A realignment in the administration of Governor Scott Walker. Walker chief of staff Keith Gilkes is leaving, in part to join the governor’s campaign for a possible recall election next year. Gilkes ran Walker’s campaign last year, led the new transition team and has served as chief of staff since January. Gilkes reportedly will return to his political consulting firm on October eighth. He said he would be the lead adviser to Walker’s campaign – but he’ll also do campaign work for other clients. Walker later announced that deputy chief of staff Eric Schutt would move up to the top spot with current policy director Ryan Murray becoming deputy chief of staff. Kimberly Liedl, Walker’s health care and education adviser, will become the new policy director.
Gilkes said he planned for a long time to build up his political consulting business after working as Walker’s chief of staff said his resignation had nothing to do with an ongoing John Doe probe into Walker’s former top aides in Milwaukee County. The investigation reports centers on alleged illegal campaigning for Walker by those aides, while they worked for him in the county executive’s office. Gilkes said he planned for a long time to build up his political consulting business after working as Walker’s chief-of-staff.