upgraded to a Lifetime Achievement Award. Much of his extended family will be celebrating that award upgrade over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend by attending the 59th Annual Polka Weekend presented by the Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame.

What brought him to be so active in politics? Because he was in Federal civil service and the military he couldn’t get involved in politics. A rule that was relaxed in 1994. Political activity is now his hobby, His goal has been to use his experience and Political Science degree he earned from the University of La Verne to stay active in Placer County. Whenever there is an event or project at the PCDCC, you can count on Joe to be there to work, support, and advance the Democratic goals. He’s a friend to both the party and its members.

When asked for words of wisdom to his fellow Democrats, he stated we need to “focus on what needs to be done - the task at hand” and we can be successful. We salute Joe Mlakar for his toe-tapping and fun-filled banjo music, his service to his country, the wisdom and experience he brings to our Democratic community