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Scott Walker (politician)

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This article is about the Wisconsin governor. For other people with this name, see Scott Walker (disambiguation).
Scott Walker
Walker in 2010
45th Governor of Wisconsin
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
LieutenantRebecca Kleefisch
Preceded byJim Doyle
Milwaukee County Executive
In office
April 30, 2002 – December 27, 2010
Preceded byJanine Geske (Acting)
Succeeded byLee Holloway (Acting)
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 17th District
In office
June 1993 – May 14, 2002[1]
Preceded byPeggy Rosenzweig[2]
Succeeded byLeah Vukmir
Personal details
Born (1967-11-02) November 2, 1967 (age 56)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTonette
ChildrenTwo
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion
Alma materDelavan-Darien High School, 1986
Marquette University (attended, 1986-1990)
WebsiteOfficial website

Scott Kevin Walker (born November 2, 1967) is an American Republican politician who has been Governor of Wisconsin since January 3, 2011. He won the office in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 46 percent. Previously, Walker was the County Executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin from 2002 to 2010, and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1993 to 2002.

Early life, education and career

Walker was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Llew Walker, a Baptist minister, and Pat (Fitch) Walker, a bookkeeper.[4][5] The family moved to Plainfield, Iowa, and then to Delavan, Wisconsin, in Walworth County when Scott was ten years old.[4]

While in high school, he attended two weeks of American Legion-sponsored training in leadership and government; Badger Boys State held in Wisconsin, and the selective Boys Nation held in Washington, D.C.[6][7] He has credited the experience with solidifying his interest in public service and giving him the "political bug".[4][7] Walker was involved in The Boy Scouts of America, and earned that program's highest rank, Eagle Scout.[8][4] He graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1986.[9]

He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1986 to 1990.[10] During his sophomore year, he ran unsuccessfully for president of the student government. The Marquette Tribune, the student newspaper, did not endorse Walker, citing admitted campaign violations.[11] During his four years at Marquette, he earned 94 credits with a grade point average in the C's, but he did not complete his degree.[12] Walker explained his reasons in a 2010 interview: "'In the end, I figured I was in school to get a good job,' he said. 'So once I had one, family became more important than getting a degree.'"[4]

He worked for IBM in sales from 1988 to 1990, and in marketing and development at the Red Cross from 1990 to 1994, according to his LinkedIn profile.[13]

Wisconsin State Assembly

Walker made his first try for government office in 1990, running as a Republican for Milwaukee's 7th District seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly, but losing to incumbent Gwen Moore.[4]

In 1993, he won a special election to fill a vacant seat for the 14th District, representing Wauwatosa, an edge city west of Milwaukee.[14] During that campaign, he backed welfare reform and opposed the expansion of mass transit.[15] He supported a cap on state spending and said that the law on resolving labor disputes with local government employees needed to be reformed.[15] Walker received the endorsement of Wisconsin Right to Life and The Milwaukee Sentinel, with the Sentinel calling him a fiscal conservative and noting his pro-life, tough-on-crime, and pro welfare reform positions.[2] He was re-elected four times, serving until 2002 when he became a county executive.[14]

While in the State Assembly, Walker took a special interest in criminal justice matters,[14] and chaired the Committees on Correctional Facilities, and Corrections and the Courts.[10] In 1999 he took the lead in passing a truth-in-sentencing bill that ended the practice of taking time off prisoners' sentences for good behavior.[14] Over the years, he served on a number of other the committees, including Health, Census and Redistricting, Financial Institutions, and Housing.[10]

Milwaukee County executive

Walker at Marquette University conference, 2007

Walker became Milwaukee county executive in a special election called in April 2002, after the former county executive, Tom Ament, resigned in the wake of a county pension fund scandal.[14][16] He was elected to a four year term in 2004 gaining 57 percent of the vote to defeat former state budget director, David Riemer.[17][18] He won another four year term on April 1, 2008 defeating State Senator Lena Taylor with 59 percent of the vote.[19]

