James Scott McCallum (born May 2, 1950) is an American businessman and former politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 43rd governor of Wisconsin, ascending from the Lieutenant Governorship when Tommy Thompson resigned in 2001 to accept appointment as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Prior to becoming Governor, McCallum served 14 years as Thompson's Lieutenant Governor and 10 years in the Wisconsin State Senate.[1][2]

Scott McCallum
McCallum in 2001
43rd Governor of Wisconsin
In office
February 1, 2001 – January 6, 2003
LieutenantMargaret Farrow
Preceded byTommy Thompson
Succeeded byJim Doyle
41st Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 5, 1987 – February 1, 2001
GovernorTommy Thompson
Preceded byJames Flynn
Succeeded byMargaret Farrow
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 18th district
In office
January 6, 1977 – January 5, 1987
Preceded byWalter G. Hollander
Succeeded byCarol Roessler
Personal details
Born
James Scott McCallum

(1950-05-02) May 2, 1950 (age 74)
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLaurie McCallum
Children3
Alma materMacalester College (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (PhD)
ProfessionBusinessman

Early life and education

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James Scott McCallum was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin,[3] the eldest of four children. His father worked as a construction worker and his mother was a homemaker and bank teller.[citation needed] In 1967, he attended a youth leadership program, Badger Boys State, as a representative chosen from Lowell P. Goodrich High School.

He graduated from Macalester College in 1972 with a degree in economics and political science. He earned his master's degree in international economics from Johns Hopkins University in 1974. He earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.[4] He is of the Christian Science religion.[5] McCallum is married to Laurie McCallum; they have three children and reside in Lodi, Wisconsin.[6]

Political career

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Early career

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In 1976 at the age of 26, McCallum won a seat in the Wisconsin State Senate, defeating a 20-year incumbent. McCallum won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 1982, but lost in the general election to incumbent William Proxmire. During his 10 years (1976–1986) as state senator, McCallum was allied with the New Republican Conference, a now-defunct movement of fiscally conservative, but socially liberal, GOP activists.[7] McCallum's legislative accomplishments included increasing penalties for drunk driving offenses and assaults on prison guards; creating a health insurance risk pool for people considered uninsurable; sunsetting outdated legislation; and indexing individual income taxes to account for inflation.[8]

Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Wisconsin

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In 1986, McCallum ran for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket with Tommy Thompson, who was running for governor; both candidates won. McCallum chaired the National Council of Lieutenant Governors and was appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency's advisory council by President George H. W. Bush.[9] The Thompson-McCallum ticket served the state of Wisconsin for 14 years, having been reelected in 1990, 1994 and 1998. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Thompson to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. McCallum thus served out the final two years of Thompson's fourth term, and appointed State Senator Margaret Farrow of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, to be the state's first female lieutenant governor.[10]

As the Wisconsin governor, McCallum was cited by the Wall Street Journal during the economic slowdown in 2001 as being one of the 'political tough guys' for balancing the budget without raising taxes.[11] As a governor he was commander-in-chief of the Wisconsin National Guard, directing emergency operations following the September 11 attacks, which resulted in his receiving the 2002 U.S. National Guard Award for his work.[citation needed][clarification needed][why?]

In 2001, McCallum launched "Invest Wisconsin," a new program to focus on the needs of state businesses and communities for investment capital. The public and private partnership was designed to increase awareness of business financing options by engaging statewide networks and professional associations.[12]

As governor he created the Department of Electronic Government and the state's first CIO through consolidation of various departments. This action saved $50 million in its first year while expanding service. Today, the department is known as the "Division of Enterprise Technology" of the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Governor McCallum aggressively used the veto pen to cut expenditures throughout his time in office. It was estimated that Wisconsin taxpayers saved $62.9 million through this action.[13] McCallum ran for a full term in 2002, but was defeated in the election by Democratic Attorney General Jim Doyle. The other major party candidate running in 2002 was Libertarian Ed Thompson (brother of Tommy Thompson).

Post-political career

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McCallum in 2024

After his public sector service, McCallum was president and CEO of Aidmatrix for nine years.[14] The company is a non-profit based in Texas that matches charitable corporate donations of surplus food and supplies with organizations that need them.[15] Currently,[when?] Governor McCallum owns and operates The McCallum Group, a consulting firm in the State of Wisconsin.[16]

McCallum was named a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute. He is also an adjunct professor and honorary fellow in the School of Public Health and Medicine at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[17] McCallum has also taught executive MBA marketing courses at Sun Yat-sen University and Harbin University.[18]

In March 2013, McCallum was named by Government Technology magazine as one of the "Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers" in US technology. McCallum has also received the 21st Century Achievement Award from Computerworld, the Distinguished Citizen Award from Macalester College, and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[19]

McCallum is now an adjunct professor of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's La Follette School of Public Affairs and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.[20]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Senate (1976, 1980)

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1976 Wisconsin Senate election, 18th district[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary election, September 14, 1976
Republican Scott McCallum 8,102 40.38%
Republican Walter G. Hollander (incumbent) 8,019 39.97%
Republican Edward H. Hoban 795 3.96%
Democratic Daniel L. Klawitter 3,148 15.69%
Total votes '20,064' '100.0%'
General election, November 2, 1976
Republican Scott McCallum 39,194 66.14%
Democratic Daniel L. Klawitter 20,062 33.86%
Total votes '59,256' '100.0%'
Republican hold
1980 Wisconsin Senate election, 18th district[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary election, September 9, 1980
Republican Scott McCallum (incumbent) 11,723 100.0%
Total votes '11,723' '100.0%'
General election, November 2, 1976
Republican Scott McCallum (incumbent) 47,647 100.0%
Total votes '47,647' '100.0%' −19.59%
Republican hold

