Incoming Walker Aide Says Massive IT Project Will Be Priority

Gov. Scott Walker’s new top cabinet secretary told a panel of state lawmakers Thursday that a massive information technology project will be a top priority for him.

Incoming Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel will take over for outgoing Secretary Mike Huebsch, whom Walker appointed to Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission. Neitzel was previously an executive with Madison Gas and Electric and worked at DOA in the 1980s.

At his confirmation hearing, Nietzel said he’d meet regularly with people to make sure a nearly $140 million computer system for state government launches on time.

“When I was in the private sector and with the state, computer project implementations are by their very nature somewhat tricky. And this is a massive undertaking and I understand that, and that is a very, very high priority,” said Neitzel.

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Vinehout, ultimately voted against Neitzel’s confirmation, saying his answers did not inspire confidence. Others on the committee, however, supported him.