Huebsch Will Leave DOA As Part Of Walker Cabinet Reshuffling

Gov. Scott Walker announced a major reshuffling of his administration on Monday, tapping a recent utility executive to lead the Department of Administration and a mining company lobbyist to work at the Public Service Commission.

Walker announced that Mike Huebsch would leave his job as Secretary of the Department of Administration to fill a soon-to-be-open seat on the Public Service Commission. Taking Huebsch’s place at DOA will be Scott Neitzel, who until last week was an executive with Madison Gas and Electric.

DOA secretary is viewed as the top job in most governors’ cabinets.

Also joining the Walker administration will be Bob Seitz, a contract lobbyist who represented mining company Gogebic Taconite and helped lead the push for a rewrite of Wisconsin’s mining laws. Seitz will be an executive assistant on the Public Service Commission, an agency tasked with regulating Wisconsin utilities.

Walker also announced the appointment of Brian Schimming to head the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, an agency Walker wants to phase out. Schimming is currently the vice chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.