John L. Merkt (October 2, 1946 – April 1, 2009)[1] was an American educator and Republican politician from Mequon, Wisconsin.

[3] John was united in marriage to widow Nancy Callaway (née Crabb) on November 21, 1992, in the Wisconsin State Assembly chambers with 400 family and friends present to celebrate.

He also worked to tighten laws and penalties regarding the sale or possession of drugs, especially cocaine; including tripling the mandatory sentence from 12 months' incarceration to 36 months' incarceration for those found guilty of possession or sales of cocaine within 500 feet (150 m) of a school zone.

He also wrote Wisconsin's Len Bias Law, which makes providing drugs that prove fatal to be considered manslaughter.

After leaving office, Merkt worked in collaboration with Assembly speaker David Prosser Jr. and Governor Tommy Thompson in 1995, to push for the creation of Miller Park in Milwaukee.