Walker won the office on a platform of fiscal conservatism, promising, among other things, to give back part of his own salary, and criticizing the salaries of other county workers as excessive.[20] He said his voluntary give-back gave him the moral authority to make cuts in the county budget.[20] He continued returning $60,000 annually, (slightly less than half of his salary), for several years, but by 2008, he cut his give-back to $10,000 per year.[20] During his seven years in office, he never submitted a budget with a higher property tax levy than the county board had approved, he cut the number of county employees by 20 percent, and reduced the county's debt by ten percent.[14] However, according to the Associated Press, "overall county spending ... increased 35 percent over his tenure".[14]

Campaigns for Governor

2006 campaign

During his time as county executive, he entered the 2006 race for Wisconsin governor; becoming a candidate 21 months before the election, but dropping out after 14 months of campaigning, citing fundraising difficulties.[16] He threw his support to fellow Republican Mark Andrew Green, who ultimately lost the election to the incumbent Democrat, Jim Doyle.[16][21]

2010 campaign

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2010

Walker became an early favorite for the 2010 Republican Party endorsement for Wisconsin governor, winning straw polls of Wisconsin GOP convention attendees in 2007 and 2008.[22][23] He announced his candidacy in late April 2009 after several months of previewing his campaign themes of reduced taxes and reduced spending to Republican audiences around the state.[16] He also criticized the 2009-11 Wisconsin state budget as too large for the slow economy.[16] He won the Wisconsin GOP convention endorsement on May 22, 2010, receiving 91 percent of the votes cast by the delegates. Walker won the Republican nomination in the primary election of September 14, 2010, receiving 59 percent of the popular vote, while former U.S. Representative Mark Neumann garnered 39 percent.[24] Walker's lieutenant governor running mate was Rebecca Kleefisch, a former reporter in Milwaukee and the wife of State Assemblyman Joel Kleefisch.

As part of his campaign platform, Walker proposed cutting state employee wages and benefits and rolling back 2009 state tax increases on small businesses, capital gains, and income for top earners. Critics said that Walker's proposals would only help the wealthy and that cutting the salaries of public employees would adversely affect state services.[25][26][27] Supporters said that tax cuts for businesses would reduce the cost of labor, which would ultimately promote consumer demand and more job growth.[28] As a candidate, Walker indicated he would refuse an $810 million dollar award from the federal Department of Transportation to build a high speed railroad line from Madison to Milwaukee because he believed it would cost the state $7.5 million per year to operate and would not be profitable.[29] The award was later rescinded and split among other states.[30]

Social issues played a part in the campaign. Walker has stated that he is "100% pro-life,"[31] meaning that he opposes abortion in all circumstances[32] including in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.[32][33] He supports sexual abstinence education in the public schools, and opposes state supported clinical services that provide birth control to teens under the age of 18 without parental consent.[32] He also supports the right of pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for contraceptives on the religious or moral grounds.[32][34][35] He supports adult stem cell research, but he opposes using human embryos.[14] As the election drew near, Barrett attempted to portray Walker as an extremist on social issues, with one political ad exaggerating Walker's views, while another was accurate.[35][33] On November 2, 2010, Walker won the general election with 52% of total votes cast, with his closest opponent, Tom Barrett, garnering only 46%.

Governor of Wisconsin

Walker took the oath of office to become the 45th Governor of Wisconsin.[36][37]on January 3, 2011.

State budget shortfall

In February 2011, Walker stated that he wanted to make changes to public employee contracts to assist in balancing the Wisconsin state government budget, which faces a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall over the next two years. He proposed a plan that would require state employees to put 5.8 percent of their salaries toward their pensions and pay 12.6 percent of their health-care premiums. Currently, state employees make no payments toward their pensions, and about half of what Walker is proposing toward their health-care premiums.[38] His plan would also remove collective bargaining rights except for wages, which would be limited to be not greater than the Consumer Price Index, and remove all rights from some groups, such as University of Wisconsin academic staff and childcare providers.[39][40][41][42] The bargaining changes would exempt most police and firefighters, and state troopers.[43][44] In response to critics, Walker stated that he will ready the Wisconsin National Guard in the event that they are needed to prevent any disruption in state services due to union walkouts.[40] In response, 14 Democratic Senators departed the state preventing a vote quorum on the Walker-backed bill amid the 2011 Wisconsin budget protests, in which demonstrators protested against Walker's proposal.[45][46] Unions in general agree to financial concessions, yet the governor refused any compromises in regard to collective bargaining.[47][41]

