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===Milwaukee County Executive (2002-present)===
===Milwaukee County Executive (2002-present)===
Scott Walker first won the job of Milwaukee [[County Executive]] in a [[special election]] on April 30, 2002, after the former county executive [[Tom Ament]] was ousted in a [[pension]]-fund scandal. He ran on a [[Political platform|platform]] that primarily featured [[fiscal responsibility]], and voluntarily reduced his own salary after taking office saving Milwaukee County over $360,000 <ref>http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29505169.html</ref>. The position of County Executive is ''[[non-partisan]]'' by law in Wisconsin.
Scott Walker first won the job of Milwaukee [[County Executive]] in a [[special election]] on April 30, 2002, after the former county executive [[Tom Ament]] was ousted in a [[pension]]-fund scandal. He ran on a [[Political platform|platform]] that primarily featured [[fiscal responsibility]], and voluntarily reduced his own salary after taking office saving Milwaukee County over $360,000 <ref>http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29505169.html</ref>. The position of County Executive is ''[[non-partisan]]'' by law in Wisconsin. Yet that does not stop Scott Walker from attempting to insert his conservative political views into his policies, including his attempts to privatize maintenance jobs for the Milwaukee Country Parks System.


{{Election box begin | title=Milwaukee County Executive [[Special Election]] 2002<ref>[http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/2002ElectionResults9988.htm 2002 Election Results]</ref>}}
{{Election box begin | title=Milwaukee County Executive [[Special Election]] 2002<ref>[http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/2002ElectionResults9988.htm 2002 Election Results]</ref>}}

Revision as of 21:44, 8 April 2010

This article is about the politician. For other people with this name, see Scott Walker (disambiguation).
Scott K. Walker
File:ScottWalkerfromscottwalker.org.jpg
Walker in 2006 at press conference
Milwaukee County Executive
Incumbent
Assumed office
2002
Preceded byJanine P. Geske
Personal details
Born (1967-11-02) November 2, 1967 (age 56)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTonette Walker
ChildrenMatthew, Alex
ResidenceWauwatosa, Wisconsin
Alma materMarquette University (attended)
Websitehttp://scottwalker.org

Scott K. Walker (born November 2, 1967) is an American politician, and the current county executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Walker announced on April 2009 that he will run for Governor of Wisconsin as a Republican in 2010. He is widely considered the front-runner for the Republican nomination and leads his potential Democratic opponents according to Rasmussen polling.[1][2][3][4]

Political career

Wisconsin State Assembly (1993-2002)

On June 29, 1993, Walker was elected in a special election to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent the 14th district, which covered Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He won reelection several times for successive two-year terms, until winning another special election in 2002 for Milwaukee County Executive.

In the State Assembly, Walker chaired the Committee on Corrections and the Courts, while also serving on the Assembly Committee on Health, the Assembly Committee on Census and Redistricting, the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions and the Assembly Committee on Housing. As a legislator, Walker wrote the controversial 1999 law known as truth-in-sentencing, which abolished early release from prison on parole.[5]

Milwaukee County Executive (2002-present)

Scott Walker first won the job of Milwaukee County Executive in a special election on April 30, 2002, after the former county executive Tom Ament was ousted in a pension-fund scandal. He ran on a platform that primarily featured fiscal responsibility, and voluntarily reduced his own salary after taking office saving Milwaukee County over $360,000 [6]. The position of County Executive is non-partisan by law in Wisconsin. Yet that does not stop Scott Walker from attempting to insert his conservative political views into his policies, including his attempts to privatize maintenance jobs for the Milwaukee Country Parks System.

Milwaukee County Executive Special Election 2002[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Not Applicable Scott Walker 99,850 55
Not Applicable James Ryan 81,099 45

Walker was re-elected as Milwaukee County Executive on April 6, 2004 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating former Wisconsin state budget director David Riemer.

Milwaukee County Executive Election 2004[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Not Applicable Scott Walker (incumbent) 136,099 57 +2.0
Not Applicable David Riemer 100,989 43 −2.0

On Sunday December 2, 2007 Walker officially announced his bid for re-election as County Executive in 2008. He was re-elected on April 1, 2008 after defeating State Senator Lena Taylor with 59 percent of the vote.[9][10]

Milwaukee County Executive Election 2008[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Not Applicable Scott Walker (incumbent) 98,039 59 +2.0
Not Applicable Lena Taylor 68,785 41 −2.0

In each of the past five summers (2004–2008), Walker has led an extensive motorcycle tour (the "Executive's Ride") throughout Wisconsin and parts of Illinois and Minnesota. The ride seeks to attract tourists to travel to Milwaukee County and visit its attractions.

