If there is any silver lining in the last 15 months of Walker as Governor of Wisconsin, it is that he has taught us lessons in leadership through his lack of it. My hope is that not only is Walker removed from office, but that leadership that respects the people of this state becomes widely accepted.
1. Be upfront with voters. Walker never mentioned ending collective bargaining rights during the election. To his credit, Walker did pledge to stop the high-speed rail project from Milwaukee to Madison. A big mistake, but at least he was honest. Elections are opportunities for a you to get to know the voters, as well as for voters to get to know the you. That is why door-to-door campaigning is so valuable an experience, to get to know your constituents. Pledge and act to do the best for your constituents.
2. Don’t campaign on the job or allow staff members to do the same. Whether or not Walker is indicted in the John Doe probe of campaigning in his County Executive Office, it is clear that his staff was campaigning on the job. Besides being illegal and a misuse of taxpayer dollars, it is a dereliction of duty. The job at hand is more important than the next election. If a politician uses their current job as a stepping stone to higher office, they are stepping all over the people they have been elected to serve.
3. Respect your employees. Talk to them. Bargain with them. Give them the resources they need to do their jobs the best they can. Ultimately, your success will be judged not only by what you do but by what you and those who work for you accomplish together. One of Walker’s first acts was to attack the collective bargaining rights of his employees. He refused to even discuss any compromise with them.
4. Don’t isolate yourself. Walker only talks with people who agree with them. It is the mark of an extremist to only talk with people who share your views. Honest and open dialogue, with people on all sides of the political spectrum, provides information, knowledge, and wisdom a leader needs.
5. Tell the truth. According to the non-partisan fact checker’s Politifact Wisconsin, Walker’s lies range from “half-truths” to “pants-on-fire false.” The problem with lying is that it strains your integrity and credibility and it demeans the office you hold.
Read more:
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/scott-walker/
Read more:
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/madison_360/madison-walker-more-nixonian-than-nixon-says-john-dean/article_6577b896-8732-11e1-9697-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1t7OddVoa
6. Don’t pit one group against another. Walker has pitted public sector workers against private sector workers. Someone said to me, “I don’t have health insurance. Why should I pay taxes so that teachers can have health insurance?” My answer is that everyone should have health insurance. Walker’s strategy puts stress on families that have one spouse who is in the public sector and one in the private sector, or who have a difference of political opinion. Walker’s strategy is divisive. The State is polarized. Divide and conquer is a familiar right wing tactic. It is effective for personal and political advantage, but doesn’t help the political or economic condition of the State.
7. Don’t chase after money. Campaigns take a lot of money, but donations should come to you because of who you are and what you do, not because you spend most of your time fundraising. Money can’t buy votes. Try to win the hearts and minds of your constituents through your words and actions.
8. Listen to your constituents, not outside groups. You were elected to represent your constituents. If you have to disagree with the opinions or interests of some of your constituents, patiently explain why what you are doing is in the public interest. Don’t do as Walker has and base your actions in office on extreme ideologies that don’t represent the best interests of your constituents. Walker used model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as the basis of his bills outlawing collective bargaining and requiring voter identification.
Read more:
http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
9. Do your job. Create jobs. Don’t go running out of state to raise money for your campaign, when there are people struggling at home. Walker is out of state raising money often, according to news media reports. Again, the job at hand is more important than the next election.
10. Study, observe, and learn so that you can govern effectively. The scientific method is better than rigid ideology in crafting public policy. Rather than grasping for straws, look at what really works to create prosperity. Investments in education, research, balanced transportation (all modes of transit and transportation, not just roads and cars), and promoting healthy cities and regions, will do more to promote economic growth and create jobs than tax breaks and less regulation. Walker clings to the discredited ideology of Bush and previous Republicans.
11. Stand up to those more powerful and stand up for those less powerful than yourself. Walker does the opposite. He kowtows to the billionaire Koch brothers and other wealthy benefactors while stomping on the rights of his employees. It takes courage to stand up for what is right and to work for the betterment of common people. Be courageous. Do the right thing.