In February 2011 Ian Murphy of the online newspaper, Buffalo Beast, made a prank call to Scott Walker pretending to be a major political donor. In a 20 minute conversation, in response to Murphy's suggestion of planting 'troublemakers' in the pro-union protests, Walker replied:

"You know, well, the only problem with that -- because we thought about that. The problem -- the, my only gut reaction to that is right now the lawmakers I've talked to have just completely had it with them, the public is not really fond of this."[48]


Personal life

Walker is married to Tonette, and they have two children.[49]

During the summers of 2004 through 2008, Walker led a motorcycle tour called the "Executive's Ride" through Wisconsin and parts of Illinois and Minnesota. The ride was organized to attract tourists to Milwaukee County.[citation needed]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Scott Walker 1,128,941 52.25
Democratic Tom Barrett 1,004,303 46.48
Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election 2010 – Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Scott Walker 360,053 58.58
Republican Mark Neumann 237,944 38.72
Milwaukee County Executive Election 2008[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non-partisan race Scott Walker (incumbent) 98,039 58.77 +1.4
Not Applicable Lena Taylor 68,785 41.23 −1.4
Milwaukee County Executive Election 2004[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Not Applicable Scott Walker (incumbent) 136,203 57.40 +2.3
Not Applicable David Riemer 101,089 42.60 −2.2
Milwaukee County Executive Special Election 2002[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Not Applicable Scott Walker 99,850 55.18
Not Applicable James Ryan 81,099 44.82
Wisconsin State Assembly 14th District — won elections in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000[10]
Wisconsin State Assembly 7th District Election 1990
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Gwen Moore (incumbent) 3,847 69.48
Republican Scott Walker 1,690 30.52

