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Wisconsin governor criticized nationally

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Staff changes in the governor’s office and handling of the state’s $1.1 billion budget deficit by cutting funding to local governments has created national criticism of Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum.

The New York Times reported criticism of McCallum’s management style. The article said disgruntled supporters complained the governor was lacking people and leadership skills to respond to the constituent’s concerns.

McCallum served as Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor under Tommy Thompson before replacing him as governor last year after Thompson was called to be secretary of health and human services for President George Bush.

Dissenters said McCallum has a difficult time following in the footsteps of Thompson, who was a popular and widely respected governor.

When Thompson left for Washington, he took much of his staff, including his entire press office with him, leaving McCallum to fill the empty positions with novice staff.

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause of Wisconsin, said McCallum’s staff suffered.

“He almost seemed determined to be his own person and bring in his own people, but that resulted in a lack of continuity from the Thompson administration,” Heck said.

A poll released last week by Wisconsin Public Radio and St. Norbert College found 40 percent of Wisconsin residents view Gov. McCallum unfavorably. The survey also found that in the fall’s gubernatorial race, any of the four Democratic candidates would be eager to face off with McCallum.

An informal study conducted by the Badger Herald found communication in the governor’s press office is also lacking. In the past six weeks, more than 40 phone calls were made to the governor’s press secretary, Debbie Monterrey-Millett. Of those, only two were returned.

“If you would have called the press office during the Thompson administration, they would have gotten back to you,” Heck said.