Gov. Scott Walker's Chief of Staff Keith Gilkes announced to the cabinet Friday he would resign from his post to work for Walker's campaign, which will likely prepare Walker for a possible recall election in January.
Gilkes, who was Walker's campaign manager during the 2010 gubernatorial election, became his chief of staff in January when Walker took office. Now the lead advisor on the campaign committee, he said he plans to highlight the administration's efforts to ""get our state government and economy headed in the right direction.""
""Working with our grassroots supporters, we can share with voters the initial successes of the government reforms proposed by Governor Walker,"" Gilkes said in a statement to the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Walker appointed former Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Schutt to take over as his chief of staff Oct 8. Walker also announced former Policy Director Ryan Murray will be the deputy chief of staff, with former Health Care and Education Policy Advisor Kimberly Liedl assuming the position of policy director.
Walker also appointed former Legislative Liaison Cindy Polzin as legislative director and added another spokesperson, Julie Lund, to his staff.
Walker changed his staff just days after Republican lawmakers scrutinized a Government Accountability Board decision to validate printed, downloadable recall petitions.
But Democrats argued if the GAB's decision was deemed illegitimate, it would be harder for groups to organize a recall against Walker.
""It will give Governor Walker the chance to slow down and muck up the recall process when, coincidentally, the next recall election may very well be that of Governor Walker,"" state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said in a statement.
Democratic groups planning to launch a recall of Walker began meeting across the state last week to discuss campaign strategies. Campaigning at earliest could begin Nov. 5, a year after Walker was elected.