References

  1. ^ Umhoefer, Dave (May 1, 2002). "Walker to step down from Assembly". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 17, 2011. Walker will probably resign on the second Tuesday of May or at some point afterward {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Sentinel Choice: Scott Walker in 14th Assembly District". The Milwaukee Sentinel. June 23, 1993. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  3. ^ Erikson, Doug (January 3, 2011). "Inauguration day starts with prayer breakfast". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Barbour, Clay (October 24, 2010). "From preacher's kid to front-runner: Scott Walker's small-town roots led to reputation as fiscal hawk". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  5. ^ Doyle, Mike. "Next Wisconsin gov has Boone family roots". Rockford Register Star. Rockford, IL. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "BBS Alumni - Notable BBS Graduates". Badger Boys State. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Boys Nation alum now governor-elect". Boys State/Nation. The American Legion. December 19, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  8. ^ Roeder, David (February 21, 2011). "Wisconsin Gov. Walker turns state into battleground for unions". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  9. ^ Ames, Ann Marie (07 September 2010). "Rock County close to home for Walker". Walworth County Today. Retrieved February 23, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b c d "Walker, Scott K 1967". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  11. ^ Goodman, Brooke (October 26, 2010). "Walker Campaign Record Murky". Marquette Tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  12. ^ Marley, Patrick (July 31, 2010). "Is finishing college an issue in governor's race? - Some observers say Walker's lack of a degree won't be a major topic". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  13. ^ "Scott Walker County Executive at Milwaukee County". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "AP Election Guide 2010". NPR. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  15. ^ a b Lamke, Kenneth R. (June 23, 1993). "Libertarian sets self apart from Assembly foes". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e Schultze, Steve (April 20, 2009). "Walker gov announcement expected April 28". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  17. ^ "Walker Wins Race For Milwaukee County Executive". WISN 2 News. Milwaukee, WI. April 6, 2004. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |acccessdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "4-06-04 County Executive Results". Milwaukee County Election Commission. April 6, 2004. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  19. ^ a b "4-01-08 County Executive Results" (PDF). Milwaukee County Election Commission. April 1, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c Schultze, Steve (March 19, 2008). "Walker would lower salary givebacks - County executive would return $10,000 if he's re-elected". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  21. ^ "Statement of Scott Walker, Republican Candidate for Governor and Milwaukee County Executive" (PDF) (Press release). Walker for Governor. March 24, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  22. ^ WisPolitics Staff (May 12, 2007). "Fred Thompson, Walker top WisPolitics Straw Poll". WisPolitics GOP Convention Blog. Wispolitics.com. Retrieved February 15, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Staff (May 17, 2008). "Ryan, Walker early GOP favorites for leading 2010 statewide races". WisPolitics GOP Convention Blog. Wispolitics.com. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  24. ^ "Fall 2010 primary election results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 14, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  25. ^ Marley, Patrick. "Beil accuses Walker of wrecking state services". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  26. ^ Pommer, Matt (November 13, 2009). "Walker targets wages and benefits". The Daily Reporter. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  27. ^ Pommer, Matt (October 19, 2009). "Commentary: Walker grabs headlines". The Daily Reporter. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  28. ^ Rodriguez, Aaron (January 31, 2010). "Scott Walker's Pro-Business Platform". The Hispanic Conservative. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  29. ^ Schultze, Steve (January 6, 2009). "Walker says no thanks to federal stimulus dollars". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  30. ^ Cooper, Michael (December 9, 2010). "More U.S. Rail Funds for 13 States as 2 Reject Aid". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  31. ^ Scott Walker for Wisconsin Governor
  32. ^ a b c d Marley, Patrick and Bergquist, Lee (October 2, 2010). "Abortion, birth control are wedge issues in governor's race — Barrett, Walker also differ on sex education law". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 17, 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ a b "Tom Barrett says Scott Walker wants to ban abortion, even in cases of rape or incest (True)". PolitiFact Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 21, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  34. ^ Foley, Ryan J. (July 12, 2010). "Wisconsin governor candidates Scott Walker and Mark Neumann join abortion debate". Appleton, WI: The Post-Crescent. The Associated Press. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  35. ^ a b "Tom Barrett says Scott Walker wants to ban the pill and other forms of birth control (Half True)". Politifact Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 28, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  36. ^ "Scott Walker to Resign on the 27th". Milwaukee, WI: WTMJ. December 15, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  37. ^ McCrady, Melissa (December 27, 2010). "Walker Works Last Day as County Executive". Milwaukee, WI: WTMJ. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  38. ^ Bailey, John (February 18, 2011). "Wisconsin: How we got here". NBC News. Retrieved February 21, 2011. Gov. Walker's Budget Repair Bill -- Pensions: Requires employees who pay into the Wisconsin Retirement System to contribute 50% of their annual pension payment an estimated 5.8% of salary; currently, employers make all pension contributions. -- Health insurance: Requires state employees to pay at least 12.6% of the average cost of annual premiums—about double what they pay now.
  39. ^ "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says National Guard ready for any unrest over anti-union bill". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 11, 2011.
  40. ^ a b "Walker says National Guard is prepared". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  41. ^ a b "Fake' Sick Notes Given to Wisconsin Protesters Amid Anti-Union Bill Faceoff". FOX News. February 19, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  42. ^ "Read summary of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 16, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  43. ^ Johnson, Mike (February 13, 2011). "Wisconsin AFL-CIO ads attack Walker plan on collective bargaining". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  44. ^ Trottman, Melanie (February 14, 2011). "Public-Worker Unions Steel for Budget Fights". The Wall Street Journal.
  45. ^ Gast, Phil (February 18, 2011). "Wisconsin legislators aren't the first to walk out, leave town". CNN. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  46. ^ Monica Davey and Steven Greenhouse (February 16, 2011). "Angry Demonstrations in Wisconsin as Cuts Loom". New York Times.
  47. ^ Hall, Dee J.; Spicuzza, Mary; Barbour, Clay (February 19. 2011). "Opposing sides meet as Capitol protest enters sixth day". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-gets-punked-on-tape/71613/
  49. ^ Drake, Bruce (October 8, 2010). "Is Scott Walker Married?". Politics Daily. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  50. ^ "4-30-02 County Executive Special Election". Milwaukee County Election Commission. April 30, 2002. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "billionaire" is not used in the content (see the help page).
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 14th District
1993–2002 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Milwaukee County Executive
2002–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Wisconsin
2011–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of Precedence of the United States
Within Wisconsin 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Governor of Iowa Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside Wisconsin 		Succeeded byas Governor of California

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