Scott Walker born in Colorado Springs
Scott Walker is born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Llewellyn, a pastor, and Patricia Walker, a department store bookkeeper who also writes a column for the local newspaper. His family moves to Plainview, Iowa, when he is 2-1/2 years old where his father takes a job as pastor of the First Baptist Church. His third grade teacher says he is:
An excellent student. He was a mischievous little boy, but he wasn’t naughty.
When he is 10, they move to Delavan, Wisconsin. In 1985 he is selected as an Eagle Scout to represent Wisconsin at the American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C.
Enters Marquette University
Walker enrolls at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During his freshman year he becomes a student senator tasked to investigate a scandal where members of student government has a homecoming dinner at the Pfister hotel charged to student government accounts. Walker’s committee recommends impeachment and the student body president and vice-president resign. There is a full trial in the student senate and the accused are acquitted. Glen Barry, who is caught up in the scandal, calls it a “McCarthyite investigation” saying that:
no criminal charges of any kind, and no hard evidence of wrong-doing by anyone [was found] – Walker grandstands and leads a student government trial of myself and others, that could have been avoided if he so chose. Walker lost on all counts, but not before destroying a few people’s reputations, and amassing personal power.
Runs for student government president
Walker runs for president of the student body against John Quigley. Walker runs on a 19-point resume. He urges cooperation with administrators and opposes sit-ins and protests. He promises safer streets and bringing in cool bands like INXS and REM. He also highlights his anti-abortion views. He hands out buttons that say “Beam Me Up, Scotty!” Slogans are sprayed on campus snowbanks with water and food coloring. The campaign also arranges a special deal at Lucci’s Pizza: Walker voters get extra cheese free. However, the election commission finds Walker guilty of campaigning a week early. His supporters are accused of stealing copies of the campus newspaper that endorses his opponent so students cannot read it. The day before the election Stephen Satran, Walker’s roommate and supporter, distributes a flier attacking Walker’s opponent. The next day the campus newspaper says Walker is unfit for president. Walker loses the election 1,245 to 927. Many think he loses because of that flier. Satran:
That was all because of something I did. Scott didn’t even know about it. The worst thing you can say about him in that time was that he shouldn’t have trusted some of his friends. He shouldn’t have trusted me.
Drops out of college
Walker drops out of college a year before graduating and leaves in good standing.
During my senior year at Marquette University, I was offered a full-time job at the American Red Cross. I thought I would squeeze in a course here or there and finish things off in a year or two, but then Tonette and I got married. Next thing you know, you’re putting all your extra time and money into your kids.
Loses election for State Assembly seat
Walker runs for a State Assembly seat against Gwen Moore. He campaigns on an anti-crime message promising more police on the street and tougher sentences for drug dealers.
The number one fear is crime. For too long, we have ignored this issue and now it is time to do something about it.
Walker loses only receiving 31 percent of the vote. His campaign manager:
In hindsight, there was really no chance.
Wins primary
Walker wins the Republican primary in a five-way race for the 14th District Assembly seat in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Mary Jo Paque, who comes in fourth, credits his endorsement by the Wisconsin Right To Life to his victory:
I still think the majority of people in Wauwatosa are pro-choice, but the machine behind pro-life, they got their people to the polls. It’s not the Right-To-Life issue — it’s the Right-To-Life machine getting people to the polls.
Wins 14th District Assembly seat
Walker wins a special election over Christopher Ament for the 14th District Assembly seat in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He campaigns against crime and abortion, reducing taxes, and reforming welfare. He calls for a cap on State spending tied to the rate of inflation and an increase in prison beds. He attributes his win to:
hard work more than anything, more than any specific issue. I wore out two pairs of shoes hitting just under 10,000 homes in 2-1/2 months.
Reelection campaign
Running for reelection for State Assembly, Walker campaigns on a tough anti-crime and anti-tax message.
Crime is clearly still the most important issue in this district. I’ve been pleased to be able to deliver on that.
He also worked on property tax relief which resulted in spending restraints on education. Although the Wauwatosa school district increased its spending nearly 3%, matching the rate of inflation, school officials had to make difficult budgeting decisions.
That is not necessarily a bad thing. Some could argue that the school budget isn’t increasing at the level they would like it to be. That in part is what got us, as a state, into the problem of property taxes.
His opponent, Dale Dulberger, disagrees saying that the restraints have harmed schools:
On a whole range of issues, I think his voting record doesn’t reflect the values of the people of Wauwatosa. He’s taken some extreme positions that I think are out of step with the people of Wauwatosa.
Seeks third term
0 0 David Buskirk David Buskirk2015-07-24 14:10:222015-07-24 19:11:03Seeks third termAnti-crime, anti-tax campaign
In his reelection bid for State Assembly, Walker campaigns on a tough anti-crime and anti-tax message. He supports a tax-cut plan that will save the average household $1,494 in income taxes over five years, life-time imprisonment for pedophiles and laws to protect vulnerable senior citizens from abuse. Commenting on truth-in-sentencing legislation he co-authored:
You serve 100% of your time. Ten years means ten years. I’ve found even with people who lean left of center, they’re in favor of incarcerating prisoners.