United States Senate (1982)

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1982 United States Senate election in Wisconsin[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary election, September 14, 1982
Democratic William Proxmire (incumbent) 467,214 57.39%
Republican Scott McCallum 182,043 22.36%
Republican Paul Thomas Brewer 86,728 10.65%
Democratic Marcel Dandeneau 75,258 9.24%
Libertarian George Liljenfeldt 1,421 0.17%
Constitution Sanford G. Knapp 1,397 0.17%
Total votes '814,061' '100.0%'
General election, November 2, 1982
Democratic William Proxmire (incumbent) 983,311 63.65%
Republican Scott McCallum 527,355 34.14%
Labor–Farm William Osborne Hart 21,807 1.41%
Libertarian George Liljenfeldt 7,947 0.51%
Constitution Sanford G. Knapp 4,463 0.29%
Total votes '1,544,883' '100.0%'
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Senate (1984)

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1984 Wisconsin Senate election, 18th district[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary election, September 11, 1984
Republican Scott McCallum (incumbent) 6,385 59.24%
Democratic Peg Lautenschlager 3,733 34.64%
Democratic John Daggett 660 6.12%
Total votes '10,778' '100.0%'
General election, November 6, 1984
Republican Scott McCallum (incumbent) 34,296 54.03%
Democratic Peg Lautenschlager 29,177 45.97%
Total votes '63,473' '100.0%' +33.22%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (1986)

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1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lieutenant Governor primary election, September 9, 1986
Republican Scott McCallum 134,099 26.08%
Democratic Sharon K. Metz 101,753 19.79%
Republican Patricia A. Goodrich 65,628 12.76%
Democratic Gervase Hephner 52,313 19.79%
Republican Robert Nolan 51,836 10.08%
Democratic Cletus J. Johnson 50,795 9.88%
Democratic Taylor Benson 29,353 5.71%
Republican Drew W. Heiden 19,451 3.78%
Democratic Arlyn F. Wollenburg 7,984 1.55%
Labor–Farm John Ervin Bergum 1,012 0.20%
Total votes '514,224' '100.0%'
General election, November 4, 1986
Republican Tommy Thompson
Scott McCallum
805,090 52.74% +10.80%
Democratic Tony Earl (incumbent)
Sharon K. Metz
705,578 46.22% −10.53%
Labor–Farm Kathryn A. Christensen
John Ervin Bergum
10,323 0.68%
Independent Darold E. Wall
Irma L. Lotts
3,913 0.26%
Independent Sanford Knapp
Verdell Hallingstad
1,668 0.11%
Scattering 1 0.00%
Total votes '1,526,573' '100.0%' −3.40%
Republican gain from Democratic

Wisconsin Governor (2002)

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2002 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General election, November 5, 2002
Democratic Jim Doyle 800,515 45.09% +6.39%
Republican Scott McCallum (incumbent) 734,779 41.39% −18.28%
Libertarian Ed Thompson 185,455 10.45% +9.82%
Green Jim Young 44,111 2.48% +2.48%
Reform Alan D. Eisenberg 2,847 0.16%
Independent Ty A. Bollerud 2,637 0.15%
Independent Mike Managan 1,710 0.10%
Independent Aneb Jah Rasta 929 0.05%
Scattering 2,366 0.13%
Plurality 65,736 3.71% −17.27%
Turnout 1,775,349 45.43% +1.10%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

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  1. ^ [1] Archived January 3, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Scott McCallum". Nndb.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "On This Day: May 2". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  4. ^ "Scott McCallum | Institute for Sustainable Development | Alexandria, VA".
  5. ^ Heinen, Tom (February 8, 2001). "New governor practices quiet faith". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  6. ^ 'Favorite space: Former governor's home offers lakeside escape,' Patricia Simms (for Wisconsin State Journal), Host.Madison.com., September 26, 2012.
  7. ^ [2] Archived August 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ National Governor's Association
  9. ^ "Scott McCallum". Nga.org. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Wisconsin Governors". Wishistory.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "2009 William A. Patterson Transportation Lecture | Transportation Center - Northwestern University". Transportation.northwestern.edu. June 7, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "McCallum launches investment project". Milwaukee Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  13. ^ "Governor Scott McCallum website - McCALLUM 2002 STATE OF THE STATE". Wisgov.us. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  14. ^ Scott Mccallum (December 2, 2011). "Addressing the requirements of disaster management". The Economic Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  15. ^ [3] Archived November 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "THE MCCALLUM GROUP, LLC (M061814)". Wdfi.org. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  17. ^ [4] [dead link]
  18. ^ "Meet Governor Scott McCallum - ICOSA Media ICOSA Media". Icosamedia.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  19. ^ "Scott McCallum '72 - 2010 Recipients - Alumni Awards - Alumni - Macalester College". Macalester.edu. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  20. ^ "Scott McCallum- La Follette School". lafollette.wisc.edu. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  21. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1977). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1977 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 888, 910. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  22. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 890, 912. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  23. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 881, 903. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  24. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1985). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 903, 921. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  25. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Barish, Lawrence S., eds. (1987). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 876–877. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  26. ^ "Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002" (PDF). Wisconsin State Elections Board. p. 1. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
(Class 1)

1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1986, 1990, 1994, 1998
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
2002
Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Senate
from the 18th district

1977–1987
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1987–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Wisconsin
2001–2003
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas former Governor Order of precedence of the United States Succeeded byas former Governor