In January 2009, Walker faced scrutiny for refusing to pursue the stimulus funding (the ARRA) proposed by President Barack Obama, believing that the stimulus dollars often require an additional contribution from taxpayers.[12][13]

Runs for Wisconsin governor

2006

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2006

Walker announced on January 24, 2005 that he would run for Governor of Wisconsin as the candidate of the Republican Party (GOP) in 2006 against the current governor, Democrat Jim Doyle.[14] However, on March 24, 2006, Walker announced that he would no longer seek the 2006 Republican nomination, citing concerns about his funding sources and his desire to ensure that his challenger Mark Green had full party support to win the governorship.[15]

2010

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2010

Walker announced on April 26, 2009 that he will run for Governor of Wisconsin as a Republican in 2010.[3][4] Walker has won the Wispolitics straw poll conducted by the news service at the last three state GOP conventions. The most recent straw poll was conducted on May 4, 2009, where Walker received 395 of the 423 votes.[16] Former Congressman Mark Neumann and Appleton businessman Mark Todd are also seeking the Republican nomination, and former Gov. Tommy Thompson has said he is considering the race.

The incumbent, Democrat Jim Doyle, has decided against seeking a third term. The only major Democratic party candidate is Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Before Doyle decided against the race, several polls were conducted pairing Walker and the incumbent governor in hypothetical matches. A poll released in March 2009 by Dailykos showed Doyle defeating both Walker and Neumann. In a hypothetical matchup against Walker, Doyle is ahead 50% - 43%. When paired against Neumann, the results are similar, with Doyle ahead 49% - 42%.[17] These results stand in sharp contrast to a poll released by Raleigh, North Carolina based Public Policy Poll. In this Poll Walker led Doyle 48% - 40%.[18]

Walker raised $1.1 million in the first six months of 2009 and reported having the same amount of cash-on-hand. Doyle reported raising $903,586 in the first half of 2009, but reported more than $2.0 million cash-on hand.[19]

Walker has proposed cutting state employee wages and benefits in order to roll back taxes. Walker also states that he would do away with 2009 tax increases made by the state budget that affect business taxes, capital gains taxes, and income taxes for top income earners.[20] Detractors say that this would help only the wealthy, and that "slashing public employee salaries" would adversely affect state services.[21][22][23] Proponents say that tax cuts for businesses reduce the cost of labor, which ultimately promotes consumer demand and more job growth. [24]

Personal life

Scott Walker in 2007 at Marquette University as part of "On the Issues with Mike Gousha"

Walker was born to Llew and Pat Walker in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His family moved when he was an infant to Plainfield, Iowa, and then to Delavan, Wisconsin, in 1977. Walker is married to Tonette Walker, and they have two children, Matthew and Alex. He first got involved with Wisconsin politics in 1993, at the age of 26.

Education

Walker graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1986. He then attended Marquette University from 1986 to 1990, but left Marquette his senior year - without graduating - to work in financial development for the American Red Cross.[25]

References

  1. ^ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/wisconsin/election_2010_wisconsin_governor
  2. ^ http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_b42628d2-dd08-11de-8a40-001cc4c03286.html
  3. ^ a b Scott Walker Announcement Walker Announcement Republican Party of Wisconsin website.
  4. ^ a b Walters, Steve. Walker Announcement Expected April 28" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  5. ^ Will Walker enter another fight for GOP gubernatorial nomination? Wisconsin State Journal
  6. ^ http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29505169.html
  7. ^ 2002 Election Results
  8. ^ 2004 Election Results
  9. ^ Fred Thompson, Walker top WisPolitics Straw Poll Wispolitics.com
  10. ^ Ryan, Walker early GOP favorites for leading 2010 statewide races Wispolitics.com
  11. ^ 2008 Election Results
  12. ^ Walker says no thanks to federal stimulus dollars Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  13. ^ Scott Walker: Why I'm Not Lining Up for Stimulus Handouts Wisconsin State Journal
  14. ^ Umhoefer, Dave. "Walker launches gubernatorial bid" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 25, 2005
  15. ^ "Green Statement on Campaign Announcement by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker" News release by Green for Wisconsin. March 24, 2006
  16. ^ Wispolitics: Walker wins 2009 GOP Strawpoll
  17. ^ "New poll puts Doyle ahead of Walker, Neumann". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 9, 2009.
  18. ^ http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WI_615.pdf
  19. ^ "Walker campaign fundraising tops Doyle's". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 21, 2009.
  20. ^ Patrick Marley, Walker says he would cut taxes in first budget Nov. 2, 2009
  21. ^ Patrick Marley "Beil accuses Walker of wrecking state services" All Politics Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 3, 2009
  22. ^ Matt Pommer, Commentary "Walker targets wages and benefits" Blog, The Daily Reporter November 13, 2009
  23. ^ Matt Pommer, Commentary "Walker grabs headlines" Blog, The Daily Reporter October 16, 2009
  24. ^ Aaron Rodriguez, "Scott Walker's Pro-Business Platform Jan. 31, 2010
  25. ^ Scott Walker, Linkedin
Political offices
Preceded by Milwaukee County Executive
2002 - present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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