Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
1. Scott Walker was born on Nov. 2, 1967, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Llewellyn, a pastor, and Patricia Walker, a department store bookkeeper who also wrote a column for the local newspaper. His family moved to Delavan, Wis., when Walker was 10.
2. Walker is an Eagle Scout and in 1985 was selected as one of two to represent Wisconsin at the American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. He credits the trip for sparking his interest in public service.
3. In 1986, Walker began college at Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he ran unsuccessfully for class president.
4. Walker left Marquette during his senior year to take a marketing and development job with the American Red Cross. He never earned a degree.
5. Walker married his wife, Tonette, in 1993. They have two teenage sons.
6. Walker was elected to the Wisconsin state Assembly in 1993 and served nine years.
7. In 2002, Walker was elected Milwaukee County executive after a pension scandal forced the sitting executive to step down.
8. Walker first ran for Wisconsin governor in 2006, but dropped out of the race after a year of campaigning because he couldn't raise enough money.
9. Walker was elected governor of Wisconsin in November 2010. With Tea Party support and a pledge to bring 250,000 jobs to the state, he defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat, 52 to 46 percent.
10. In November, Governor-elect Walker signaled that he would turn down almost $810 million in federal dollars for a rail development project in Wisconsin, arguing its operation costs would be too high.
- See photos of the Madison, Wisconsin protests.
- Read the U.S. News debate: Should public sector workers have collective bargaining rights?
- Vote: Is Walker right about public sector unions?
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Lisa of WI 4:17PM October 05, 2012
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reb of WA 11:27AM November 28, 2011