In Tuesday night's primary, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker was officially chosen to represent the Republican Party in November's election. Walker, whose grassroots primary campaign stressed smaller, more responsible government, will now face former Congressman and current Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. According to an average of polls from pollster.com, Walker is currently five points ahead of Barrett and in good position to win the governorship. While Walker is the endorsed Republican candidate in the race, he will be representing much more than just a single political party come this November.
Walker, whose brown bag-themed campaign gained much popularity during the primary, will be representing the values and principles Wisconsinites consider most important in their daily lives. With the state's unemployment rate soaring to 8.1 percent, he will be representing those who feel Governor Doyle has left them behind in this economic turmoil. As people see a record deficit that has soared to billions of dollars, Walker will be representing individuals who wish to see fiscal responsibility and discipline restored to the state once again.
Now many college students, who optimistically looked to Barack Obama and Democrats to solve the problems our nation and our state face, are now faced with massive unemployment and a sluggish economy themselves. The job market is especially tough for college graduates as companies are less willing to hire workers with little to no experience. Despite the fact that many young people remain more liberal on social issues, they are looking to conservatives like Walker to fix this economy and restore jobs to a State that has lost hundreds of thousands over the past several years.
As voters are becoming more and more fed up with the worn-out rhetoric coming from the left that government is the only solution to problems our state and nation face, they are looking to a person who has proven leadership in tackling these tough issues through new and innovative means. As county executive, Walker was able to lower the county's debt by 10 percent without raising taxes. Walker understands, as many economists do, that it is the private sector, not the government that creates jobs. He understands that raising taxes during the middle of such economic uncertainty will seriously impede economic expansion and job creation. He, like many Wisconsinites, values personal responsibility over government entitlements.
While, according to a recent Rasmussen poll, most Wisconsinites see the economy and government fiscal irresponsibility as the biggest factors influencing their vote this fall, many are also fed up with the ""business-as-usual attitude"" that often engrosses the Capitol. Though both candidates in the race have promised to reform government and bring sound ethical practices to office, Tom Barrett raised over $340,000 from political action committees and lobbyists. How can the mayor be serious about reforming the way government works when he takes hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from people who don't always have the best interest of the state in mind?
Scott Walker's grassroots approach to campaigning on the other hand has resonated with voters across the state. Walker has also promised a more transparent administration which requires lobbyists to report any attempts to influence particular areas of public policy.
Walker has done more than just say he wants to solve the problems that face our state; he has put forward solutions for them. He has pledged to work with Democrats to eliminate $300 million worth of fraud and waste from the state by the end of his first year in office. He has put forward an economic plan that will bring 250,000 jobs to Wisconsin by 2015 through lowering taxes. This encourages businesses from other states to invest in Wisconsin. These among other things have broadened his appeal with voters across the state.
Scott Walker's proven leadership and solutions to the problems our state faces make him the best candidate for governor. His appeal to both conservatives and independents who are tired of the current governor's policies is showing in the polls. Wisconsin needs someone right now who understands our economy and understands how to fix it.
Matt Payne is a junior majoring in Chinese and economics. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
