New ideas
“He’s not concerned about who gets credit for things, he’s concerned with solving problems,” said Bob Chernow, a Milwaukee businessman and president and chief executive officer of the Tellier Foundation, a Milwaukee nonprofit organization.
Several years ago, the Tellier Foundation worked to bring Bob Harrison, a former police chief from California, to present ideas on reducing domestic violence in the city. After talking with several Barrett staffers, Chernow was able to gain buy-in from the city about the program. With Barrett’s leadership, city staffers enacted changes and improved the city’s responses to domestic violence.
Barrett is willing to listen to private citizens who have new ideas, Chernow said.
“(The public) heard very little about it,” Chernow said. “That’s because (Barrett) is concerned about solving the problem. The mayor put resources into this, in staff time. No one was concerned about getting credit. He was concerned about solving the problem.”
Barrett’s work on the City of Milwaukee budget and his willingness to make cuts to the city’s police and fire departments, make Chernow believe he is capable of doing the right thing, in light of the many tough choices Wisconsin’s next governor will face.
“I don’t care if they are a Democrat or Republican, if they’re a person who can work with others and is not concerned with who takes the credit,” Chernow said. “This state is in deep. We need someone who has the courage to think out the consequences of what you do and how you do it.”
Economic development
Barrett’s support for job-creating projects and his tough work behind the scenes on economic development projects have garnered the support of Gary Gorman, president of Madison-based Gorman & Co. Inc., which has done several development projects in southeastern Wisconsin.
“I have worked with (Barrett) in Milwaukee on a number of redevelopment projects – both historic renovations and housing projects,” Gorman said. “He focuses on job creation. He always follows through and has been very supportive through the process.”
Interest in emerging industries
Barrett has shown an interest in emerging companies, particularly the many quickly growing medical, bio-medical and related industries clustered around the University of Wisconsin in Madison and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, said John Neis, managing director of Venture Investors LLC, a Madison-based venture capital firm.
“So much of our economic future is tied to our universities,” Neis said. “They are a tremendous source of innovation that have opportunities to turn into meaningful growth in the state. A reputation like the one that the University of Wisconsin has earned is difficult, and could erode quickly if there was a loss of funding.”
Barrett also has shown a strong interest in learning how to grow the number of new companies formed in Wisconsin, Neis said.
“He has sought my input on policies, what we could be doing and what we could be doing better,” Neis said. “He desires to learn more about these (new) sectors, the challenges they face, and has looked for ideas for solutions. He understands the importance and potential of high-growth businesses to the state.”
Consensus builder
Because of his work on other tough political and budget challenges, Barrett is the right candidate for the job, according to Jeff Neubauer, president of Racine-based Kranz Inc. Neubauer and Barrett served together in the Wisconsin Assembly in the 1980s.
“I’ve seen him work through difficult challenges in a pragmatic, non-ideological and consensus-building way,” Neubauer said. “The next state budget is going to be horrifically difficult for whoever wins this election. I think Tom has the skills to be able to (create a budget) and preserve the core, the essence of what state government should be doing.”
‘A solid guy’
Marty Forman, president of Milwaukee-based Forman Metal Co., has known Barrett since was in Congress. Forman is backing Barrett in the governor’s race, not because of his stance on specific issues, but because of his character.
“I just like him as a person. He lives up the opinion I’ve had of him since he was a Congressman,” Forman said. “He’s a fine, upright guy, the kind of guy who would put himself in harm’s way to help someone out.”
As a business owner, Forman said he typically supports Republican candidates. However, Barrett’s character as a “solid guy” is making him cross party lines this election.
“This is a very special guy, and I’d feel real good about having him in charge of the state,” Forman said.
Technology and job growth
Barrett’s belief in the need to foster Wisconsin’s growing biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device and other early-stage industries has garnered the support of Eric Apfelbach, president and CEO of Menomonee Falls-based ZBB Energy.
“The University of Wisconsin and the high-tech development that is coming out of (it) and other high-tech centers in Milwaukee like the Medical College of Wisconsin – these things are all jewels,” Apfelbach said. “These are the top things the state has in terms of global competitiveness. If we do not leverage those into future companies and future jobs, we will have squandered the only big internationally competitive thing we have in our state.”
Walker has publicly declared his opposition to embryonic stem cell research on moral grounds – a stance that Apfelbach says could significantly detract from new developments some of the state’s rapidly-growing biotech companies hope to bring to market.
“There is a massive amount of transformational research, with public and private money coming in, that could create an unbelievable (research) hub in Madison and around the state,” Apfelbach said. “It’s a complicated issue, and someone has to be able to assess the gray areas around stem cell research and make sure that the funding stays there.”
Outreach to businesses
As Milwaukee’s mayor, Barrett has developed a hands-on relationship with many of the city’s businesses, which is why Kevin Schuele, owner and CEO of Milwaukee-based PAK Technologies Inc., believes he is the right choice for governor.
“When I bought Barbicide (the barber and salon sanitizer company), he (Barrett) called me and wanted to know what the city could do to make this happen,” Schuele said. “I think it’s a personality trait, his outreach to businesses in Milwaukee. I’m not a huge company. But if he can do it for me, that says something.”
Barrett’s outreach to business and belief in the state of Wisconsin make Schuele believe he will be able to guide the state through the difficult choices that will need to be made in coming years.
“I have a passion for my business, and I believe he has a passion for this state,” Schuele said. “With passion, you can get anything done. That’s what we need today.”
Job creation plan
Barrett’s plans for boosting economic development in Wisconsin have won the support of John Miller, president and CEO of St. Nazianz-based Miller-St. Nazianz, a manufacturer of farm machinery and related equipment.
“I support Tom Barrett because he has put forth a detailed job creation plan that focuses on using the government’s resources to offer services and help guide businesses to success,” Miller said. “The state needs to watch its ledger, but it cannot grow and create jobs without making investments. Barrett’s job creation plan offers a multi-prong approach to helping Wisconsin’s businesses create jobs and attract and retain a talented workforce. Barrett will ensure that Wisconsin’s infrastructure will not decline and will work to end the brain-drain of Wisconsin’s talented professionals leaving the state.”
