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County Executive Walker, looking like he'll run for governor, has raised $413,000(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 22--Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has pulled in more than $272,000 from 128 large donors in recent months, including a broad array of business and political leaders, in his still unofficial Republican quest for governor in 2010. His latest campaign finance report shows a burst of fund-raising activity late last year, with a total of $413,000 in donations and a cash balance of more than $360,000 at year's end. His 128 big donors each gave $1,000 or more. Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle had $1.4 million in his account at the end of 2008. His fund-raising ability has discouraged many Republicans about their prospects in 2010, when Doyle has said he plans to run again, said Chris Lato, a political consultant and former state Republican Party official. Walker goes to Washington, D.C., for a fund-raiser today, hosted by Wisconsin's three Republican House members and former Republican Gov. Tommy G. Thompson. Though Walker remains careful to avoid definitively saying he'll run, his growing campaign wallet, ubiquitous presence at local GOP Lincoln Day dinners around the state and amped-up rhetoric criticizing Doyle suggest Walker is moving toward a 2010 campaign. "He'd make an excellent candidate if he decides to" run for governor, said Russ Darrow, a local car dealer who lost a GOP U.S. Senate primary in 2004. Darrow gave $1,500 to Walker in July. Walker was on the Lincoln Day dinner circuit again this past weekend and has previously addressed GOP crowds from Janesville to Hudson. Walker acknowledged that the distinction between his status as a potential rather than official candidate often is blurred for many. "It's no great surprise, and even though I'm not saying it, I usually get introduced as the next governor or the guy who should be the next governor," Walker said. He'll formally announce his decision sometime before the state Republican convention in early May, Walker said. Turning up the heat Meanwhile, he's intensifying his attacks on Doyle and attempting to solidify his anti-tax credentials. Walker faults Doyle's new state budget proposal for provisions that would raise taxes, such as higher rates on capital gains on investments and on state income taxes for those with very high incomes. He also has been touting his suggestion that most of the $3.7 billion in federal stimulus money coming to Wisconsin should be used for tax cuts, specifically calling for a moratorium on all sales taxes for the rest of the year, instead of spending on infrastructure projects or aid to the poor. Observers on both the left and right have said there's almost no chance of that happening and note it would take another act of Congress to undo the rules for the just-passed $787 billion Recovery and Reinvestment Act. On Friday, Walker reiterated the circumstances under which he would accept federal stimulus aid. He said he would take it as long as it didn't require county matching funds and didn't require future county spending. Walker earlier refused to submit a list of potential county projects for stimulus funding. State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke said he relished the idea of a Walker candidacy for governor. "Scott Walker would have to run on what I would view as a pretty miserable record as county executive," Wineke said. County parks have suffered under Walker and the county budget is "a mess," he said. Walker says his efforts to rein in spending have resulted in county property tax levy increases averaging around 2% a year. He also says he's cleaned up the county pension scandal and is making strides on slimming the size of the county work force. Walker is not the only Republican looking to take on Doyle next year. Homebuilder and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann said he was seriously considering entering the race but won't announce until fall. Neumann said he stayed out of the GOP race for governor in 2006 in deference to Walker. But Walker dropped out when his fund-raising lagged, clearing the way for then-Rep. Mark Green, who was defeated by Doyle. Neumann said he doesn't want a repeat of that scenario in this cycle. He praised Walker, but Neumann also hinted at his extensive private sector experience as an advantage. "It's pretty obvious we have some problems financially," he said. "I'm not sure we're going to get the answers from people who have been in office all their lives." Walker served nine years in the Legislature before his election as county executive in 2002. Another possible Republican gubernatorial candidate is former state GOP Chairman Rick Graber, who just returned from serving 2 1/2 years as U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic. Graber said he hadn't ruled out the idea of running for governor, but his priority now is his next immediate career move. Appleton businessman Mark Todd also has said he wants to run for governor as a Republican next year. To see more of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.jsonline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |