REFLECTIONS

Please join the Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker in welcoming former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on June 29, 2009. Speaker Gingrich is supporting his campaign for Governor of Wisconsin. 

Newt Gingrich is a leading voice of the conservative movement in America. Speaker Gingrich crafted a platform and vision that led Republicans to take over the U.S. House in 1994,Gingrich is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America”, which led the Republican Party to victory in 1994, capturing the majority in the U.S. House for the first time in forty years. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first series of tax cuts in sixteen years. He is the founder of the Center for Health Transformation and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Gingrich has a Ph.D. in history. He is a best-selling author and a contributor for the Fox News Channel.

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The Walker family knew nearly all of Plainfield’s roughly 450 residents. In 1976 a patriotic young Scott, determined to purchase a flag for Plainfield City Hall, went door to door soliciting donations from his neighbors.

The family moved to Delavan, Wisconsin in 1977, when Scott’s father was called to pastor a church there. Scott was involved in sports, band, church and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, remaining active in scouting to this day.

While in high school, Scott was selected to attend the American Legion’s Badger Boys State Program in Ripon, Wisconsin. He was then selected as one of two representatives to Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. Both of these programs teach young men that the American form of government is stronger and more vital in today’s world of struggle and change than ever before. The experience opened Scott’s eyes to public service.

In 1986 Scott moved to Milwaukee to attend Marquette University. While still in school he worked for IBM before leaving to work full time in financial development for the American Red Cross.

In 1993, Scott was elected to the State Assembly. There he chaired several committees and authored key pieces of legislation including Wisconsin’s Truth-in-Sentencing law, ending the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases and requiring a photo ID to vote.

After being reelected to the Assembly four times, Scott was elected to reform Milwaukee County in 2002 as County Executive. His election followed a recall campaign against then-Milwaukee County Executive Tom Ament as a result of a county pension scandal. The media exposed a county plan that gave away millions in retirement benefits to county workers. The scandal rocked county government to its core and left taxpayers on the hook for millions in pension obligations.

For the next seven years, Scott faithfully kept his promise to spend taxpayer money as if it was his own.  He cut the county’s debt by 10%, reduced the county workforce by 23% and authored seven consecutive budgets without increasing the property tax levy.  Despite a failing national and state economy, Milwaukee County recorded a budget surplus in 2008.  Reelected in April of 2008, Scott received nearly 60% of the vote in a county that favored President Obama by 66%.

Scott and his wife, Tonette, live in Wauwatosa with their children. They are active in the community and their church.  Sons Matt and Alex play sports and are active with their church and are involved in the Boy Scouts.

Monday, June 29, 2009

General Event
Starts at 5 pm

The Wisconsin Club

900 West Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin