September 30, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303
Madison–Today, Governor Walker announced that Eric Schutt would be appointed the new chief of staff effective October 8. Schutt follows Keith Gilkes who will be returning to the private sector and rejoining his business, The Champion Group LLC. The Governor also announced additional new staff positions.
“Keith did an outstanding job helping to craft and implement our ambitious pro-jobs agenda,” said Governor Walker. “I would like to thank him for his dedication to public service, and acknowledge the tremendous amount of time and energy he spent working to help improve state government. “I believe we have a team in place that will help our state create and execute policies aimed at allowing the private sector to create 250,000 new jobs by 2015.”
Eric Schutt, Chief of Staff—Schutt previously served as Governor Walker’s deputy chief of staff. Before that he was the vice president of state government affairs for UnitedHealth Group (UHG). Prior to joining UHG, Schutt worked in the Legislature as chief of staff to State Representative and then Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson) during the 2007-2008 legislative session and State Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) during the 2005-2006 session. A longtime campaign aide, Schutt has served in various roles on numerous campaigns, including Deputy Campaign Manager on Mark Green’s gubernatorial campaign in 2006, campaign manager for Russ Darrow’s US Senate run in 2004, and Executive Director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin in 2002. Schutt began his career in politics in 1994 working on the reelection campaign of Congressman Scott Klug (R-Madison).
Ryan Murray, Deputy Chief of Staff—Murray previously served as Governor Walker’s policy director, deputy transition director to Governor-elect Walker and policy director for the Walker gubernatorial campaign. Murray previously served as chief of staff for Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) and communications director for Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau).
Kimberly Liedl, Policy Director—Liedl previously served as Governor Walker’s Health Care and Education Policy Advisor. Before that, she served as communications director for Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) during the 2009-2010 legislative session and as his health care and education policy advisor during the 2007-2008 session. Prior to that, she was the committee clerk for the Senate Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy Committee for Senator Dave Zien (R-Eau Claire) and Assembly Tourism Committee clerk for Rep. Mark Pettis (R-Hertel).
Julie Lund, Deputy Communications Director—Lund worked in television news since 1995 as a reporter, producer, and anchor. She worked for WJFW in Rhinelander and WKOW and WMSN in Madison. She graduated from NorthlandPinesHigh School in EagleRiver and obtained a BA in Mass Communications and minor in speech from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.
Cindy Polzin, Legislative Director—Polzin previously served as Governor Walker’s Legislative Liaison. Prior to that she worked as a legislative staffer, Senior Account Executive at Persuasion Partners, Inc. and served as a policy advisor for Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.
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