Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Tuesday his choice for campaign manager in his bid to be the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010.

Barrett appointed Bill Hyers as manager of his gubernatorial campaign, he said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Bill brings a great combination of organization, energy and success to my campaign. He shares my vision that we can build on Wisconsin’s strengths to create good jobs and economic opportunity throughout the state,” Barrett said in the statement.

According to the statement, Hyers until recently served as the White House liaison to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and was the Midwest regional director for the Obama for America campaign.

“The campaign approached [Hyers] and he came highly recommended,” Barrett spokesperson Jeff Fleming said. “The manager is the person principally responsible for organizing campaign activities and helping [Barrett] set the direction of campaign.”

Fleming added Hyers started work with the campaign immediately.

Bruce Pfaff, campaign director for the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate and former congressman Mark Neumann, said Neumann was not surprised by Barrett’s choice of a former White House official.

“It’s not unexpected; this is a priority seat for the Democrats,” Pfaff said.

In regard to the Neumann campaign, Pfaff said they are still in the process of assembling their campaign team and will announce more information about staffing at the beginning of next year.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, the other major Republican gubernatorial candidate in the 2010 race, appointed Keith Gilkes as his campaign manager, who has been working in the position for several months now, said Walker spokesperson Jill Bader.

Gilkes, in an e-mail to The Badger Herald, agreed the choice was no shock for the Walker campaign.

“It’s no surprise that Mayor Tom Barrett’s campaign manager comes from Washington, D.C., compliments of President Obama,” Gilkes said in the e-mail. “Obama and (Gov. Jim) Doyle found their dream candidate in Tom Barrett — this big taxing history puts him right on target to continue the their tax and spend policies.”