By WisBusiness Staff
Outgoing Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel says he’s “tremendously excited” about a new opportunity. But he said he can’t announce what it is for another two to three weeks.
Leinenkugel announced today that he is resigning his state post effective Friday. After Gov. Jim Doyle announced last year that he would not seek re-election, Leinenkugel’s name floated in some circles as a potential candidate for public office, and that speculation fired up again this afternoon.
But Leinenkugel declined comment on those suggestions.
He also said he started thinking what he would do next after Doyle announced he would not seek re-election. Leinenkugel said his new opportunity forced him to leave his state post.
“It’s not anything that I could wait to finish out my term,” Leinenkugel said.
He said he told the guv of his decision yesterday and informed Commerce staff today.
Gov. Jim Doyle thanked Leinenkugel for his service in a statement.
“My last budget created powerful new tax credits to help manufacturers create and retain jobs, new tools to help investors create start-ups, and new incentives to spur research and development,” Doyle said. “The Department of Commerce has put these to good use in a tough national economic downturn, which has resulted in attracting and retaining numerous businesses and creating thousands of jobs.”
