Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to Visit Hudson for Uline Groundbreaking

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is scheduled to be in Hudson on Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony of a new Uline distribution center.

The governor is scheduled to take part in the 45-minute ceremony starting at about noon at the in the St. Croix Business Park, according to Bill Broydrick, a consultant who helped plan the event. The event, which will be held on private property, is for invited guests and members of the media.

The Uline groundbreaking ceremony will take place 24 hours after at which organizers are expected to announce that they have enough signatures to force a recall election.

Walker has faced crowds of protesters each time he has visited Hudson in the past 10 months. His last Hudson visit was on July 12 when he held an event at Airworthy Aerospace to talk about progress on a tax reciprocity deal with Minnesota. That event also served as a campaign boost to state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-District 10) who was facing a recall election of her own at the time.

"Where ever he goes people come out to express their dissatisfaction, and I imagine that our grassroots people will do the same as they have in previous visits," said Cathy Leaf, chairwoman of the St. Croix County Democratic Party.

Jesse Garza, chairman of the St. Croix County Republican Party, says he hasn't yet decided if he will attempt to organize a Republican counter-presence.

"I'm not planning on it right now, but it's still early," Garza said. 

Hudson Mayor Alan Burchill realizes that there likely will be protesters at Friday's event.

"I'd hate to see that," Burchill said. "This facility should be a great deal for us. Nobody should be mad about jobs coming to our community."

While Leaf agrees about the positive aspects of the Uline facility, sees the event as Walker taking credit for job creation while the state is taking heavy job losses.

"The Uline facility is a positive for St. Croix County," Leaf said. "But to put things in perspective, these jobs are just a drop in the bucket to make up for the 9,700 jobs Wisconsin lost just in October. Walker's jobs plan said, 'Repealing job-killing tax increases will unleash our employers to hire new workers.' Wisconsin is still waiting for this unleashing of hiring. If Gov. Walker wants a true picture of the people that his policies are effecting, he should stop in at the health center or Grace Place. He needs to explain to those affected how balancing the budget on the backs of seniors, students and the vulnerable is good for Wisconsin."

Some critics have noted that by Uline moving its operations just 28 miles from Eagan, MN, across the border to Hudson will have little effect on the number of jobs created for Hudson residents. 

"They may not all be living here in Hudson, but they will be eating lunch here and buying gas here," Burchill said. "Once they see what a great community Hudson is, many of them may even buy homes here."

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This post was updated at 10:30 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2011, with quotes from local party leaders. This post may be updated with further information and reaction as it becomes available.