After leaving the Legislature behind for a position in Gov. Scott Walker’s administration, former Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, will begin work outside the state government next week.

Suder turned down his Public Service Commission position Thursday in favor of a job with the Wisconsin Paper Council, a trade association representing the pulp and paper industry. Suder resigned from the legislature earlier this year in order to accept the job with the PSC as part of Walker’s administration.

Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, will take over for Suder as the Division Administrator for Water Compliance and Consumer Affairs.

Stone currently serves on the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and has been a strong advocate of voter ID and electoral reform bills.

According to Journal Sentinel reporting, Suder turned down his PSC position before taking his new job at WPC as the vice president-government relations.

Suder gained notoriety recently for his orchestration of a grant that all but guaranteed the $500,000 grant to United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation, an organization with little experience in outdoor recreation and training, but many GOP political connections.

Suder will begin his position at WPC on Oct. 7, according to a statement from WPC President, Jeff Landin.

Stone’s resignation is also effective Oct. 14.

Landin was not available for comment, and all calls to Suder were not returned.

More information on Stone’s and Suder’s new jobs can be found at:

http://walker.wi.gov/newsroom/press-release/governor-scott-walker-announces-administration-staff-change

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1003wispaper_01.pdf

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1003stone.pdf