“I feel that the emergence of UWM along with our other city schools can have a tremendous impact on the job market.” Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker praised the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s efforts to secure a school of public health, and offered his vision for the university as he spoke at the UWM College Republicans kick-off meeting Sept. 17.

Walker characterized the plans for a new school of public health as “putting UWM into a major tier” and labeled a potential engineering school in Wauwatosa as “a tremendous asset.”

A location on the northeast side of county grounds in Wauwatosa is being discussed as a possible home for the engineering building.

In light of recent expansion proposals for the university, Walker cited the role Milwaukee schools will play in luring small-businesses to the area and revitalizing the city’s job market.

“Our universities can be a jet engine for jobs. I feel that the emergence of UWM along with our other city schools can have a tremendous impact on the job market,” said Walker.

Walker foresees UWM emerging alongside the University of Wisconsin as a major research university.

“I’ve felt for years that UWM should be viewed in much the same way as the Michigan schools, where you have a Michigan and a Michigan State,” said Walker. “We should be just as prominent as our neighbors down the road to the west.”

Walker also discussed the hot-button city transit issue during his appearance, favoring a rapid bus system that would run from the Medical College through downtown en route to the UWM campus area. His plan would also raise bus fares to $2, but would avoid cutting valuable routes.

He characterized a commuter rail system as being “too inflexible” and fears running a deficit if Mayor Tom Barrett’s street car system is implemented.

Walker will not make a public decision concerning a potential re-election campaign until after the budget is finalized in November. Rep. Lena Taylor appears to be his primary competition for the office.

“Right now I’m putting all of my focus into completing the budget,” said Walker. “But I like what I do,” he added.

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