Should Wisconsin Commerce Secretary Richard "Dick" Leinenkugel run for governor? Why not?
I've heard this a few times and it seems a recent milwaukeeworld.com post has helped spur it. Regardless of this idea's origins, think about it: A beer guy running for governor in Wisconsin? Slam dunk.
Right now there are only two candidates: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Representative Mark Neumann. It's widely speculated that Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also will enter the race. In fact, he's registered a Web site.
With or without Barrett, Leinenkugel -- who took the commerce secretary job in September 2008 -- would make the race interesting and fun. He's personable, business savvy and isn't new to politics. He was a County Supervisor in Waukesha from 1997 to 2000.
Leinenkugel's is a big Wisconsin name that could carry Dick straight to the governor's office. Plus, he's a Marquette guy, a Marine and has a big family with wide reach. I don't know his politics and frankly don't care. I just think he'd add energy and marketing power to the race and the state of Wisconsin.
Here's his bio:
Leinenkugel, 50, graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University with a B.S. in business administration. He went on to serve as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Leinenkugel began his career with the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in 1987 as a district sales manager/chain sales manager. Dick left Leinenkugel’s in the fall of 2008 to become Wisconsin's secretary of commerce, but before that served as vice president of sales and marketing for the brand and group manager, specialty and craft brands, for MillerCoors. He was appointed to the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors and represented Menomonee Falls from 1997 through 2000. Leinenkugel and his wife Jean, a registered nurse, have three children: Jeffrey, Katie and Lindsay.
Thoughts? Leinenkugel for Wisconsin?
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