His opponent, Jim Heidenreich, disagrees:
It’s gotten real punitive. Mr. Walker supports building neighborhood prisons, not neighborhood schools. He’s big on building prisons; he’s big on shipping prisoners out of state. But let’s quit shipping ’em out of state, and let’s put some money into rehabilitation. That’s just as important as punishment.
Endorsement
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal endorses Walker for State Assembly saying Walker’s record of achievement earns him another term. Walker was a major force behind truth-in-sentencing, preserving land that was about to be sold at the County Grounds, and wanting to fix problems with the program Wisconsin Works.
He is emerging as a leader in the Legislature.
Wins primary
Walker wins in the primary election for Milwaukee County Executive receiving 37% of the votes against five other challengers. He says that he is serious about reform, promising to cut the executive salary from $128,820 to $60,000 and holding a referendum on whether the job should remain.
I am not afraid to act immediately to take on those who would defend the abuse and the waste in county government.
Speaks at forum
Running for Milwaukee County Executive, Walker speaks at the League of Women Voters forum outlining what he will do as county executive. He favors a part-time county board, the elimination of the executive’s job, and many other proposals to consolidate and cooperate with other levels of government. He is for libraries being able to charge fees for some services, against the elimination of the shared revenue system and he is for cities and towns being able to levy a local sales tax. He believes that tough issues need to be tackled, not handled with a soft touch.
It requires an aggressive level of leadership to try and move things forward.
Wins election
Walker wins the election for Milwaukee County Executive. He pledges not to increase taxes even though the county is running a $3.5 million deficit. He is going to lobby against cuts in state-shared revenue to localities and for greater state funding for the county-run court system. He wants to cut the size of the 25-member county board and turn it into a policy-making body of part-time supervisors.
I believe the campaign starts tomorrow. It is the campaign to get things done.
Refuses contributions
Walker ends a tradition by refusing to accept contributions to his reelection campaign from county employees. He will return any contributions already given and he does not expect them to attend his fund-raising events. He wants to evaluate his employees on their merits, not on their political loyalty.
I’ve seen too many times in government where the expectation to give comes with the job.
Kicks off reelection campaign
Walker kicks off his reelection campaign at a cocktail-hour event at Villa Terrace Museum hosted by 107 backers who pledge to give $500 to $1,000. The event brings in more than $80,000 for his first fund-raiser.
Wants workweek or jobs cut
With a $4 million deficit, Walker plans to either layoff 400 workers or cut the workweek to 35 hours for all county employees. Labor leaders promise a court fight if Walker makes a unilateral decision:
Why should it only be county employees who take a hit? We don’t think that’s the only choice the exec has. . . . The county could ask its hundreds of private vendors to take a cut, or seek workers interested in taking voluntary furloughs.
Walker tells the unions that if they do not agree to the cut in the workweek, he will be forced to layoff people:
We feel we have a strong legal case for imposing a 35-hour workweek. The approach shares the pain across county government and minimizes the impact on the public, which will see little service reduction because workers in many cases could simply shave an hour a day off their schedules. Management has the ability to reduce workers’ hours to 35 hours a week without union approval during a budget crises.
Accused of phony budgeting
David Riemer, running against Walker for County Executive, accuses him of phony budgeting and challenges him to sign a “no surprises, no layoffs” pledge for 2004 in the wake of 280 county employees being laid off this past year. Instead of vetoing the county board’s revision of his proposed budget, Walker signs it while expressing concerns about meeting it. Riemer:
If Walker thought the budget wasn’t balanced, he should have sent it back or used his line-item veto power to alter it. This isn’t leadership, this is showmanship.
Refuses to sign pledge
Walker refuses to sign a pledge given to him by his opponent, David Riemer, stating that he will serve out the full term if reelected as Milwaukee County Executive. Riemer says that to fix the problems in the county requires a full commitment. Walker, who has expressed a desire to run for governor in 2006, says this is a non-issue:
I have absolutely no intention at this point of running for any other office but for reelection as Milwaukee County Executive, and I plan on focusing all my energies and talents on meeting those tasks.
Debates
At the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee, Walker debates David Riemer, for the office of County Executive. On funding for parks, Walker says that state government is the key. State mandated justice programs have limited county funding for quality-of-life services. On the increase of public transit fares, he says that it was caused by rising labor and fuel costs. But he is for shifting sales tax revenue from automobile sales that go to the state’s general fund to transit. He is also for a law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons. Riemer says that Walker should stop blaming labor unions, the state government and others for his failures to reverse trends that hurt county government:
You never hear any acceptance of responsibility to provide leadership.