Timetable derailed, Walker shifts gears

His plan to live in the Governor's Residence next January dashed and his political timetable in tatters, Scott Walker lost no time in backing out of his past statements about how long he would like to be Milwaukee County executive.

The day after withdrawing from the governor's race, WisPolitics reported:

As for his political future, Walker said there is a “good chance” he’d run again for Milwaukee County executive.

“I plan on being here long enough to continue to get things back on track again,” Walker said. He added that he doesn't see himself as county executive in 10 years and that he’d consider a possible future run for governor or Senate. By entering the governor’s race at the relatively young age of 38, Walker noted that “in the end I’m not forced to make a bad decision because this is my last chance.”

What Walker didn't say is that ever since he first ran, in a 2002 special election, he has pledged not to serve beyond 2008.

The story then:

Walker will serve the rest of Ament's four-year term. Walker promised he would not serve beyond 2008. He also promised to cut his annual salary by $50,000. The job currently pays $128,820 a year.

A 2002 Q&A with the Journal Sentinel: reaffirmed his plan:

Q: Just so everyone is clear, you do, if you win, plan to run again in 2004?

A: Yes. I don't have an interest in running beyond that. I certainly didn't grow up wanting to be county executive and up until January, I never had seriously thought about it.

And yet another story:

Walker says he won't stay as county executive beyond 2008, when he'd be 42, and may one day pursue a business career.

"I imagine I'd have a pretty good pitch to any business out there; having resurrected a billion dollar government, think of what I could do for their business?"

But that was then, when he had no doubt that by 2007 he would be living in Maple Bluff.

During his 2004 reelection campaign, he said again that it would be his last term, and -- planning on that move to Maple Bluff -- refused to sign a pledge that he would serve out his full four-year term if we won.

But this is now. He's out of the race with no good political prospects. What's he going to do to keep his name in the news and keep his options open?

Why, stay on as county executive.

But if Milwaukee County government remains on its current path -- with Walker begging for a state bailout to prevent bankruptcy -- by 2008 another four years as county exec may not seem so appealing -- to Walker or to the voters.

UPDATE: Seth Zlotocha doesn't think sticking around as county exec will be that appealing. Read his post at In Effect.