Reed Hall Sees WEDC Progress

Governor Scott Walker plans a second day Wednesday (1/30) of touring the state with a new economic development official. That official, newly-selected WEDC head Reed Hall, says his agency’s problems are easing.

Walker touched off another controversy Tuesday (1/29) when he chose Reed Hall to be CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Hall was already interim CEO, and Democrats noted Hall didn’t apply for the permanent job, but Walker chose him when the governor didn’t like the finalists located by a headhunting firm to which the state paid $40,000. Hall is trying to put that aside, and says financial oversight problems that prompted him taking over last fall are being fixed, “All the issues aren’t solved, but we’re in the process of doing an RFP for a new computer system will add more credibility to WEDC.”

State Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca promises a close watch on an agency that could be important to many job seekers, as well as Governor Walker’s political fortunes.